08 November 2017
Dubai schoolboy Jamie Day starred for Team UAE in the first Qualifying Heat races of the 2017 Rotax MAX Challenge Grand Finals, at the Kartdromo Internacional do Algarve in Portugal, while Keanu Al Azhari delivered another strong performance on the day.
It was the youngsters in the team that rose to the occasion on a day that included Qualifying Practice and the first Qualifying Heat races for all the classes, signalling the start of the serious part of the contest, after two days of practice.
Starting from third on the grid Day was quick to tag on to the pace setter as the two pulled away from the chasing pack, circulating nose-to-tail at the front of the field.
In the final stages, of the eight lap race, after shrewdly stalking the early leader throughout, Day pounced to claim victory in the first heat race and with it bag maximum points, while setting himself up as the driver to beat in the remaining two Qualifying Heat races to be run on Thursday.
In the same Mini MAX race Theo Kekati had his best showing of the week so far, finishing 11th after a race long battle with a dozen drivers.
In the Micro MAX class Keanu Al Azhari started sixth and within a couple of laps had fought his way to third place, with the two leaders ahead in the distance. But in the closing stages he was swamped by several drivers and had to take avoiding action on to the sand. This cost him time but he recovered well to finish seventh.
Positions in the heats for the rest of Team UAE were: Liam Crystal (Junior MAX) 26th; Lachlan Robinson (Junior MAX) 15th; Amna Al Qubaisi 23rd; Khalid Al Seai (Senior MAX) 30th; Kyle Blockley (DD2 Masters) 18th; Anthony Hogg (DD2 Masters) 35th; Kevin Day (DD2 Masters) 35th; Lucas Petersson (DD2) 29th; Jakob Robinson (DD2) 33rd; Abdullah Al Rawahi (DD2) 34th.
Team UAE Manager Guy Sheffield summed up the first qualifying heat races: "Our juniors were superb today. Jamie drove an intelligent race by sticking to the early leader and making his move at the exact right time to start his Qualifying Heats in the best way possible."
"Keanu did a good job early on to slot into third place, but he was hunted down in the late stages and was involved in a melee which saw him forced on to the sand before recovering to claim seventh."
"The pace in all first heat races was impressive and some of our Team UAE drivers were caught out in their respective races. However there are still two heats to go for each class where anything can happen and recovery possible," added Sheffield.
Heat 2 and Heat 3 for all classes will take place on Thursday. Points are tallied up and will determine the starting order for drivers in the Pre-Finals which take place on Friday. The Grand Finals for all classes take place on Saturday.
Jamie Day in the paddock and in action on Wednesday
Background
Rotax MAX Challenge 2017 Grand Finals
leven drivers from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are based in the seaside town of Portimao, in Portugal, for the Rotax MAX Grand Finals which takes place at the Kartdromo Inetrnacional do Algarve from 5 to 11 November 2017.
The team consists of the UAE's best Rotax MAX drivers from the 2016/2017 season, among them several champions, who will come up against the best drivers in the world in this series of karting.
The group join 360 drivers, from 60 nations, competing in this prestigious karting event to determine who will be this year's Rotax MAX world champions.
Team UAE consists of Emirati racer Amna Al Qubaisi in the MAX category, father and son Kevin and Jamie Day in the DD2 Masters and Mini MAX respectively, brothers Jakob and Lachlan Robinson in DD2 and Junior MAX, DD2 Masters Tony Hogg and Kyle Blockley, Lucas Petersson in DD2, Liam Crystal in Junior MAX, Theo Kekati in Mini MAX and Keanu Al Azhari, son of multiple UAE racing champion Karim Al Azhari, in the Micro MAX class.
Travelling with Team UAE is Omani DD2 driver Abdullah Al Rawahi as well as Bahraini champion Khaled Al Saei in the MAX Class.
The first Rotax MAX Grand Finals were held in 2000 in Puerto Rico and since then has become a regular fixture on the international karting calendar. Dubai based Sean Babington won the DD2 title in 2014 as part of Team UAE.
Useful links:
Official UAE Rotax Max Challenge Facebook Page for updates>>>
Al Ain Raceway Facebook Page>>>
Al Ain Raceway Instagram Page>>>
