Racers over in the Middle East have gotten out to an early and exciting start on their international counterparts already this year, with world records dropping left and right before many folks have even put away their holiday decorations. And while the big numbers carded by EKanoo Racing in Bahrain and the Al-Anabi Performance team in Qatar have largely stolen the headlines, they aren’t the only standards that have been reset halfway around the world. And one such mark is the True 10.5-inch tire record, which the team of Abdullah Khudadah and Abdullah Alshatti blew away during the second round of the Arabian Drag Racing League series in Qatar last week.

tuner Abdullah Alshatti, who had previously driven the red Mustang in its record-setting endeavors in Qatar.

In qualifying for the Super Street 8 (8-cylinder) class, Khudadah ripped off a 4.14 at a staggering 197.88 mph with his 1989 Ford Mustang tuned by Alshatti. The team had owned the previous mark at a 4.18 set this season, which was preceded by a 4.19 they ran in the ADRL series a year ago.

The Mustang, owned by Kuwait native Khudadah, sports power from a 632 cubic-inch big-block from Anthony Disomma Racing Engines in the Unites States, paired with a 98 mm Precision turbocharger, with the power transferred via a Rossler Turboglide transmission. Alshatti tunes the car, utilizing FuelTech’s FT500 EFI system, along with an AMS2000 boost controller. The car, featuring stock front suspension and a ladder bar setup out back, tips the scales at 3,100 pounds, and flat out moves on the 29.5 x 10.5-inch slicks, going 1.115 to the 60-foot clocks on the record-breaking run. For reference, Khudadah was also 2.861 to 330-feet.

Despite qualifying number one, Khudadah fell in the semifinals, slowing to a 5.32 at just 98 mph. An opening round loss at the first race of the ADRL season has the team mired back in fifth in the points, but with three more races to go, there’s certainly time to gain it back — especially with the quickest car in the field.

Photo courtesy Arabian Drag Racing League