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As the summer motor
racing season draws to a close in Europe, Dubai's prestigious 'Gulf
Radical Cup' is only one month away from firing up!
In the UK, we saw
25 cars competing for the Radical Club Cup and 17 cars in the Radical UK Cup at
Brands Hatch. At the International level, there was a capacity grid of 40 cars
at the last round of the Radical European Masters on the full Silverstone Grand
Prix circuit last weekend.
Back in Dubai, the
first race of the 2008/9 Gulf Radical Cup takes place on
24thst race since the GulfSport
Racing owned championship started in January 2006. There are no less than 20
Radical sports racing cars ready for the Gulf Radical Cup this season
which runs as three races in one. October and will be the 51
Class A is the
fastest group with experienced drivers competing in 2.6 litre Powertec V8
engined SR8s. Last season’s Vice Champion Bassam Kronfli has moved up to Class A
and is going for gold after narrowly missing the title last year. However, he
may face some tough competition from ex-CART Toyota Atlantic driver Eduardo
Figueroa. In addition, both John Stanley and Bob George have been scoring podium
finishes in their Radical SR8s this year in the Radical European Masters. But
hang on - who won the last two races of last season? Cabell Fisher in the
Khaleeji Motorsport SR8.
Class C is
the biggest group with most drivers in near identical 252bhp Powertec
Suzuki SR3s and the lone Honda VTEC powered SR5 CN of Eric Charles. With several
new drivers it’s hard to predict who will come out on top. The more experienced
drivers include David Moran, Andrew Lemon, Khalid Al Zarooni, Eric Charles and
Keverne McShine. By contrast we will see the debut of a young Emirati driver,
Sultan Al Mahboubi. However, we mustn’t discount the fast improving drivers who
started racing last season – Carl Rolaston, Humaid Al Masaood and Rami Malhas.
However, I have a sneaking suspicion that promising young Saudi driver Fahad Al
Gosaibi could give them all a run for their money – as well as his father,
Fawaz, who will also be joining us in a second Team Al Gosaibi Travel
SR3.
The non-points
scoring Invitation Class should also provide some fun, not least because one of
the UK’s leading professional racers, Nigel Greensall, is expected to put in a
number of guest appearances in David Moran’s 1300cc SR3 Tracksport! With Harvey
Boulter out to tame the outrageously powerful 2.8 litre V8 Radical SR8 LM, and
new driver Henry van den Heuval in the PR6 Prosport, we expect to see some real
fireworks this season.
Rounds 1 and 2 get
underway on 24th October at the Dubai Autodrome followed by Rounds 3 and 4
in support of the Australian V8 Supercars in Bahrain on 6/7th
November.
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