AL AIN RACEWAY INTERNATIONAL KART CIRCUIT

Al Ain Raceway is in full preparation mode as hosts for the 2011 Rotax MAX Challenge Grand Finals - the world's most prestigious single karting event, which will be held on 19 - 26 November 2011.

The annual event, now in its 12th year, will be the largest karting event to date with 264 participants from 60 different nations across five continents taking part, including seven competitors in Team UAE.

The first few days will be taken up with registration, practice and pre-qualifying rounds. Entry is free of charge to spectators and the main racing days will be Friday 25 and Saturday 26 November.

Al Ain Raceway Managing Director Antonio Kekati said, "This is the second time that Al Ain Raceway has hosted the Rotax MAX Challenge Grand Finals. We were selected on the strengths of venue suitability, the quality of our facilities, offering the highest circuit homologation standard in the region and our proven organisational and professional abilities".

Kekati continued, "Ask any Formula One driver how he started his career and 99% of them will tell you it all began with karting. With the exception of Vitaly Petrov, all current, and many former Formula One drivers grew up racing karts: Michael Schumacher, Ayrton Senna, Alain Prost, Fernando Alonso, Kimi Raikkonen, Jenson Button, Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel".

Karting is the purest form of racing. The experience gained from racing karts is invaluable, not only control of the vehicle bur also racecraft and sportsmanship. These are the attributes that mould young drivers into international superstars.

Antonio Kekati added "In the UAE we are proud to have an official Grand Prix circuit, but UAE hopefuls with dreams of becoming an F1 driver in the future need to be on the karting circuit from the age of 8 onwards. Al Ain Raceway is the place to get started. And coming off the back of this year's Formula 1 ™ Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, we expect that F1 scouts will be around looking for future top drivers".

Al Ain Raceway has created a centre of karting excellence that aims to provide equipment, support and guidance to those who wish to join the motorsport ladder. Together with the Automobile & Touring Club of the United Arab Emirates, the FIA/CIK sporting authority, the Al Ain Raceway Kart Club is the UAE's only national karting race series which operates to the highest possible standards, with grid sizes increasing year on year. The expertise available at Al Ain Raceway is able to develop and nurture the talents of young drivers and ultimately ensure a UAE driver presence on the world's Formula One circuits in the years to come.

Al Ain Raceway previously hosted the Rotax MAX Grand Finals, shortly after it opened in 2007. The circuit is a world class facility, with a Level B homologation - the highest in the region.