Saturday 21 / September / 2024
Muscat: Oman’s DD2 champions Abdullah Al Rawahi along with his teammates on a strong UAE and Oman contingent has reached the Mediterranean City of Naples, Southern Italy, to take part in the 2016 Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals.
Omani ace Abdullah Al Rawahi and his teammates will be competing in various categories during the Finals, which will run till October 22 and see participation of around 360 champion drivers from around the world.
The event features Rotax Max champions from more than 50 countries competing for one of the most prestigious titles in international karting.
In last year’s edition of the Grand Finals, UAE-based Luke Varley, a former Max world champion, was in contention for the DD2 World Championship Title until a crash ended his hopes while running in second place. This year, three top-ranked drivers with huge international experience are vying to continue the UAE’s strong run in this category; Grand Finals regular Taymour Kermanshahchi is joined by Oman’s DD2 Champion, Abdullah Al Rawahi, who has been performing impressively throughout the summer in European and World Championship competition. Alongside that strong pairing is reigning Indy Lights Champion 2016, Edward Jones, who once again has the opportunity to represent the country of his birth at the highest level in karting.
Youngest driver
Abu Dhabi schoolboy Rashid Al Dhaheri makes history by becoming the first Emirati driver to compete in the Micro Max category and, at the age of eight years, is the youngest driver in the competition. Al Dhaheri has been competing in Italy throughout the summer and is a registered competitor in the UAE Rotax Max Challenge together with his Team UAE teammate, 10-year-old Oscar McElroy. The duo will be looking to impress in their first appearance at this grandstand event.
Team UAE Manager Guy Sheffield said: “It is an honour and privilege for our team to be part of the Rotax Grand Finals with such a strong line-up of drivers. The strength in depth improves each year, and at this 17th edition of the event we are confident of an impressive showing by the drivers who will fly both the UAE and Oman flag this weekend.”
Team UAE and Oman driver line-up:
Micro Max: Oscar McElroy (Top ranked UAE-based Micro Max competitor), Rashid Al Dhaheri (Leading Micro Max Emirati National).
Mini Max: Ziggy Kermanshahchi (Top ranked UAE-based Mini Max competitor).
Junior Max: Tehmur Chohan (UAE Junior Max Runner-Up); Lucas Petersson (Top ranked UAE-based Junior Max competitor).
Max: Pasqual Pook (UAE Max Champion); Giulio Peroni (UAE Max Runner-Up).
DD2: Abdullah Al Rawahi (Oman DD2 Champion); Taymour Kermanshahchi (Former UAE Junior Max Champion); Edward Jones (Indy Lights Champion 2016).
DD2 Master: Hussain Umid Ali (UAE DD2 Master Champion); DD2 Master - Anthony Hogg (UAE DD2 Master Runner-Up).
