Shields wins first SWS junior cup at Dubai Kartdrome

Sport360 staff 12:31 22/11/2016
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  • The third Sodi World Series [SWS] event in a row at Dubai Kartdrome has seen a Junior Cup driver reach the highest step of the podium for their first time as Danny Shields took first place on Monday night.

    Over the season, Shields has often been in the mix with the race leaders but an SWS Junior Cup victory had eluded him,.

    But, fromseventh on the grid, Shields rocketed off the line in Race One and carved a path through the karts ahead.  He grabbed the lead and held off his rivals to take the chequered flag, just 0.173 seconds ahead of Seif Al Naggar.

    In Race Two there would be even more contenders for the throne as four drivers broke cover and clashed for the lead. The pack kept changing as Alex Connor, Omar Aswat, Samir Malas, and Shields each manoeuvred to take control.

    After nine aggressive laps, Connor came out on top of the scuffle, crossing the finish line a mere 0.245 seconds ahead of Aswat.  Malas secured third and Shields trailed in fourth.

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    When the points were tallied for the night Shields won 71, pipping Connor by a point to secure a maiden SWS Junior first place trophy.

    “I’m very happy,” said Shields. “I’m proud and I’ve had quite a lot of support from friends at school, friends from different countries.”

    Competition was also fierce in the SWS Senior Cup, but this time the spoils of victory belonged to the more experienced drivers.

    Multiple karting and motorsport champion Saeed Al Mehairi set the bar in Qualifying with a best lap time of 1:11.140. Abigail Birch was just off the mark by 0.266 seconds with a best time of 1:11.406.  Ahmed Al Hammadi was also close with a time of 1:11.780.

    Al Mehairi made the most of his pole position in Race One, controlling the race and bringing the kart home for victory. Anjum Shaikh did well to go from fourth on the grid to second place at the chequered flag, after a close scrap with third place Birch.

    In Race Two it was Birch who made the best getaway and jumped out in front, followed right behind by Al Mehairi, Romaldo Labrooy and Hussain Umid Ali.  The four drivers broke away from the pack and boxed it out, ducking and diving on every corner.

    The veteran expertise of Al Mehairi was again too much, and he emerged from the brawl on top, crossing the finish line 0.255 seconds in front of Labrooy. Umid Ali shadowed in for third.

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