NFM Professionals triumph

Sheikh Hasher Al Maktoum led NFM Professionals to victory in one of the closest fought Nivea for Men Endurance Challenge 24 hour races ever held at Dubai’s Kartdrome. Starting at 2.15 pm on Friday, for 24 hours they slugged it out with Team Grohe for supremacy.

Saturday 2.15 pm, after 24 grueling and tense hours, NFM Professionals took the chequered flag, overcoming trying conditions and a determined challenge from their rivals, to notch up their second win of the 2009 series wit one round left.

From the outset it was clear that NFM Professionals, whose driver line-up included top drivers Sheikh Hasher Al Maktoum, Christophe Hissette and Saeed Al Mehairi were the team to beat, but would be facing stiff competition from Dubai based Team Grohe, with UAE Champion Scott Latham and top racers including Richie McLeod, Maurits Knopjes and Ramez Azzam. Also in touch with the leading duo were the French Esso 1 outfit.

Throughout the 24 hours Team Grohe and NFM Professionals were within 30 seconds of one another, they swapped the lead every hour in what turned out to be a battle of mind games and tactics.

It was nail biting stuff as NFM Professionals edged ahead in the final hour, keeping Team Grohe at bay in an intriguing game of cat and mouse. When the flag dropped NFM Professionals were once again triumphant as they crossed the line just over 30 seconds ahead of Team Grohe who gave a spirited fight to the bitter end.

Sheikh Hasher Al Maktoum said of the victory, “It was a good race. We battled Team Grohe throughout the event and they gave us a good challenge, as did the international teams from France, Italy and Germany. It was a strong team effort from our side and it is great for our team to win on home soil.”

Team Grohe’s Ramez Azzam was disappointed with second place as a win was on the team’s pre-race wish list, “It was a fantastic battle and until the very end it was not certain who was going to win.

Our team did everything possible and second is a good result, but really we wanted to win this one. We look forward to the final round in December where we believe we have a good chance at victory. Well done to the NFM Professionals with their win.”
 
Making their first visit to Dubai were the formidable French squad Esso 1 who fought gamely throughout the 24 hours, but lack of familiarity of the local conditions and the nuances of the Dubai 24 Hours, they gradually lost touch of the leaders, but nonetheless finished in a well deserved and impressive in third place.

A great achievement for their Kartdrome debut. Former winners Batelco, from Bahrain, gave a spirited performance throughout the 24 hours and were rewarded with fourth place, while Ocean Rubber took fifth place and picked up the fastest lap of the race award.

Special Award went to the Kayak Sunglasses team from Italy, featuring only women drivers, which showed up many of the “boys” on route to an impressive 13th place.

In the highly competitive Nivea for Men Endurance Challenge Corporate category Forum Racing took top honours ahead of second placed Reklooses (Emirates airlines team) and third spot going to Multiplex Racing.

Robert Taylor-Hughes, Nivea managing director for Middle East and West Asia said afterwards, “Once again the 24 Hours of Dubai delivered a classic event. Great atmosphere and an amazing race. It was good to see so many international teams. I congratulate NFM Professionals and Team Grohe for a fantastic performance.”

The final round of the 2009 Nivea for Men Challenge takes place at the Kartdrome on 11/12 December 2009.

source: Dubai Autodrome