07 November 2017
UAE Micro MAX Champion Keanu Al Azhari continued to shine on day two of practice for the Rotax MAX Challenge Grand Finals, at the Kartdromo Internacional do Algarve in Portugal, with Kyle Blockley in the DD2 Masters class and Jamie Day in the Mini MAX enjoying a strong day for Team UAE.
Dubai schoolboy Al Azhari, son of multiple UAE motor racing champion Karim Al Azhari, continued to set the pace among the top 36 Micro MAX drivers from around the globe. With a best lap time of 1:08.732 which was a tenth faster than his closest rival in a field which saw the top 24 within a second of the top time.
In the DD2 Masters Blockley found a good setup overnight and enjoyed good pace in the morning session in which he finished third fastest and only a quarter of a second shy of the top DD2 Masters pace setter.
Day, whose father Kevin Day is also competing in this year's Grand Finals in the DD2 Masters, was eighth fastest in the highly competitive Mini MAX class. Young Day was only three tenths down on the top time in his class.
Emirati lady racer Amna Al Qubaisi is one of four females in the line-up of 360 drivers from 60 different nations at this edition of the Grand Finals. She ended the day 13th
Also showing strong pace on the day was Abdullah Al Rawahi, racing under the flag of Oman, setting the 13th fastest time in the morning session, only three tenths down on the top time in DD2.
All the Team UAE drivers improved on their day one lap times, with most creeping up the timing sheets and a number of drivers in sight of the top ten ahead of qualifying.
Positions on day two for the rest of Team UAE were: Theo Kekati (Mini MAX) 22nd; Liam Crystal (Junior MAX) 16th; Lachlan Robinson (Junior MAX) 11th; Khalid Al Seai (Senior MAX) 34th; Anthony Hogg (DD2 Masters) 28th; Kevin Day (DD2 Masters) 26th; Lucas Petersson (DD2) 15th; Jakob Robinson (DD2) 20th.
Team UAE Manager Guy Sheffield summed up day two: "Once again a great showing by our youngest team member. Keanu has set the pace on both days in the Micro MAX class and his approach has been impressive to witness. Kyle found a good setup and is getting stronger with each session, while Jamie showed why he is UAE champion with solid performances all day."
"All our drivers improved their times and top ten for several of them is a very realistic goal as we head to the business side of the Grand Finals. We have a couple of contenders in the ranks and may also provide a surprise or two in qualifying and the heats," added Sheffield.
Wednesday morning will see the final practice run for all classes, with qualifying to follow before lunch. The first heat races begin in the afternoon.
Keanu Al AZhari in action on Tuesday
Keanu Al Azhari with race engineer Gerorge Gibbons and father Karim Al Azhari
Kyle Blockley in action Monday
Background
Rotax MAX Challenge 2017 Grand Finals
Eleven 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 Internacional 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>>>
