Abu Dhabi: Rashid Al Daheri began his 2016 karting campaign in Italy with a strong showing in the opening round of the Mini Academy ChampionKart Championship on the 7 Laghi kart track at Castelletto Di Branduzzo.
Al Daheri, who is the youngest driver in the category, finished in third position in the Rookie Class, earning him a place on the podium and important points towards the championship.
In fact, Al Daheri celebrated his eighth birthday on the track and just made it into the 8-12 years category, receiving his race permission on the eve of the race.
From the start of the competition, the Abu Dhabi-based schoolboy was consistently at the top end of the field in free practice and throughout the build-up to race day. On Sunday during the warm-up, he was putting in the third fastest times. In qualifying he was fourth fastest in the session.
Al Daheri made a good start in the pre-final, moving up to third position early on, chasing the leaders, but contact from a kart behind caused him to drop down to 10th and knocked him out of touch with the main pack.
In the final, the young Emirati driver dubbed ‘Little Alonso’ had his work cut out starting from the middle of the pack but despite having technical issues with his brake, he fought back bravely to come in third in the Rookie Class and seventh in the overall classification.
Team manager and ex-Italian Formula 3 champion Fausto Ippoliti said: “The Mini Academy is one of the toughest race series in junior karting. The series attracts only the best drivers and Rashid is the only Arab and only non-European taking part which is a great achievement in itself.
“As always Rashid was very focused and competitive and after some initial disappointment with his result, Rashid soon was smiling again as we explained that for his debut race in this tough category he has done very well. A podium in the young driver class is a fantastic achievement for his first race in this new category.”
Next weekend, the challenge ramps up another notch, as Al Daheri remains in Castelletto to participate in the ultra-competitive and internationally acclaimed ‘Campionato Italiano’, also on the 7 Laghi track, from April 14 to 17.
