The opening round of the Qatar Drift Championship for the 2024/2025 season concluded in Doha, Qatar, with a strong lineup of drivers from the Gulf and surrounding regions. The event, held at the Qatar Racing Club (QRC) drift track, saw a packed audience enjoying the thrilling action during the weekend. The patronage of QRC Chairman H E Sheikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Thani added prestige to the competition, which spanned two days.
The first day of the event focused on qualifying trials, where each competitor had a single run to complete the track and earn points set by the judging panel. After the first round, Kuwaiti driver Ali Makhseed initially led the standings with 88.67 points, only to be surpassed by last season’s champion, Ahmed Al Amri from Oman, who scored 93 points on his second attempt. In the local category, Qatari driver Saud Al Attiyah led the standings, followed by Mohammed Al Jaber from Qatar and Jordanians Yazan Jabsheh and Abdullah Al Muhtaseb.
The drivers were then placed in a tandem battle bracket based on their qualifying results, leading to intense head-to-head matches. The battles on the first day saw Ahmed Al Amri and Salem Al Sarraf advancing to the first semifinal, with Makhseed and Mohammed Khorshid progressing to the second semifinal. Salem Al Sarraf emerged victorious in the semifinals, securing a spot in the final against Ali Makhseed.
The final showdown between Makhseed and Al Sarraf was a highly anticipated match, but it was cut short due to issues faced by Al Sarraf, who settled for second place. Makhseed claimed victory in the first round after years of absence from competition, sending a strong message to his competitors of his intentions to win the championship this season.
Director of Organizers at Qatar Racing Club, Khalifa Al Khayareen, presented trophies to the top finishers, with extensive coverage from Qatari and Gulf media. The first round of the championship was a success, and preparations are now underway for the second round scheduled for November 7 and 8. Spectators can look forward to more thrilling drift action as the competition intensifies in the upcoming rounds of the Qatar Drift Championship.
