AL AIN As the Al Ain Raceway International Kart Circuit prepares to kick off the opening round of the UAE Rotax Max Challenge Series this Friday, a record number of 68 drivers will take to the track.
“We are really excited to begin the season. We are really proud of what we have done passing through some difficult times. It’s been a gradual progress since the seven years and over the last two years the efforts have paid off. It’s really satisfying,” said Guy Sheffield, General Manager of Al Ain Raceway.
“We still have a long way to go but we are certain that things are going in the right direction and with the right support we should be looking at better numbers ahead,” he added.
Organised by Al Ain Raceway Kart Club, this 12-round series will showcase the best drivers in the country in five race classes according to age and performance, at the country’s top motorsport venues.
There is also a surge in the number of participants the junior categories including the Micro Max which is for kids aged between 8 and 10 years.
“The numbers in junior categories also has been very promising. We just had three last year and this year we have 10 on the grid,” said Sheffield noting that interest from local drivers was steadily increasing.
“We just have two international drivers which is a good sign. It serves the purpose of our target to promote local drivers. We are providing them the best possible facilities and encouraging them to take up the sport. It’s good to see new drivers and new teams getting added.” he added.
In addition to its home circuit in Al Ain, the Rotax MAX Challenge 2013-14 will visit the Dubai Kartdrome, Abu Dhabi’s Al Forsan International Resort and, for the second year running, the Formula 1 track at Yas Marina Circuit.
Additionally, in a calendar more diverse and exciting than ever before, the series will travel to the newly constructed Oman Karting Track in Muscat which will mark the first ever time that the National Championship has visited foreign soil.
“We have been to the Oman karting track for a couple of times now and they have developed the track nicely keeping the safety features and track specifications in mind. It’s a good opportunity for the drivers in the region to test on new conditions, So we hope to have an exciting season” he said.
Antonio Kekati, Managing Director of Al Ain Raceway said: “We are very proud to see the series at an all-time high after years of concentrated effort in the face of many difficulties. This growth is the result of a long and very close collaboration with our organising partners under the auspices of ATC UAE and is an absolutely essential platform for UAE Motorsport.
“We are continually hearing about the quest for an Emirati Formula 1 driver but this path is one that must start very early in order to acquire the skills necessary to compete at the highest level. So for me it is personally very rewarding to see our young Micro MAX drivers following in the footsteps of their sporting heroes and this bodes well for the future of the sport here.”
Entry for spectators is free at Round 1 with all the racing taking place in the afternoon following qualifying in the morning.
For more information contact Al Ain Raceway on 03 768-6662 or visit www.alainraceway.com.
