Asian Motor Sports

“AMAZING. Everything I expected and more.”

That was Bahraini driver Fahad Al Musalam’s take on his first run in anger in a V8 Supercar.

Fahad managed to something six regular V8 Supercar drivers could not in race one at the Bahrain International Circuit - he brought his car home in one piece, without a scratch.

The Bahrain Chevy Lumina series champion said he found it hard to be a bit player in his first race _ he is used to running at the front of the field and winning races, after all.

But, as for the experience behind the wheel of the Team Kiwi Racing Falcon, it was two thumbs up.

“I’ve never driven anything as powerful as this before. That was amazing,” the 34-year-old said. “The car is very nice to drive and Team Kiwi has been very helpful.

“My main goal, of course, is bring the car home in one piece. I’ve been improving my times since practice and I think I will improve again today.

“I’m used to winning. So trying just to be clean and not fighting with the other boys is not what I’m used to.

“But I’ve been told I’ve already done something that 2 million Australians would love to have the chance of doing.”

Fahad won the Lumina Series (a one-make class using Holden Commodore V8s, which are badged as Chevrolet Luminas in the Middle East) last season, earning him a test drive with Garry Rogers Motorsport earlier this year. The vacant TKR seat gave him an opportunity to race a V8 at his home circuit this weekend.

The two most difficult things for the Bahraini driver to master _ the H-pattern gearbox and the fact this is the first right-hand-drive race car he has driven _ have had a cumulative effect in terms of the job of coming to grips with the car.

“It is hard enough getting used to right-hand-drive without worrying about the H-pattern box,” Fahad admitted.

“I’m sure if it was a sequential gearbox, so I didn’t have to think about my left hand, I would be more competitive.”

Fahad also won the 2007-2008 Radicals series and the 2006 Porsche Supercar 24 Hour race at the BIC.

He says he wants to sit down with teams after the round is completed with a view to racing V8s in Australia, most likely in the Development Series.