Soccer and driving are passion for Saudi youth. Some take it just for fun and pastime but some take it seriously and turn into professionals. Saudi Arabia has qualified for the World Cup finals four times and Saudi Arabia has also produced the best rally driver of the Middle East. One thing is for sure to international rally champion Abdullah Bakhashab that Saudi Arabia has abundant talent in motorsport. It was Bakhashab, who dominated the rally scene in nineties in the Middle East, put the Kingdom on the motrosport map and his fame and achievements attracted Saudi youth into motorsport. “We have a lot of talented youth who could gatecrash into Formula One scene one day if they are properly guided and professionally trained,” said Bakhashab. “Roads and expressways are not the places to show your wares in driving. The youth should be directed, advised, trained at proper places.” Bakhashb, who spends his time and energy for the development of the motorsport in the Kingdom after retiring from competitions, has become the prime organizer and developer of this sport. He expressed his satisfaction over the improvement of rallies, motorsport competitions, autocross and karting competitions in the Kingdom. The rally school and karting centers have played a vital role in raising the number of potential rally champions. Majed Al-Jamidi, the three-time Toyota Saudi rally champion of Middle East, Sultan Hamdi, the 2004 champion, Sultan Kaylo, Mohammed Al-Orabi, Hasan Sharbatly and Mansour Al-Khatani, Saudi Star champion, are some of the drivers who have shot into fame through the guidance of Bakhashab. “It was my dream to properly organize this sport in this country. And it was achieved with IN 10 SO at the Sherafi Mall in Jeddah, the first entertainment center in the Middle East that has a karting race track. “In conformity with the development of motorsport all over the world with the support of Formula One companies, we also followed the same direction of Michael Schumacher and Fernando Alonso. That was the reason for setting up of this karting race track. The IN10 SO center has all sorts of training in karting race and unveils champions,” said Bakhashab. Bakhashab said that he is trying to spread his activities more in Jeddah by opening another IN 10 SO Center in Red Sea Mall soon.
