The Dubai Autodrome Motor Sports Club organized the first Red Line Challenge at the Dubai Autodrome today. The Red Line Challenge tests drivers for speed and skills in handling non-racing cars in a monitored safe environment off the public roads.
The Red Line Challenge involves three competitive activities – Auto test, Auto Sprint and Knock-Out Challenge. The Auto test is a basic introduction to motor sports competition and is a timed driving test on a set course around cones. The Auto Sprint involves cars running against-the-clock around the circuit. The Knock out Challenge is a new programme that consists of drag racing on a straight line, involving stock and modified saloon cars.
The Red Line Challenge action started at 13:00hrs at the oval track with 40 cars competing in the first two activities. The cars were divided into two groups with 20 competing in the Auto Sprint while the 20 other cars performed the Auto Test between corners 15 and 16 of the Grand Prix Circuit. The thrill continued till 15:20hrs when both groups of drivers swapped activities. At 19:00 all the cars headed towards the Start/Finish line where they competed against each other in the drag racing knock out challenge.
Overall winner was Walid Afani driving a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 6. Afani completed the three races in 90.558 seconds. Second place went to Raed Hassan driving a Subaru Impreza WRX STi with a time of 94.369 seconds. Hares Irfan driving a Porsche GT 3 rounded the podium with a best time of 94.455 seconds.
Dubai Autodrome Chairman Saeed Khalfan said, “It is our commitment to encourage the culture of motor sport among the youth in the UAE and such events as the Red Line Challenge gives the young and ambitious drivers a chance to show their skills in a safe and supervised environment."
The action-packed day, filled with thrills and entertainment, came to a fitting end with a delicious barbeque at the paddock and a joyous award ceremony that recognised the winning drivers.
The successful end of the Red Line Challenge marked yet another red-letter day for the organisers at Dubai Autodrome towards their commitment in creating a culture for motor sports in the UAE.
