Abu Dhabi schoolgirl Amna Al Qubaisi will make history this week as she becomes the first Team UAE female driver to take part in the Rotax MAX Challenge Grand Finals, which is taking place in the Algarve holiday town of Portimao, in Portugal.
A Daman Speed Academy driver, Al Qubaisi is a member of a strong UAE contingent, which will take on Rotax MAX champions from more than 50 countries at the finals.
Al Qubaisi received a wild card from the organisers in recognition of her efforts and success in the UAE Rotax MAX Challenge championship.
Nearly 290 drivers will be action in Portimao this week, competing for one of the most prestigious titles in international karting.
The heats will be held between Tuesday and Friday, while the pre-finals and grand finals are scheduled for Saturday.
Last year, the UAE-based Sean Babington took the DD2 World championship title at the Grand Finals, but he is absent from the championships this year, unable to defend his title due to personal reasons.
Luke Varley, the 2009 MAX World Champion and team manager at Abu Dhabi Racing’s Daman Speed Academy, has taken Babington’s place in the squad.
“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,” said Guy Sheffield, the Team UAE manager.
“Our team gets stronger each year, and at this 16th edition of the event we are confident of an impressive showing by the drivers who will fly the UAE flag this weekend.”
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