15 WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2020 sports

BIC hosts back-to-back days of Open Track and Sainz takes Dakar lead Ultimate track experience victorious for JCW X-Raid Team in third stage of 2020 TDT | Manama

ahrain JCW X-Raid Team’s Carlos Sainz, with Bco-driver , claimed an impressive victory amongst the cars competitors yesterday in the third stage of the 2020 Dakar Rally in . Sainz steered their no. 305 challenger to first place after Cars in action at BIC completing the 489-kilometre leg in three hours 48 minutes TDT | Manama and one second. BETTER They were more than three- ahrain International Cir- and-a-half minutes ahead of Bcuit (BIC) hosts a busy their closest rivals Nasser Al weekend for speed enthusi- KNOW Attiyah and Matthieu Baumel asts with back-to-back days of of Toyota Gazoo Racing. adrenaline-pumping events, Bahrain JCW X-Raid team- including Open Track Day and mates Stephane Peterhansel and the Ultimate Track Experi- The Clio Cup car is a Paulo Fiuza were classified sev- ence. Renault-manufactured enth in their no. 302 car, more These are two of the most racing machine. It than 10 minutes behind Sainz popular activities at “The features a 1.6-litre Tur- and Cruz. Sainz and Cruz race through the desert during the third stage yesterday Home of Motorsport in the The world’s most fearsome Middle East” as they put mo- bocharged engine that off-road race continued in the Following yesterday’s third huge 453km marked as special. torsport lovers right in the can generate up to city of Neom yesterday, with stage results, Sainz and Cruz The Dakar Rally, an annual heart of the action. 220bhp and 6,000rpm 404km of the course marked moved to the top of the general event which was first launched Open Track will be held on as special. ranking for cars. They have a in Paris 1979, ran from Europe to Friday along BIC’s 5.412-kilo- can generate up to 220bhp “I think it was a really nice combined time of 11:00:20 af- the Senegalese city it is named metre Grand Prix Circuit while and 6,000rpm. The passenger stage, with fantastic landscapes,” 33 ter three stages so far, and are after for decades, then moved to the Ultimate Track Experience experience can be bought for said Sainz. “There wasn’t much stage victories have nearly eight minutes ahead of in 2009, where it takes place on Saturday (Janu- BD26.500. time to see it, but it was really been earned by Carlos second-placed Al Attiyah and remained until this year’s event. ary 11) on BIC’s 2.55-kilometre The Radical SR3 boasts an nice. Lucas did a really good Sainz in his career Baumel. Saudi became the first coun- Inner Track. RPE-Suzuki Generation 1,340 job with the navigation and we Peterhansel and Fiuza moved try in the region to play host to Friday’s Open Track is DOHC engine. It can go from really attacked hard. On the last up to fifth on the standings. the challenge, gaining the right scheduled from 9am until 5pm. zero to 100kmh in 3.4 seconds, part of the stage we were open- Stage four today will see the to hold it for the next five years. It is expected to draw in scores and it has a six-speed sequen- ing the way, but it was okay. It’s and a lot of kilometres pushing competitors leaving Neom as A total of 550 drivers from 62 of participants looking to drive tial gearbox and paddle gear- still really early though. hard, but you never know - an- the race heads to Al-`Ula 676km nations are exploring the vast their sports cars or ride their shift system. The SR3 passen- “When you see racing on a day ything can happen any day. The away. It will be another chal- and formidable desert terrains motorbikes along a world-class ger ride costs BD37. like this, anything can happen, navigation is also tricky, but so lenging day when it comes to of the largest country in the re- racing facility. At the Ultimate Track Expe- you know. We spent a lot of time far, so good.” the overall classification, with a gion. The cost to take part is rience on Saturday, race fans BD89.500 for the full day and will be able to enjoy the activ- BD63 for a half day. There is ity from 8am until 4pm. also an option of a single ses- It is set to include drives in a sion for BD26.500. Discounts Clio Cup and in a Radical SR1 are available for those who prototype, as well as a second Saini, Thakur help cruise to victory book in advance. straight day for thrilling pas- Also set to be held as part senger rides in the Clio Cup AFP | Indore on a key 51-run stand for the of the Open Track Day are the car and the ultra-quick Radical third . Jaguar Experience, and pas- SR3. ast bowler Navdeep Saini led But it was the Indian bowlers senger experiences in a Clio The drive in the Clio Cup Fa disciplined Indian bowling who set the platform for victory Cup sports car and Radical SR3 car can be purchased for performance to set up a sev - after Kohli won the toss and prototype. BD115.500. The Radical SR1 en-wicket win over in elected to field first. Delivered through a unique prototype features a 1,340cc the second interna- Sri Lanka kept losing and tailored drive, the Jaguar engine which can generate tional in Indore yesterday. at regular intervals despite a Experience has been designed 185bhp. It launches from zero Saini returned impressive fig- brisk start but it was wrist spin- to ensure that all guests are to 100kph in 3.6 seconds. This ures of 2-18 while fellow pace- ner Kuldeep Yadav’s two key given a dynamic, hands-on and drive costs BD126, and com- man Shardul Thakur claimed strikes including , memorable time in a Jaguar pleting the Clio Cup drive is a three wickets to help restrict for 28, that further put a lid on F-Type. The cost for the Jaguar prerequisite to taking part in Sri Lanka to 142 for nine, a to- the islanders’ scoring. Experience is BD63. the SR1 experience. tal the hosts surpassed in 17.3 Saini, who bowled opener The Clio Cup car is a Re- Both the Clio Cup and SR3 overs to take a 1-0 lead in the for 20, nault-manufactured racing passenger rides will be the three-match series. The open- claimed Bhanuka Rajapaksa machine. It features a 1.6-li- same price as they were on ing match was rained off. India’s Navdeep Saini reacts during the match caught behind for nine as Sri tre Turbocharged engine that Friday. KL Rahul, who top-scored chase on a good pitch. review. Lanka slipped to 104 for five. with 45, and Shikhar Dhawan, Leg-spinner Wanindu Hasa- Shreyas Iyer, who scored 34 Pace spearhead Jasprit Bum- who made 32, on his return from ranga sent back the two openers before falling to paceman La- rah also took a wicket on his injury, put on 71 runs for the as he bowled Rahul with a goog- hiru Kumara, and skipper Virat return from a four-month injury opening wicket to lay the plat- ly and then dismissed Dhawan Kohli, who made an unbeaten lay-off by bowling Dasun Shana- Shaikh Khalid Cup endurance race set form for India’s comfortable lbw after a successful Sri Lanka 30 and hit the winning six, put ka with a slower ball. TDT | Manama Al Khalifa directed Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endur- n endurance race for the ance Federation (BREEF) Pres- Acup of Supreme Council ident Shaikh Isa bin Abdulla for Youth and Sports ( SCYS) Al Khalifa to ensure the good Verstappen to stay at Red Bull until 2023 First Deputy-Chairman and organisation of the race. Bahrain Olympic Committee He urged BREEF committees AFP | London Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes if contract extension with Ferrari “I want to win with @redbull (BOC) President Shaikh Khalid to start preparations for the the six-time world champion, last month. and @HondaRacingF1, our goal bin Hamad Al Khalifa will be race, which is expected to draw ax Verstappen has signed also out of contract at the end Verstappen, who finished is to fight for a World Champi- held on Saturday. participation from all stables, Ma new contract with Red of the season, moves to Ferrari. third in the drivers’ champion- onship together.” His Majesty the King’s Rep- ensuring a highly competitive Bull until 2023, the Formula One But Verstappen, an eight- ship last season, tweeted: “Very Red Bull team principal resentative for Charity Works event. team announced yesterday. time Grand Prix winner, has proud and happy that @redbull- Christian Horner said: “With and Youth Affairs, Nation - He said that the riders have The 22-year-old Dutchman’s now committed his long-term racing will stay my home until the challenge of the 2021 reg- al Security Advisor and Su - gained an edge, lauding their deal was due to expire this year, future to Red Bull. 2023. We started this journey ulation changes on the horizon preme Council for Youth and outstanding performance dur- and he had been earmarked as The move follows Charles together and they have support- continuity in as many areas as Sports Affairs (SCYS) Chair- ing the National Day endur- a potential candidate to replace Leclerc’s signing of a five-year ed me from day 1. possible is key. man Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad ance championship.