Shaikh Returns to Form With Sws Senior Cup Win Eelma Tops Masters Class and Maiden Junior Cup Victory for Gid

Veteran racers dominated the SWS Senior Cup on Monday night (25 September) at Dubai Kartdrome with Anjum Shaikh taking the overall victory and Heiki Eelma claiming Masters.  In the SWS Junior Cup, Hugo Gid nabbed the top step of the podium for the very first time.

SWS Senior Cup & Masters

Maz Nawaz topped qualifying screens with a best lap time of 1:12.401, and the Dojomoto driver featured prominently in the upcoming battles for the next two races.

Nawaz emerged as one of three serious contenders for the night, along with Ahmed Al Hammadi and Anjum Shaikh.  

In both races the lead shifted between the races, but Shaikh was relentless in his pursuit of the chequered flag.  He took race one by 2.246 seconds over Al Hammadi, and race two by just 0.197 seconds over Nawaz.

After the race points were tallied, Anjum Shaikh was the clear victor after securing the full 80 points.  Maz Nawaz and Ahmed Al Hammadi tied at 69 points apiece, but the earlier success of Nawaz in qualifying handed him the second place trophy, leaving Al Hammadi with a well-fought third place consolation prize.

For Anjum Shaikh, it was his first SWS Senior Cup win since May.  He said, “Thanks to Maz; he pushed me the whole race which got me the much awaited victory.”

In the Masters category of the Senior Cup, for drivers 35 and over, Heiki Eelma routed the competition with two class victories and 38 points on the night.  Last week’s Masters winner, Damian Hehir, gave chase but had to settle for second place on 29 points, and Juergen Schmitz claimed third with 26 points.

SWS Junior Cup

Hugo Gid, a regular challenger for frontrunner in the past year, had remained without a win until Monday night.

The Al Azhari brothers dominated early on with Adam Al Azhari taking pole position with a best qualifying lap time of 1:19.272, a remarkable 1.25 seconds ahead of his nearest rival, and brother, Enzo Al Azhari.

Both Al Azhari brothers ran into trouble in race one, opening the way for Patrick Debattista to take the chequered flag, 3.055 seconds ahead of Gid, who had started from fourth on the grid to claim second place.  Federico Al Rifai collected third.

In race two Kamal Agha had a sensational drive, working his way up the grid with some daring passes to take the win, crossing the finish line 2.187 seconds in front of Alex Wareing.  Hugo Gid trailed in for third place.

Gid’s second and third place finishes earned him 69 points and the first place Junior Cup trophy.  Alex Wareing was only two points adrift on 67 and Kamal Agha took home the third place trophy on 66 points.

The next SWS Sprint Series will take place at Dubai Kartdrome on Monday night, 9 October 2017.