Mohammed ben Sulayem: ATCUAE aims to make ESKC ‘a big part of UAE schools’

Chairman of the ATCUAE, Mohammed Ben Sulaymen, has big ambitions for the ESKC. Christopher Pike / The National

DUBAI // Karting here is set to receive a boost at grass-roots level with the launch of the Emirates Schools Karting Championship (ESKC), which will be making its first appearance on the UAE’s motorsports calendar from next season.

Held under the patronage of Mohammed ben Sulayem, the chairman of the Automobile and Touring Club of the UAE (ATCUAE), the ESKC is hoping to attract both Emirati and expatriate schools to participate in the series, which will be held at the Dubai Autodrome, Al Ain Raceway, Al Forsan and RAK Track.

The drivers must be at least 13 years old to be eligible and each school can enter three or four drivers per team.

“Our hope is to turn this series, along with the support of the ATCUAE, into a bona fide extramural activity in UAE schools, to make it a big part of the schools here,” said Saeed bin Touq, an executive at Dubai Autodrome, who have conceptualised the new series.

The Dubai Autodrome will also host the season’s curtain raiser, the Ultimate Rookie Workshop, on Saturday.

It will then host 50 days of practice, qualifying and racing between Monday and April 30, starting with the SWS Sprint Race.

“The highlight of the year will be the now traditional Hankook 24 Hour Dubai on January 14-16,” said Richard Birch, the general manager of Dubai Autodrome.

“Along with a host of UAE National Race Days: the Porsche Cup Middle East, UAE Superbikes, Radical Cup Middle East, NGK Racing Series, Formula Gulf 1000 and, for the first time at the venue, India’s MRF Challenge Formula 2000 Championships.”

The 12-round UAE Rotax Max Challenge, the country’s national karting championship, will start on September 25, with Al Ain Raceway, Dubai Autodrome, Al Forsan, Yas Marina Circuit and Oman’s Muscat Speedway hosting the series.

The ATCUAE has issued 110 competitor licences for the UAE Rotax Max Challenge this season, an increase of 10 per cent on last year.

“We are going to have 60 major races in the UAE this season, which makes us a major motorsport hub, not just in the Middle East, but in this part of world,” Ben Sulayem said.

“Motorsport in the UAE has witnessed great development and expansion in a relatively short space of time.

“Our responsibility is to maintain what has been achieved so far and ensure that this growth is sustainable.”

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