Monday 16 / September / 2024
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 competitors’ 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%). The technically demanding competition gave minimal room for error as drifters were penalised for a simple uncontrolled spin, move in the wrong direction or if they touched an obstacle.
The event reflected a major stride in adventure sports in Oman, inspiring a new generation of Omani youth to take up adventure sports for leisure as well as competitive sport.
Bank Muscat has adopted a series of measures to support sporting activities and develop the potential of youth. True to its commitment to supporting sporting activities in the country, Bank Muscat remains at the forefront in offering the required encouragement and support to youth who represent the future of Oman.
The bank utilised the opportunity to showcase its exclusive products and services targeted at the youth segment. The bank’s Shababi package is aimed at supporting the lifestyle of college students and encouraging savings habit for a secure future. Shababi helps youth to make smart financial choices to save, spend and manage money as students.
