UAE's Rashid Al Dhaheri shines with P2 Finish on Hungaroring Debut
BUDAPEST (WAM) Emirati racing sensation Rashid Al Dhaheri delivered an impressive performance this weekend at the iconic Hungaroring circuit, securing a second-place finish and valuable championship points in the Formula Regional Championship.Located just outside Budapest, the Hungaroring is renowned for its tight, technical layout and rich history in Formula racing. It demands precision, endurance, and a perfectly balanced car setup.For Al Dhaheri, it was his first-ever appearance at the historic venue, but the young driver wasted no time getting up to speed. From the opening test session on Thursday, he was immediately competitive, showcasing his adaptability and quick learning on unfamiliar terrain.Throughout the collective test days on Thursday and Friday, Rashid and his PREMA team worked meticulously on refining the car's setup. Their collaborative efforts focused on achieving optimal balance and performance for the challenging race weekend ahead, and the pace quickly began to reflect their preparation.On Saturday, Al Dhaheri qualified P3 in the first session and followed it up with a composed drive in Race 1 to finish a solid P4, collecting valuable points for both the driver and team standings. The extreme summer heat presented an additional layer of difficulty, testing the physical and mental resilience of drivers and teams alike.Sunday saw Al Dhaheri elevate his performance even further. After qualifying P2, he delivered a clean and confident drive in Race 2, securing a well-deserved second-place finish. The result also contributed crucial points to the team in the constructors' championship.'What a weekend in Hungary,' Al Dhaheri said. 'I'm heading home with great points and strong momentum for the season. Huge thanks to my team for their incredible work and to everyone who continues to support me—it was my first time racing at the Hungaroring, and I loved every lap!'This podium marks yet another milestone in Rashid Al Dhaheri's journey from international karting champion to one of the most promising young talents in global motorsport. His ability to perform under pressure, adapt quickly, and collaborate effectively with his team continues to distinguish him on the competitive European racing circuit.
The next round of the championship will take place in two weeks at the Paul Ricard Circuit in France, where Rashid will look to build on his strong form.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Khaleej Times
3 hours ago
- Khaleej Times
UAE's Mohammad Yahya returns to the octagon at UFC Fight Night Abu Dhabi
UFC FIGHT NIGHT: WHITTAKER vs DE RIDDER is set to take place on Saturday, July 26, at Etihad Arena, Yas Island, and will feature Emirati featherweight fighter Mohammad Yahya making his highly anticipated return to the Octagon. Yahya is set to face Steven Nguyen in the prelims, marking his first UFC appearance since August 2024. This bout offers Yahya an opportunity to bounce back from a challenging fight against Brazil's Kauê Fernandes, where he suffered a first-round TKO loss. Fighting on home soil in Abu Dhabi, Yahya will be backed by a passionate crowd as he looks to secure his first UFC victory and put Emirati MMA on the global map. Headliners to watch The main event sees No.5 ranked middleweight Robert Whittaker take on Dutch submission specialist Reinier de Ridder. Whittaker, a former UFC middleweight champion with a 27-8-0 record, brings a wealth of experience and signature victories over names like Yoel Romero and Marvin Vettori. He aims to reassert his dominance after recent setbacks. Meanwhile, de Ridder (20-2-0), who joined the UFC in late 2024, is riding high after a massive win against Bo Nickal. Known for his elite grappling and relentless ground game, the Dutch fighter is climbing the rankings quickly and hopes to add a former champion to his résumé. The July 26 card also features an exciting lineup of international matchups: Each bout brings its own flavour of action and is expected to thrill fans in Abu Dhabi and beyond.
The National
8 hours ago
- The National
Eisa Al Dah says Ricky Hatton fight will put Dubai on the boxing map
After more than six months of negotiations, Eisa Al Dah believes he has finally checked off one of his long-held objectives: putting Dubai on the boxing world map. The Emirati will take on former two-weight world champion Ricky Hatton in a middleweight contest at The Agenda in Dubai on December 2 – a red letter day in the country when it celebrates its 54th National Day. Al Dah, the first Emirati pro boxer and now promoter, has lofty ambitions to turn Dubai into the 'Las Vegas of boxing,' and he believes he's already captured the world's attention with Monday's announcement. 'I have been in this game for a long time and the announcement of Hatton returning to the ring has already created a buzz in the international media,' Al Dah told The National in an exclusive interview. Hatton, who turns 47 in October, held the light-welterweight and welterweight world titles and is returning to the ring after his last professional bout in 2012, where he suffered a ninth-round knockout to Ukraine's Vyacheslav Senchenko. His only other two defeats were against Floyd Mayweather Jr and Manny Pacquiao, widely regarded as two of the finest boxers of all time. He has a professional record of 45 wins, 32 by way of knockout, against three losses. He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2024. Al Dah, 46, has a pro record of eight wins and three defeats, according to the last of which came against the Mexican Pedro Alejandro Delgado in Mexico City in July 2021. 'It was my plan to stage a big show, and I tried all the big names that I could think of, and finally it was Hatton who agreed. We are about the same age and we both are returning after being out of boxing for a while. 'Now I come back with something very big. I was working for this deal for over six months and we closed the deal with this big champion Ricky Hatton. He's a big name, he fought Floyd Mayweather, Manny Pacquiao, and he was a great fighter.' The fight with Hatton, slated for eight rounds, is dubbed 'Destiny in the Desert 2" and brings Al Dah full circle – his first bout, also in Dubai, was the original 'Destiny in the Desert' against American Larry Foster in 2007. Having started his journey in the sport with the UAE national team in 2001, Al Dah turned professional six years later, winning his first three bouts before a defeat to Mexican Alfredo Valdes two years later. 'Boxing didn't get the attention it deserved back in my early days and having spent nearly 25 years in the game, I'm in a position now to achieve something more for the sport and for the UAE,' he said. 'I also want to inspire people over here that I can still become a champion at 46. This is my main goal. It's not the money, it's just for the UAE. This is what made me return to the ring,' Al Dah said. 'I want to make boxing so big over here. I want to make Dubai Las Vegas.' Al Dah regularly hosts boxing events in Dubai, promoting upcoming boxers from India, Pakistan, Egypt, Morocco and the Middle East region under his EMD Fight Nights banner. He admits luring Hatton to step out of retirement has not come cheap, but hopes the benefits will be long-lasting for Dubai. 'Of course he's a big name in boxing and he is not coming for free,' Al Dah said. 'You cannot bring a big name without money. It's a good deal for Dubai to benefit as a venue. 'It's not about the money, it's just about history, where one guy from the UAE is taking on a boxing legend.' With less than five months to go before fight night against Hatton, Al Dah says he will set aside his business interests to focus on his preparations for the fight. 'I'll leave all my business work aside and just concentrate on training for the fight. I'll train in the US, training with the best of the best. It's just me and training, that's it,' he said.
Gulf Today
9 hours ago
- Gulf Today
Spain sweep aside Belgium to boost hopes of reaching quarter-finals
Spain closed in on a place in the quarter-finals of Women's Euro 2025 by hammering Belgium 6-2 to continue their perfect start in Switzerland. A brace from Alexia Putellas and further goals from Irene Paredes, Esther Gonzalez, Mariona Caldentey and Claudia Pina gave Group B leaders Spain a second thumping win. Montse Tome's team will be guaranteed a spot in the last eight if Portugal do not beat Italy in Geneva, but their passage is almost guaranteed after hitting 11 goals over their two matches. Belgium, who twice levelled through Justine Vanhaevermaet and Hannah Eurlings, are close to going home after being blown away by relentless waves of attacking football. When Putellas finished off a beautiful spell of quick passing in the 22nd minute it looked like the beginning of a thumping win similar to the 5-0 destruction of Portugal in the opening round. Yet seconds later Vanhaevermaet levelled with the simplest of goals, nodding home Tessa Wullaert's corner. Paredes put Spain back in the lead six minutes before the break with a bullet header from Pina's deep corner. Again Belgium hit back, this time through Eurlings who sprung the offside trap before rifling home in the 50th minute. Gonzalez netted her third goal of the tournament two minutes later after collecting Putellas' neat through ball. The game was up when Caldentey bundled home from a corner just after the hour. Pina smashed in her first goal of the tournament with 10 minutes remaining, and appropriately it was Putellas' deft flick which completed the rout shortly afterwards. On this form Spain look a class above the rest of the tournament and heavy favourites to win the country's first ever women's European crown. Earlier, Geraldine Reuteler got the opening goal and Alayah Pilgrim scored a late second as hosts Switzerland beat Iceland 2-0 on Sunday to keep alive their hopes of a place in the knockout stage by registering their first win in Group A at the Women's Euros. The result means Norway, who beat Finland 2-1, will go through as group winners, while the Swiss will play Finland in their final group game in Geneva on Wednesday with second place and a spot in the last eight up for grabs. Iceland became the first team to be eliminated from the competition. 'We wanted to win that game and we got carried by our fans. In the end we created the chances needed to win... I am so happy,' Swiss captain Lia Walti said. The tropical heat of the last week gave way to a cool evening and a light but persistent rain that made the pitch slick and slippery, raising the stakes for the two sides, neither of whom had much margin for error after losing their opening group games. There were ominous signs for the hosts in the first minute when Ingibjorg Sigurdarsdottir sent a thunderous shot off the crossbar, shocking the majority of the 29,658 fans in attendance. The Swiss had the ball in the net on the half-hour mark after Svenja Foelmli's header was helped into her own goal by Glodis Viggosdottir, but the strike was ruled out after a VAR review found that Foelmli had committed a foul in the build-up. It took until the 76th minute for Reuteler to break the deadlock in a tough, tense encounter as Iceland lost the ball in midfield and Sydney Schertenlieb slid it into her path to fire home confidently, capping off another superb individual display. Substitute Pilgrim then wrapped up the three points with a deflected shot that flew into the net to send the crowd into a frenzy, with the promise of another big night of football for the hosts on the immediate horizon. 'When we scored the first goal, the 1-0, it was a fantastic feeling -- now there are 30,000 in the stands who are celebrating for us. It's a good feeling, it was overwhelming in a way. It just exploded in here,' Swiss midfielder Smilla Valotto told reporters. Agencies
