DHL Gulf Radical Cup
Rounds 3 & 4 – Bahrain International Circuit

Supporting the world-class Australian V8 Supercar Championship Series, the DHL Gulf Radical Cup in Bahrain produced some of the best races todate with race wins for John Stanley (Round 3) and Cabell Fisher (Round 4) in their spectacular Radical SR8 sports racers that lapped faster than the Australian V8s.
The DHL Gulf Radical Cup takes place in Dubai and Bahrain with six National and twelve expatriate residents of the GCC zone.

After Friday morning’s qualifying session it was Bassam Kronfli’s black carbon-bodied SR8 on pole with a fastest lap of 1:23.1475s with Cabell Fisher (U.S.A.) four tenths of a second behind on second and John Stanley (UK) in third. Harvey Boulter (UK) in the SR8 LM was fourth, with young Fahad Algosaibi (KSA) starting in fifth place.

Race 1 delivered some very close competition as the 11 Radical drivers were seen vying for top spot. However it was 2008 Radical European Masters winner Stanley who overtook Kronfli on lap 7 to come out on top with a fastest lap of 1:24.1268s followed closely behind in second place by Kronfli with Fisher in third.

Fahad Algosaibi picked up first place in Class C with 16 year old Emirati Sultan Mahboubi taking his first podium position in second place with Fawaz Al Gosaibi (KSA) in third. Great to see a father and son on the podium! Boulter took the trophy for the Invitation Class.

Race 2 hit the tarmac at midday on Saturday at the Bahrain International Circuit as the DHL Gulf Radical Cup again gave spectators some unforgettable action. Taking the lead and dominating Class C throughout the weekend was young Saudi driver Fahad Al Gosaibi who has now won all four rounds of Class C to date. Eric Charles (France) in the blue and orange colours of the Gulf Oil Radical SR5 CN came in second as Saudi driver Fawaz Algosaibi was forced to settle for third.

Meanwhile at the front in Class A we witnessed dramatic action as Fisher finished in first place this time, leaving the top three almost level-pegged. Stanley, who had won the day before settled for second whilst Bassam Kronfli finished in third.

As the 53rd running of the Gulf Radical Cup race drew to a close in Bahrain the ‘A’ Class competition looks close between John Stanley, Cabell Fisher and Bassam Kronfli. With Rounds 5 & 6 due next weekend in Dubai, the three Radical SR8s were clearly the fastest and best sounding cars in Bahrain – with Kronfli qualifying 1.9 seconds per lap faster than the Jamie Whincup’s Australian V8 pole time and 2.3 seconds faster than Christian Menzel’s Porsche GT3 Cup pole time.

Barry Hope, Championship Promoter, highlighted that this weekend was a great experience for all his drivers participating alongside such a high-level series for the third year. He added that it had again been a superb weekend in Bahrain which would not have been possible without the support and help from the management and staff of the BIC. He also stressed that the drivers had a great time, and particularly enjoyed watching last year’s Gulf Radical Cup Champion Fahad Al Musalem (Bahrain) race in the Team Kiwi Racing V8 team car, and looked forward to coming back next year.