10 November 2015
It was a day of mixed fortunes for Team UAE on the first day of free practice at the 2015 Rotax MAX Challenge Grand Finals at the Kartodromo Internacional Algarve in Portugal, on Tuesday (10 November).
All 288 champion drivers from over 50 countries - including ex-Formula 1 driver Rubens Barrichello contesting DD2 for Brazil - were unleashed on to the track for the first time this week in four classes: MAX Junior, MAX, DD2 and DD2 Master, with three sessions per driver during the course of a sunny day in southern Portugal.
Drivers thus had the opportunity to sample their brand new equipment for the first time and work on setup ahead of qualifying on Wednesday. The early indications are that this is going to be a closer than ever contest for the top prizes in the Finals on Saturday, as the best times of the top 50 drivers (out of 72) in each class are covered by around a second or less.
At the end of the day both Luke Varley and Piers Pakenham-Walsh were in the top ten of the DD2 class, with Varley sixth fastest in his final practice session and Pakenham-Walsh eighth in his group.
DD2 Masters drivers Hussain Umid Ali, Tony Hogg and Jonathan Mowatt were struggling early on to match the pace setters in the class that caters for drivers over the age of 32. The trio will need to find in the region of 0.3 and 0.5 of a second to match the top times set by their rivals.
Tom Bale was best of the MAX drivers from the UAE with the 13th best time in his final session of the day, while teammate Patrick Hannah was 15th in his final run.
In the Junior MAX Class Taymour Kermanshahchi was 11th and Abu Dhabi schoolgirl Amna Al Qubaisi 33rd in their sessions.
Representing Oman, alongside Team UAE, are the Al Rawahi brothers, with Sanad 22nd in DD2, albeit a mere 0.4 of a second down on the top time while Abdullah impressed with the 12th best time in MAX category.
There will be two more practice sessions for the drivers on Wednesday in the morning, followed by the serious business of qualifying in the afternoon.
Guy Sheffield, Team UAE manager, summed up the day: "A day of ups and downs for the team but good to see some of our drivers at the sharp end of proceedings on a day of free practice. Experience is vital, and as the event progresses our drivers who are down the order at this stage are capable of moving up the order. All in all a good day, packed with action but plenty to work on ahead of qualifying."
The drivers representing Team UAE at the 2015 Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals are:
Junior MAX - Amna Al Qubaisi (Leading Junior MAX Emirati National)
Useful links:
Al Ain Raceway Facebook Page for updates>>>
