How Iraqi speed freaks are taking advantage of new found freedom with street ‘drift’ racing craze after fall of ISIS

SPEED freaks are defying the odds by turning the streets of war-ravaged Baghdad into makeshift racetracks to show off their "Fast and Furious" demon driving skills.

Fearless Iraqis say their love of superfast cars and daredevil stunts is helping unite a country torn apart by decades of bloody conflict.

"ISIS tried to split Sunni, Shiite, Kurd - but here we don’t care – I teach drivers from Baghdad, Basra, Najaf and even [Sunni] Anbar – how to drive," said speed fanatic Capital Ali.

The 31-year-old Vin Diesel lookalike adds: "We don’t care about your identity - all of us just love working on our cars and driving."

The tricked-out drift cars tear around daredevil spectators creating loud  exhaust bangs - far removed from the bomb blasts which have rocked the city for years.

“We collect a little bit of money - 5,000 dinar (about £3) to watch them… and that pays for some repairs and parts,” said Mohammed, one of the organisers of the high-octane shows.

“But, none of the drivers gets paid - or have any sponsorship - they just do it for fun.”

The drivers put on the show every Friday afternoon under Jadrida Bridge in central Baghdad pulling in an audience from all over the country.

"We get on average 8,000 people coming here to watch," the 33-year old-from northern Baghdad explains while pointing out all the crowds looking down from the bridge.

"I hope in the future we could put on other shows elsewhere - maybe in Fallujah - or even Mosul.”
The noise of the motor shows can be heard for miles around - but locals never complain as they are used to far, far worse.

"It is so loud, but really fun to see,” Amar, a 32-year-old who runs a local business around the corner, adding, "Some of these drivers are so young, but are really talented.”

"I heard about these drivers from my Iraqi friends on Facebook,” says Omar, a 21-year-old from Texas who is visiting some relatives in Baghdad.

“I have seen this too back in the States, but there they use different cars - like the Ford Mustang GT or the Pontiac Firebird.”

One of the youngest drivers is 17-year-old Mahmoud, who has been drifting for two years and believes it is great way to also showcase a different Iraq.

"Everybody thinks of war in Iraq, but we are just like (kids in the) West we love motor sports and our cars,” he explains.

After taking his turn to perform for the crowd - by skillfully drifting around a few Iraqi spectators who dare to stand in the centre of the track - he explains more why he likes doing it so much. 

"It is so much fun isn't it?" he states, "It gives you a real adrenaline rush driving, but I also love the reaction of the crowds – they go wild." 

The car show is not the only motor sport on show - the drivers are joined by a group of daredevil bikers, who call themselves the “Knights of Baghdad.”

“Back in 2013 there were only just two or three bikers. Now we have more than 50," Assad, one of the youngest members of the group explains.

After popping wheelies, slides and other tricks on his green Kawasaki – the 21-year-old adds, “I think there is a bit of competitive spirit between us and drivers, but we are both here to entertain.”

Despite the spate of recent bombings in Baghdad, both the drifters and the bikers are adamant that they will never stop coming here.

"Daesh (ISIS) terrorised Baghdad in the past, but look here, we are all Iraqis and we are all enjoying ourselves," Capital Ali explains before sending out another one of his young drivers.

"I love cars and drifting and have been performing here since 2011 every week - and nothing, no terrorists, no bombs, will stop me doing that."