Drag racing a family affair at Yas

Speed demons put the pedal to the metal at annual Yas racing challenge.

A Porsche pulls ahead in a qualifying race for the Yas Super Street Challenge at Yas Marina. Delores Johnson / The National

ABU DHABI // “When people think of a drag racer they most likely imagine a mean guy, most likely a criminal,” said Saud Al Qaydi, speaking at the qualifying round of the open drag-racing competition that he heads at Yas Marina Circuit.

Mr Al Qaydi, who is running the Yas Super Street Challenge competition, which started on Thursday, said the opposite was true.

“They are people who just care about their cars and all they want to do is to go faster,” he said. “If you provide them with a safe atmosphere you’ll see that this can be a family event.”

Judging by some of the competitors, Mr Al Qaydi was spot on.

Fadi Tammour, 36, brought his family to cheer him on in his souped-up, two-door Lumina SS in the 10.5 category.

The owner and manager of a Dubai car workshop specialising in modifications, who also happens to be a professional drag racer, said his wife would be competing, for the first time, in the 4x4 category in their 2014 Grand Cherokee SRT.

Ghayda Ismael, 35, who has been helping out with the family business for the past five years, said she recently decided to join her husband on the track.

Ms Ismael, who started practising on the track just last week, said she had previously held off taking part in racing because of her young daughter.

“Now she’s old enough and she’s going to become a racer soon enough,” she said.

When asked if she was nervous, she said: “I’m only nervous because my car isn’t modified like some of the competition, but I’m still expecting the first position.”

Mr Tammour said his wife was very competitive and could see them racing against each other one day. “But I will not let her win,” he said.

Last year’s winner of the fastest time and top speed in the open category, a classification that allows any type of modification, said he brought his sons, aged 6 and 8, to encourage them to take an interest in the sport.

“I make sure they are involved in the garage, like my dad did with me, and take them carting here at Yas,” said Hisham Islah Ibrahim, 42, the owner of a modification garage in Mussafah for the past 22 years.

Mr Ibrahim brought his award-winning car, a modified Ford Mustang, that now carries 1,500 horsepower.

The twin turbo-powered car has the title as the fastest street vehicle in the Middle East, according to Mr Ibrahim, for reaching a top speed of 297kph in a quarter-mile.

The capital’s circuit is the perfect setting for car enthusiasts, although Mr Ibrahim admitted he started racing illegally more than 10 years ago on the empty roads of Sweihan and Mussaffah.

“I stopped now because its dangerous and I’ve seen some bad accidents in the past. Competitions such as these are important in getting people off the streets and should be advertised even more,” he said.

Mr Al Qaydi said one of the main goals of the Yas Super Street Challenge was to encourage motoring safety.

“People can come here and pay Dh400 to compete or Dh300 for an open drag night every month rather than paying for an expensive speeding ticket on the street,” said Mr Al Qaydi.

He said inspections, which scrutinise vehicles before entering the competition, would help to increase the safety aspect.

“Before it was having the most horsepower. But with competitions disqualifying you for faulty suspension, chassis and drivetrain, people are starting to invest more in safety,” he said.

The competition continues on Friday with elimination rounds starting at 4.30pm.