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Kartdrome moves into top gear to host maiden O-Plate race day

The O-Plate concept — which translates to open racing — provides the occasional karter an opportunity to dust of their machines and race in a multi-category format with top prizes up for grabs.

A karting race in progress at Kartdrome. — Supplied photo

The Kartdrome hosts the first ever O-Plate Race Day on Friday, an event which has generated a great deal of interest, within the local karting community, as it caters for all level of kart racers and has also attracted an impressive array of prizes to be dished out on the day.

The O-Plate concept — which translates to open racing — provides the occasional karter an opportunity to dust of their machines and race in a multi-category format with top prizes up for grabs.

With only one set of tyres allowed during the course of the day, thus ensuring the cost effective aspect of the event which in turn offers occasional drivers an affordable opportunity to go racing.

Kartdrome assitant manager David Bright explains, “The Rotax Max Challenge is thriving in the UAE, but it requires immense undertaking from drivers in terms of resources and logistics.

Thus we felt there was a need to cater for occasional racers who perhaps have work commitments and are unable to devote the time and effort to undergo a fully fledged racing campaign at national level. There are also a number of drivers who have karts other than Rotax — so for all these the O-Plate race day initiative was born.”

Also on the bill on Friday are races for SWS Sprint Cup Juniors and Seniors, the Rotax Max classes including Micro, Mini, Junior and Senior as well as Bambino Time Trials — drivers from age five through to veterans will be in action.

The karting and racing community have embraced the O-Plate Race Day and as a result a mixed bag of valuable prizes will be awarded to drivers during the collective podium ceremony.

Contributions have been made by: AUH Motorsports, GulfSport, OMP Racewear, Energy Corse Karts, Birel UAE, Birel UAE Racing Team, Rotax Kart Products (Al Ain Raceway) and Dubai Autodrome.

Barry Hope from GulfSport, who run the Formula Gulf 1000 series for young drivers explained their contribution to the prize package, “Formula Gulf 1000 is now widely accepted as a crucial proving ground by many of the region’s top young racers ever since current European Open F3 Champion Ed Jones tested the first FG11 car for GulfSport in 2011. GulfSport have again announced a sponsorship package to support karters from the Dubai Kartdrome.

The winner of the Senior Max ‘O’ Plate on 14 March will be offered a single seater driver development package worth Dh14,000.”

Bright added, “On behalf of the Kartdrome a big thank you to the motorsport community for digging deep and helping us put together an attractive bag of prizes for drivers on the day. As a result we are expecting big grids on the day.”

Friday will be an action packed day with 34 sessions on track — including practice, warm-up and heats — with the first session set to be flagged off at 9:30 am and the final race scheduled for 5.10pm.