Drift star Ali confident of memorable show

By Anuroop A — MUSCAT: Dec. 6: Omani drift driver Ali al Balushi is all set for a memorable outing at the upcoming Red Bull Car Park Drift Final in Muscat. “I am ready for the final challenge. My car is in good condition. Our support staff and the whole team are raring to go. This time I want to become the winner,” the Omani drift sensation said during a function, which unveiled Ali as the brand ambassador of car detailing company Reflexions 44 at the showroom in Athaiba. Ali al Balushi, fondly known as ‘Lalou’ finished second in last year’s final. He was also crowned as Oman’s King of Drift for the fourth consecutive year at the Red Bull Car Park Drift Oman Qualifier held recently in association with the Oman Automobile Association at its premises. The regional final will be held at Port Sultan Qaboos, Muttrah on December 9. The other two Omanis in the final are Haitham al Hadidi and Tariq al Shaihani. Khalid Said al Wahaibi, Managing Director, Reflexions 44, said Ali al Balushi is Oman’s pride. “He mirrors our global ambitions. Ali coming as the brand ambassador will help us tap the youth sector. We wish he comes out in flying colours in the international arena.” On the drift final, Al Wahaibi said Ali has the capability to rise to the big occasion. “He has the talent to excel and we are behind him for all support,” he said adding that the star drifter will be associated with the company in the coming years too. Ali said the final will be a tough challenge as there will be 14 drivers from various countries in the region. “It will be a tough affair. There are lot of experienced drivers in the final and I hope to make it big this time due to the home advantage.” When asked to name his tough challengers, Ali pointed out Jordanian driver Rafat Haron and Moroccan Zaki Lafreky. “Rafat and Zaki will pose major challenge I feel in the final,” he said. The confirmed drifters so far include: Abdelrahman Fakhroo (Qatar), Mesyar Abu Shaibah (Kuwait), Maged Abo Selim (Egypt), Emmanuel d‘Hotman de Villiers (Mauritius), Mohamed Khalil Kharrat  (Tunisia),  Ahmad Karaki (Lebanon), Zaki Lafreky (Morocco), Rafat Haron (Jordan), Salman Mohammed (Bahrain), Ali al Balushi (Oman), Haitham al Hadidi (Oman), and Tariq al Shaihani (Oman). The competition will be judged by a panel of professional motorsports athletes including Dai Yoshihara, Aleksandr Grinchuk, Kenshiro Gushi and Khalid al Manji. Red Bull Car Park Drift Final 2016 marks the seventh edition of the event. Each year a judging panel of 3-4 motorsports veterans and experts select the country winners who go on to compete in the Final where one overall winner is crowned ‘King of Drift’. UAE drifter Ahmad Daham took the top spot in 2015 with his flawless performance in a Nissan Silvia closely followed 23 points behind by Omani Ali al Balushi. “My dream is to put Oman on top after the final this year. Hopefully, I will be able to do it,” the Omani King of Drift signed off.