Dubai: The third round of the Kartdrome Endurance Championship driven by Mini takes place with a record field set to line-up on the grid for a gruelling 700-kilometre challenge on Friday and Saturday in Dubai.
A strong and quality field of 31 teams has entered for this edition of the race, which will take place at the karting venue next to Dubai Autodrome, with a number of international teams and new squads joining the battle.
The contest is made up of two categories: one for professional teams and the other for corporate teams.
Top of the 2013 professional category — tied on 75 points each after two rounds — are CG Racing Pro and Sky Dive Dubai Falcon Racing Team. The two teams are expected to fight it out to the last lap of the four-round series, and start round three of the series as favourites.
CG Racing Pro, who won the opening round in March, have David Terrien as captain with Alban Varutti and the Azzam brothers Rami and Ramez on driver dutyand team manager Habib Chouery orchestrating their challenge.
Winners of round two in May, Sky Dive Dubai Falcon Racing Team, count on an all Emirati driver line-up headed by Shaikh Hasher Al Maktoum along with Mohammad Al Mutawaa and Saeed Al Mehairi. Team director Hadi Al Blouishi will co-ordinate their campaign with the aim to bag the big trophy at the end of the 700 kilometres.
Free practice starts at 6.50pm on Friday and is followed by a 15-minute qualifying session at 7.55pm. The Le Mans-style running start takes place at 9pm, with the finish estimated for around 9am on Saturday.
Kartdrome manager Ryan Trutch said: “We are looking forward to what is effectively the start of our racing season at the Kartdrome. We are expecting a hard-fought contest across the big field and for us it is great to see the interest in the series which simply grows from strength to strength.
“May the best teams win their respective categories.”
