Magsi ecstatic after 2021 Hub Rally Cross win

Driver beats defending champion Sultan by 12 seconds in category A of the prepared race

BALOCHISTAN:

Nadir Magsi won first place at the 50km long 2021 Hub Rally Cross defeating the defending champion Sahibzada Sultan by 12 seconds at Hub, Balochistan on Sunday.

The annual event was held on a 50km long track for the first time that included a seven-kilometre long track beside the Gadani beach. The new track not only included sharp turns but also the track going through the water at the beach.

In the category A of the prepared race, Magsi finished first with the time of 36 minutes and 51 seconds, following him was Sultan finishing 37 minutes three seconds and Nosherwan Tiwana was third at 39 minutes and 56 seconds.

Pakistan’s top racers participated in the event, but Nadir Magsi one of the experienced racer won the tournament. “It was a tough race. The first 25km of the new track are a bit difficult. But we as a team of a driver and navigator were able to finish 12 seconds ahead, which is an achievement for us,” he said.

“It’s good to win the first race of the year. I finished second in the Cholistan Rally and after that we made some modifications which helped us in winning this race,” he added.

Meanwhile, the runner-up and defending champion Sultan said that the turns in the track were similar to the other type of races which makes this track difficult. “The turns in the first half of the track had some turns that are in other type of raceswhich make it difficult in an off-road track rally. Still, the beautiful scenes of the track amazed everyone. We made some bad turns that led us to the second place,” Sultan told The Express Tribune.

In the women category, Tushna Patel finished with 42minutes and nine seconds, followed by Mahum Shiraz at 54minutes and seven seconds, while Nida Wasti was third with 54minutes and 13 seconds.

Talking about the race, the 21-year-old racer Mahum said that coming at second place is an achievement for her. “I was fond of cars and races since early age. Watching my father Shiraz Qureshi always fascinated me and wanted to race on the track one day. Now after completing my studies I came back and practiced off road racing for a year before making debut in 2020,” Mahum told The Express Tribune.

“Now, after a year, I was able to finish behind the fastest off road women racer Tushna, who has always supported me and guided me during practice,” she added.

The winner of the women category Tushna said that more events were needed for women. “These young girls have proved that they are no less than the men and can drive on such difficult track successfully. We are hoping for the more sponsors to come in which will attract more women,” she said.