Thousands of fans descended onto the Al Maneyeh desert in Saudi Arabia last Friday to watch car and motorcycle racing champions battle it out on the sand in the first international Sand Drag Championships to be held in the Al Maneyeh desert. They brought food, drinks and tents and awaited the start of the race which saw big names in the Racing world join in the competition. First to hit the sands was United Arab Emirates and Middle East racing champion Khalid al-Balushi, who managed to win first prize adding another title to his winnings across the region. Race participant from Qatar, Sarayea al-Hajiri said desert racing is in the blood of people from the Gulf region and it helps keep bored youths occupied. This is an old hobby and sport for people and is popular with young people. To be honest, what we are doing here is out of boredom and it is something in our blood, we like racing and it is a nice sport and there is interest, if there wasn't this much interest from the audience and competitors, then we wouldn't be doing something like this, he said. Around 40,000 people were said to have gathered to watch the event, at Al Maneyeh desert, which is 300 kilometers away from the Saudi capital Riyadh. Forty-three participants took place in the competition, coming from several Gulf countries including Kuwait, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and local contestants from Saudi Arabia. For participants, taking part in competitions like this can land each one with a bill of anything between 16,000 to 133,000 US Dollars, and that's for the car alone. The cost of my car is approximately 60,000 - 65,000 (Saudi Riyals) (Approximately 16,000 to 17,000 US Dollars), but there are people with the cost of the car engine alone coming to around 200,000 to 225,000 (Approximately 53,000 to 59,900 US Dollars), which means the cost of the car is about quarter or half a million (Saudi Riyals) (Approximately 67,700 or 133,000 US Dollars), said Saudi participant Abdullah Al-Thfairi. Although this makes it an elite sport for those who can afford it, it adds to the fans' excitement as they follow and cheer for their favorite cars and drivers and examine the latest technology and gadgets they have brought to the desert landscape. The race is highly competitive with everyone keen on impressing. Thank God we have participated in the race in Al Maneyeh in Qassim and I have achieved -- the championship hasn't finished -- but so far I am in second place, I hope I will be the second, I had hoped to achieve a better time but God willing the next Championships will be better, racer Mohammed al-Khalidi said. The sand drag race ended with Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Abdul Aziz, the prince of the province where the event is taking place (al-Qassim), handing out prizes to the competition winners. The UAE's Khalid al-Balushi took first prize as expected, followed by Saudis Mohammed al-Khalidi and Omar al-Yahei in second and third. Officials hope the event will continue to attract more attention and spectators to benefit tourism in the area.Al Maneyeh proved its existence and now we can say it has become an excellent attraction of tourism in the area. This audience here today is proof of that and we enjoyed this wonderful event. Al Maneyeh is now recognised and God willing, will always be here to promote the nation and to carry and rise up its name in every place, said Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Abdul Aziz. Car racing is a very popular hobby in Saudi Arabia and Saudi youth spend much of their money customizing their cars. The winners of the sand drag race received a financial reward as well as a trophy for their efforts.
