Meet Oman's first female drag racer

Muscat: Oman’s first woman drag racer Sana Said Al Shekaili has highlighted the importance of traffic safety on the tracks and on the roads.
“My message to everyone is to always comply with safety instructions, use designated spaces when racing, and follow safety instructions,” said Al Shekaili who is also the first Omani female to participate in the Mustang Drag Race 2018 at Yas Circuit in Abu Dhabi.
Despite it being her first race, Al Shekaili ranked first among women and fourth overall in the Mustang Drag Race 2018.
“Drag race has been a dream of mine ever since I discovered competitive driving. I began in 2007 with a fairly traditional sports car. Then I realised I needed a car that had more technical capability. That is why I chose my Mustang,” she said.
Al Shekaili finally found a car that suited her and in which she was able to showcase her mechanical skills, in addition to her own unique touches.
“I began to modify the car and added authentic touches of my own designs. Then I began to equip the car technically to a level that allowed me to participate in events at the GCC level,” Al Shekaili explained.
Drag racing is not a common sport for women in the Sultanate, however, having her parents’ full support from the beginning helped Al Shekaili chase her dreams.
“My parents are my main support system. I am blessed because I realise that society has a stereotypical idea of the type of sports women and men can play,” she said.
“I expected to encounter some bias but thankfully I received a lot of encouragement and advice from my fellow drivers, which reflects the spirit of sportsmanship,” Al Shekaili said.
Stating that she wanted to leave her mark on global races, she said: “I hope to participate in international competitions in order to leave a fingerprint of Omani women among the women of the world. I hope to be an example for young girls in the Sultanate, to show them that dreams can come true. As long as you work hard, you can always break boundaries,” she added.