ATCUAE launch new motorsport calendar with youth at its core

Sport360 staff 11:52 03/09/2015
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  • The new UAE motorsport 2015-2016 season was launched Wednesday at the Automobile and Touring Club (ATCUAE) in Dubai, with karting and youth development both key focuses of the calendar.

    Headlined by the UAE Rotax Max Challenge, which is the official National Karting Championship kicking off at Al Ain Raceway on September 25, the new season showcases the growing popularity of karting, expansion of the national Baja rally series, and a strong line-up of international circuit racing events.

    The continued success of the UAE Rotax Max Challenge is seen as vital to the future of UAE motorsport, which requires fresh young talents starting at entry level and rising through the higher levels towards Grand Prix racing.

    For this year’s 12-round National Karting Championship, run between Dubai Kartdrome, Al Ain Raceway, Al Forsan, Yas Marina Circuit and again crossing the border to Seeb in Oman, the ATCUAE has issued 110 competitor licences, an increase of 10 per cent on last year.

    The annual “O” Plate held at the Dubai Kartdrome has also gone from strength to strength and has attracted international drivers.

    In addition, the opportunities for young drivers to progress from karting and develop their skills is highlighted by a busy calendar of single-seater and touring car circuit racing activity fitted into a new season featuring more than 120 competitive events.

    “Motorsport in the UAE has witnessed great development and expansion in a relatively short space of time and our responsibility is to maintain what has been achieved so far and ensure that this growth is sustainable,” said Mohammed Ben Sulayem, the chairman of Emirates Motorsports Federation.

    “The coming season of motorsport in the UAE spotlights another big commitment to build for the future by attracting and developing young local talents.

    “This season’s events are special events for myself, and for all those who have competed in them down the years, in addition, they are full of opportunities for the young talents in many different areas in the motorsport world.”

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    The Dubai Autodrome and the Kartdrome will host an impressive 50 days of practice, qualifying and racing between the first race on September 7, SWS Sprint Races, and the season finale on the weekend of April 29-30.

    The Hankook 24H Dubai, to be held on January 14-16, is now a traditional highlight at the Autodrome while the Kartdrome will be hosting two double headers of the UAE Rotax Max Challenge.

    Kartrome manager Ryan Trutch is particularly proud of a new grassroots initiative they have conceptualised together with the ATCUAE – the Emirates Schools Karting Championship (ESKC).

    “We have partnered with circuits Al Ain Raceway, Al Forsan and RAK Track which will provide the effective introduction and development of karting at grassroots level across the UAE,” said Trutch.

    The Emirates Desert Championship, the new national Baja rally series launched in 2013 for cars, buggies, motorcycles and quads, has quickly become a major attraction, and the first out of six rounds will be staged on October 9.

    Launched last year, the UAE National Rally Championship by the Emirates Motorsport Club (EMC), will run from October 2, while the EMC Rally for conventional rally cars aims to continue last year’s success and help drive the sport forward in the years ahead. 

    The F1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix guarantees another spectacular November race weekend at Yas Marina Circuit, the main attraction on this occasion being supported by the GP2 and GP3 series.

    Other prominent events include the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East, which features race weekends at Dubai Autodrome in December and next February, alongside other established events like the UAE Touring Car Championship, the UAE Radical Winter Cup, FG1000 single seaters and the Gulf 12 Hours at Yas Marina Circuit in December supported by the Maserati Trofeo Championship.

    Also featured on the calendar are the Dubai International Rally, the UAE’s longest-running international sports fixture, and the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge, the Middle East’s first world championship motor sport event.

    The 37th Dubai Rally brings the 2015 FIA Middle East Championship to a climax on November 19-21 while the Desert Challenge will run from April 2-7.

    Action on two wheels features the Sportsbike Championship at the Dubai Autodrome, with 600 cc and Rookies classes, as well as the popular National Motocross series.

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