Abdullah al-Khelaifi, driving a Westfield Sport, topped the time charts in Class 1M to emerge as the best in the feature competition of Qatar National Sprint 2018, organised by Qatar Motor and Motorcycling Federation (QMMF) at the Losail International Circuit yesterday.
Al-Khelaifi, who won the inaugural Qatar Touring Car Championship (QTCC) in a Toyota last year, had a time of 1:04.126secs in Run 1 but returned firing on all cylinders in Run 2 clocking a best lap of 58.170secs. In Run 3, he clocked 58.352 to beat the rest of the 17 racers field in grand style.
Only ten drivers finished the first official Run 3, and nine Run 3.
A Aziz al-Jabri (Toyota GT 86) was a distant second with a best lap of 1:06.110secs. Amro al-hamad, also in Toyota GT 86 was a close third in 1:06.307secs.
In Class 3M, Yaser al-Jiahma, driving a Caterham, finished in 1:06.991; 1:07.270 and 1:04.573 in the Run1, 2 and 3 respectively and had a best lap of 1:04.573 to claim the first place. Maher Serre (Volkswagen Golf) clocked 1:09.040; 1:12.753 and 1:05.393 to finish as the runner-up, while Mohammed al-Jabir in Chevrolet Corvette (1:08.412; 1:07.397 & 1:06.306) was third.
Class 3S was topped by Abdullah al-Shaikhan, who drove a Viper. He finished the three runs in 1:02.331; 1:34.021 and 1:06.691secs. He was followed by Francesco Fornaciari in a Lotus Exige.