Bandar Galib scored the first ever victory in autocross competition clocking 00:40:345 during the 1st day of the 1st round of Toyota Saudi Star Autocross Championship 2008 at Durat Al-Arous here. Bandar Galib, a phenomenon in the exciting sport of autocross, charged through the grueling qualification process and won the “tandem driving” skills battle. Bandar Galib said, “I would like to thank Toyota motorsport team and Abdullah Bakhashab, motorsport developer in the Kingdom for making the sport increasingly more challenging.” Faisal Al-Sharif, driving standard 8 cylinders Subaru Impreze, stood second (00:40:895). Fahd Al-Harazi, driving Toyota Yaris, managed to clinch third position (00:42:546). Autocross is a powerful and highly skilled motorsport that needs drivers to control a car while it slides at high speeds through a marked course. It is similar to rally racing, but is done on a special course. It is judged on execution and style rather than just who finishes the course fastest - similar to freestyle motocross. It was in 2004 that the Toyota Saudi Star Autocross series began searching for talented drivers at the national level in the Kingdom. Autocross is a fast growing motorsport, with a growing fan base and many corporations trying to support the venture. Abdullah Bakhashab, motorsport developer in the Kingdom, said, “Autocross has come in for a lot of criticism also. Exciting as it may be, this is not the kind of driving we encourage on public roads, hence we have to do a lot in transforming it into an organized motor sport discipline. Saudi drivers who are undoubtedly skilled in Autocross technique can now find a stage to show their talent. Our role is to ensure safety.” __
