Bank Muscat reiterates support to promote adventure motorsports

MUSCAT: Bank Muscat, the flagship financial services provider in the Sultanate, in line with its ‘ Let’s Do More’ vision and commitment to partnership in promoting Oman as a sporting nation, joined hands in hosting the Red Bull Car Park Drift Local Qualifier at the Oman Automobile Association track.

Waleed Al Hashar, deputy chief executive officer, was the guest of honour at the event in which adventure motoring enthusiasts turned out in large numbers.

Waleed Al Hashar expressed his joy and pride in hosting the event and congratulated the winners. Rifaat Al Yahyai won the first place followed by Haitham Al Hadidi and HH Dhulkafal Al Said in the second and third positions. Rifaat Al Yahyai will represent Oman in the regional Red Bull Car Park Drift final to be held in Kuwait.

Bank Muscat has been associated with the Red Bull event in its previous editions which were well received by motorsports enthusiasts in Oman. In 2016, the Sultanate hosted the Red Bull Car Park Drift final in which Oman produced the top three winners.

The motoring event puts com- petitors’ skills to test as they deploy a high level of expertise and courage to push the engines and car bodies to the limits, while maintaining exceptional car handling skills, all at high speeds.

Adventure sports manifest a striking parallel to the bank’s ethos characterised by its determination to take on challenges and prove its leadership capabilities. The bank’s support to motorsports activities stems from its commitment to raise awareness on responsible and safe driving as well as encouraging youth activities. The bank seeks to set an example for corporates to lend support to develop Oman as a motorsports destination and thereby promote the Sultanate’s tourism potential.

This was the ninth consecutive year Oman was hosting the Red Bull Car Park Drift Local Qualifier. Like previous years, the track was designed by Red Bull Athlete and Rally Champion Abdo Feghali. The drivers’ performance was scored based on car look and design (10%), tire smoke (10%), car sound (7%), section 1 drifting (15%), section 2 drifting (15%), boxes (15%), gates (15%) and pendulum (13%).