10 Feb 2007

Abu Dhabi: The UAE is becoming a major stop in the world of motor sports.

Following the great success of the exhibitional race of the FI last week in Abu Dhabi, it is time for Al Ain to host the final round of the World Championship Rotax 2007 of Go Karting cars in November as was disclosed on Thursday night in a press conference at Emirates Palace Hotel, here.

The championship will be organised by Al Ain Sportplex from November 26 to December 1st.

Good impression

Shaikh Sultan Bin Hamdan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Chairman of the Al Ain Sportplex, attended the conference and said that "We are looking forward to achieving great success in hosting this big event and we are confident that we will leave a good impression on all the participants."

The conference was also attended by representatives from the organisers, sponsors and FIA/CIK (the World Motor Sports Association) and Marwan Al Tayer, the UAE driver who won third place in the 2006 World Championship in Portugal last year and was presented with his trophy at the conference.

The championship will feature 220 drivers from all over the world who won promotion from the qualifiers which will take place in 47 countries in the European, Asian and Pan American Challenges.

The Asian Challenge will be held in India, Malaysia, Brunei and Indonesia. The championship will consist of 3 different classes: Rotax Max Juniors with 20 hp (13-16 years, Rotax Max with 28.5 hp (15 years and above) and Rotax DD2 with 34 hp and 2 speed gearbox (15 years and above).

Local drivers

"We are proud to host the biggest Go Karting event in the world," Mohammad Al Darmaky, the Director of Al Ain Sportplex told the conference.

"We are aiming to achieve success on and off the racing track. We already have Marwan Al Tayer as one of the real contenders for the titles after winning third place for the UAE in the last championship and we will also try our best to prepare other local drivers for the event."

Al Tayer expressed his pleasure adding: "I am overjoyed that my country will host such a big event and I will do my best to win the title."

By Yasir Abbasher

Gulf News 2007. All rights reserved.