OAA to launch season with Bidiyah Sand Car Challenge

MUSCAT, OCT 19

On Friday, Bidiyah Square in North Al Sharqiyah Governorate will witness the launching of the opening round of the Sand Car Challenge, organised by the Bidiyah Endurance Racing Club in cooperation with the Oman Automobile Association.

Faisal bin Humaid al Hajri, head of the Bidiyah Endurance Racing Club, confirmed that “the organising committee continues its field efforts to host the opening round in the season 2022-23, which include three categories of competitions, six-cylinder category, the eight-cylinder category and the open category”.

“Pointing out that endurance motor racing represents one of the most prominent youth sports in the state, the competition excitement and suspense among Omani and GCC participants, the competition expected large number of fans from various governorates of Oman, in addition to foreign tourists that visit the sand terrain during the winter season,” he said.

The Oman Automobile Association applies the applicable regulations and laws to provide all safety measures for drivers, in six, eight cylinder and open category. The participants are allowed to use any type of tyres with 35 as maximum size, they are not entitled to use gas, super or turbo in all categories, the driver has to wear the full sports uniform, seat belt and helmet with availability of a fire extinguisher with safety chassis from the inside, also required to install a safety guard for open-top cars, the contestant allowed to remove the co-driver seat, engine cover and to change the original fuel tank, also can change windows to reinforced plastic to reduce the vehicle’s weight.

In the six- and eight-cylinder categories, the contestant have only two attempts to start at 20 metres before the sensitive device to the ending point at 60 metres, the total length is 80 metres, and 15 minutes as maximum time between two attempts.

In the open categories, the contestant have only two attempts to start at 5 metres before the sensitive device to the ending point at 60 metres, the total length is 65 metres, and 15 minutes as maximum time between two attempts.