Rashid Al Dhaheri Shines With Second Place At Paul Ricard

Photo: WAM

Emirati racing driver Rashid Al Dhaheri showed his incredible talent again by finishing second in Race 2 of the Formula Regional Championship. This exciting race took place at the famous Circuit Paul Ricard near Marseille in South France. His achievement brought pride to the UAE as he raised his country's flag on the international stage, inspiring young racers back home.

About Circuit Paul Ricard

The Circuit Paul Ricard is one of the most famous racetracks in the world. It is located near Marseille in South France and was opened in 1970. This track is well-known for hosting many important motorsport events, including Formula One Grands Prix.

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The track is unique because of its blue and red runoff areas, which are designed for safety and look beautiful on television. It is also known for its long Mistral Straight, which allows drivers to reach very high speeds. The track is 5.842 kilometers long and has a mix of fast sections and technical corners that test every driver’s skills, courage, and focus.

Race Weekend: Full Details

This race weekend was special as twenty-six young and talented drivers from 18 different countries came to compete. Each of them dreamed of winning and proving themselves as the next big name in motorsports.

Friday Practice Sessions

On Friday, the drivers had free practice sessions to understand the track better and prepare their cars for the main races.

• Free Practice 1 (FP1): Rashid completed two runs. In his first run, he used old tires to check the car's balance and grip on worn-out rubber. Then, he switched to fresh tires to understand how the car would behave during qualifying laps. This helped his engineers collect data to improve his car’s performance.

• Free Practice 2 (FP2): Rashid focused on race simulations and qualifying simulations. This means he practiced with different fuel levels, tire strategies, and driving styles to be fully ready for both the qualifying sessions and the actual races.

Saturday Qualifying 1 Setback

On Saturday, the first qualifying session (Q1) was held to decide starting positions for Race 1. Unfortunately, Rashid faced bad luck. He had a slow puncture on his rear-left tire during the session. This means air was slowly leaking from his tire, reducing grip and making it unsafe to continue. Because of this, he was forced to withdraw from Race 1.

This was very disappointing for Rashid as he had prepared so hard for this race. However, champions are known for how they bounce back from setbacks, and Rashid proved exactly that the next day.

Sunday: Strong Comeback

Qualifying 2 Brilliance

On Sunday morning, Rashid took part in Qualifying 2 to decide the starting positions for Race 2. He drove with great focus and speed. He secured pole position in his group, which means he was the fastest driver in his qualifying group. However, he missed the overall pole by only 0.055 seconds. This was such a small gap, less than the blink of an eye.

Race 2 Performance

In Race 2, Rashid started from P2 (Position 2). From the beginning, he showed amazing confidence and control. He managed his tires well, which is very important in racing because tires lose grip as they wear out. Good tire management allows a driver to remain fast until the end.

Rashid displayed great racecraft, which means he defended his position wisely, attacked when needed, and maintained his speed without making mistakes. He finished the race in second place, bringing home a proud podium finish for the UAE.

Fastest Lap Record

Along with his second-place finish, Rashid set the fastest lap of the race. His lap time was 1 minute 58.862 seconds. Setting the fastest lap shows that he was not only consistent but also the quickest on track during that race, proving his growing talent and dedication.

Pride For The UAE

This podium finish was very special for Rashid and the UAE. It was the first time the UAE flag has been raised at Circuit Paul Ricard in this championship. Such achievements by young Emiratis show the world their country’s strong presence in international motorsports.

About Rashid Al Dhaheri

Rashid Al Dhaheri is one of the most promising young drivers from the UAE. He started karting at a very young age and quickly showed that he has what it takes to compete with the best. His journey from karting tracks to international single-seater races is inspiring. Many young students in the UAE look up to him as a role model.

Upcoming Race

The next round of the Formula Regional Championship will take place in two weeks at the iconic Imola Circuit, near Florence in Italy. This track is one of the most loved circuits in motorsport history. It has hosted many Formula One races and is known for its fast corners and challenging layout.

Rashid will now prepare for this upcoming challenge. His fans in the UAE and around the world will be supporting him, hoping he brings home another proud result.

Rashid Al Dhaheri’s performance at Circuit Paul Ricard was an example of hard work, skill, and determination. Even after facing a setback on Saturday, he did not give up. Instead, he came back stronger and showed everyone what he is capable of.

His story teaches us that failures are temporary, but dedication and courage make us winners. By raising the UAE flag in France, he made his country proud and inspired many young boys and girls to chase their dreams, no matter how big they are.