UAE to host mega karting event in Al Ain

Racing will be at full throttle in the UAE next month with Abu Dhabi hosting the Formula One Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and Al Ain Raceway being announced as the venue for the world’s largest karting event, the Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals.

Yas Marina Circuit lent its support as one of the title sponsors for the karting finale to be held from November 19 to 26 endorsing it as a gateway to the world of Formula One.

The 12th annual karting challenge has attracted 264 participants from 60 countries including a seven-member team from UAE. Drivers qualify for the Grand Finals via the National Rotax Max Challenge in their home country with over 3,500 competitors taking part worldwide.

“Al Ain Raceway was selected to host the Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals for the second time based on the venue suitability, high standards and facilities, as well as its proven professionalism and organisation,” said Al Ain Raceway Managing Director Antonio Kekati at a press conference held at Yas Marina Circuit on Sunday.

The first few days will be taken up with registration, practice and pre-qualifying rounds. Entry is free of charge to spectators and the main racing days will be on November 25 and 26.

There are four racing categories: Rotax Junior Max (20.4hp) for competitors aged between 13-16; Rotax Max (28.5hp)) 15 years and older; Rotax DD2 (32.6hp with two-speed gearbox) 15 years and older; Rotax DD2 Masters (32.6hp with two-speed gearbox) 32 years and older.

Al Ain Raceway previously hosted the Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals, shortly after it opened in 2007. The circuit is a world class facility, with a Level B homologation – the highest in the region.

“This year’s Grand Finals are being held under the patronage of Sheikh Sultan bin Hamdan Al Nahyan. We are also supported by our sponsors Yas Marina Circuit, STRATA and Tawazun. Together we share a passion to raise the profile of this great sport,” stated Al Ain Raceway Chairman Khaled bin Shaiban Al Mehairi.

“Ask any Formula One driver how he started his career and 99 per cent of them will tell you it all began with karting. Karting is the purest form of racing. The experience that one gains from racing karts is invaluable, not only control of the vehicle but also race craft and sportsmanship. These are the attributes that mould young drivers into the international superstars we see today. Here in the UAE we are keen to join the ranks of other countries in building the sport from the bottom up,” he added.

“With the exception of Vitaly Petrov, all current and many former Formula One drivers grew up racing karts including Michael Schumacher, Ayrton Senna, Alain Prost, Fernando Alonso, Kimi Raikkonen, Jenson Button, Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel,” said Kekati.

“Our goal at Al Ain Raceway is to establish the grassroots of motorsports karting to develop young talented Emirati drivers to achieve their dream of getting on the podium of an Formula One event representing UAE,” he added.

The importance of karting as the grassroots of motorsports was also underlined by 14-time Middle East Rally champion Mohammed bin Sulayem and CEO of Abu Dhabi Motorsport Management (ADMM), Richard Cregan, during the press conference.

“People think it is just another event. No. I witnessed three years ago in Al Ain and very impressed with amount of people participating. It is the grassroot of motorsports in UAE and rest of the world. It is a progression to all disciplines of motorsport not just Formula One,” said bin Sulayem, who is President of the Automobile Touring Club of UAE (ATCUAE) and FIA vice-president.

“Motorsport in the UAE has come a long way in the last decade, and we are now in a position to hold world class events across our top level facilities. Al Ain Raceway, is one of the finest karting facilities in the world, and with the assistance of the ATCUAE, I have no doubt that it will be a terrific event where we will see some exciting, yet safe racing,” he added.

“This event is one of most important events probably happening in UAE in terms of motorsport. Because it is karting, sometimes we tend to underestimate the effect. That’s where we will build grassroots motorsports. Karting develops drivers for all different disciplines whether it is circuit racing or rallying. That’s why it is such a significant event for UAE,” said Cregan.

“In the space of two years, we have established Yas Marina Circuit as one of the leading motorsport facilities in the world, this has helped to facilitate promoting Abu Dhabi as a destination,” he added. “As the proud host of the 2011 F1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, it is equally fitting that Yas Marina Circuit sponsor the Rotax MAX Challenge Grand Finals. Our focus is to help facilitate and build a sustainable motorsports culture here in the UAE.”

“Yas Marina Circuit has a small karting track at the circuit. We are very lucky that in Al Ain Raceway we have an internationally acclaimed karting circuit. Between Yas Marina circuit and Dubai Autodrome we have Al Ain Raceway. We have Al Forsan which is coming in line very soon. We are building this pillar of sustainable motorsport in the UAE,” said Cregan who felt having bin Sulayem as FIA vice-president was a huge advantage for UAE.

“We have to make use of that. We have to get young people into the sport. We have to encourage them and we have to get UAE nationals into the sport,” he said when asked why ADMM were coming on as title sponsors for this event.

“We don’t get involved in too many events in terms of sponsorship but this is such an important event for the region to facilitate motorsport,” he added.

Bin Sulayem also warned the sport in the UAE was not in a healthy state. “We need new blood. When we looked for UAE motorsport stars, we were very lucky to get seven. That is not healthy. We have to generate young drivers,” he said admitting that karting has been neglected.

“It is so important but it has been underestimated. Now we have circuits more that any country in the Middle East. Promoting karting is the right way to go,” he added.

“We all have a duty in terms of motorsport to get young people involved. There is an element of safety. We want to get speed off the roads to a controlled and safe environment in all circuits in whatever forms of motorsport. By bringing children along of all ages particularly at Yas Marina to participate in the small karting facility we have, it is an introduction into speed in a safe environment,” said Cregan.

The two Emirati drivers who will represent UAE areMohammed Al Dhaheri and Sheikh Khalid Khalifa Al Nahyan. The other members of Team UAE are Abdullah Al Rawahi and Sanad Al Rawahi from Oman, Patrick Jarjour (Lebanon), Arnaud Baouf (France) and Maurits Knopjess (Holland).

Al Dhaheri who has emerged as a UAE motorsports star within the past two years is determined to do well in his home track.
 
“Al Ain is my city and my track. My main goal is to win and hopefully make country proud of me,” he said.

He thanked bin Sulayem for the support and grateful for being selected to be trained in an academy in Northern Ireland.

“I learnt a lot about fitness, mental conditioning and eating habits. It was an accumulation of knowledge and training,” said the 24-year-old who is employed at Abu Dhabi Executive Council.

Follow Emirates 24|7 on Google News.