Saturday 20 / April / 2024
DUBAI: Muscat-based seven-year-old ISG International student, Shonal Kunimal, won the Dubai O Plate Championship held at the Dubai Kartdrome on January 18, 2019.
Dubai O Plate is the United Arab Emirate's annual big weekend for professional kart racers held at the Dubai Kartdrome. The event sets local talent up against international drivers for top honours of becoming Dubai O Plate Champions on the world-renowned circuit.
The Dubai O Plate Champion wins a 1x PAROLIN Kart Chassis, complete with IAME cadet engine (courtesy of George Gibbons Motorsport & IAME UAE) + 2 x Month Practice Package with GGM.
Kunimal won the O Plate in the Bambino Class with passion and determination. Leonardo Abalos, his mechanic for the O Plate, said he couldn't have asked for any more from Shonal as he was watching his excellent performance. The combination of the magical touch of Abalos and the outstanding driving ability of Kunimal made the win beautiful and gave his opponents a tough time.
On the race day, after the second time-trial, Kunimal fell sick as he had dizziness and fever. But his never-give-up attitude, passion for go-kart racing, determination and dedication, along with his mother Doctor Nabrees Qandeel's medication and efforts led him to win the third and final time-trial with a difference of 2.5 seconds ahead of the other racers.
At the 2019 Dubai O Plate Championship, Kunimal set a new record time 1m:13.129s, the fastest lap time ever at the Dubai O Plate, in the third time-trial on the seventh lap. Kunimal captured a difference of 1.755 seconds, faster than last year's O Plate winner, UK driver Maison Rudman, who made 1m:14.884s.
Kunimal's coach and former Oman international racer Sanad Al Rawahi said, “I am extremely happy for Shonal. He has been very dedicated to the sport and he has worked very hard to reach this level of driving. Shonal is very talented, smart, and eager to learn and has got so much potential. As a coach, I am very honoured to be working with such a high-spirited boy. He has proven his worth at the O Plate and he definitely deserved the O Plate Champion title."
After winning all the four time-trials with a lead of two seconds, Kunimal made a clean sweep to reach the top spot. Romania's Lennard Titica tried chasing Kunimal on each time-trial, but had to settle for the second position, and Nicholas Stura (Italian driver) took home the third position.
GP Extreme, Dubai Company operating in the automotive sector, and more particularly, motorsports, is very pleased to support Shonal Kunimal.
Shonal joins the GPX Academy — an initiative from GP Extreme to promote and develop the careers of young talents — as the youngest driver of the academy! He follows the path of some talented drivers, such as Jean-Erice Vergne, Louis Deletraz or Sacha Prost!"
Pierre-Brice Mena, Sporting Director of the GPX Academy, said: "Shonal proved his ability to win races and lead them with a lot of mastery. At his young age, he has the reflexes of the greatest champions. His Dubai O Plate title is not random and we foresee a great future for him in motorsports.”
Later, Kunimal thanked his coach Al Rawahi and Abalos. He also gave special thanks to WMS (Al Wahaibi Motor Sports) and GP Extreme who gave him all the support for this championship.
