Israeli Driver Faces Anti-Semitic Snub After Drift Masters Duel in Ireland

A tense and ugly incident unfolded on Sunday in Ireland during the Red Bull Drift Masters championship round, where Israeli driver Itay Sade reached the quarterfinals and faced Nasar Alarabli, a driver of Arab origin competing under the El Salvador flag. The pair produced a close and impressive head-to-head battle for a place in the semifinals.

After the first two runs ended evenly, the judges called for a One More Time decision, sending the drivers back out for two additional runs in the lead and chase format. When those runs were completed, Alarabli was declared the winner and advanced.

What happened next went against the sport’s expected etiquette. After results are announced, both drivers are normally supposed to leave their cars, wait for the official decision, and then shake hands. Alarabli, still wearing his helmet, remained inside his car and refused to get out, doing so for a second time.

Sade showed sportsmanship, walking over to his rival’s car to congratulate him and offer a handshake, but Alarabli ignored the gesture and left the scene. The broadcast team initially appeared to think Alarabli was staying in his car as a protest over Sade’s driving style. The article says the true reason was his “shameful anti-Semitism,” though no response from Sade had been received at the time of publication.