The new Endurance Championship season kicks off at midday on Friday (10 February) with the Round One 12 Hour Endurance Race at Dubai Kartdrome.
The Choueiri Group (CG) has launched an ambitious strategy for 2017, fielding three teams covering all categories, as well as a new all-ladies team, CG Angels. Additionally, reigning 2016 Pro champions CG Pro will be returning to defend their title.
CG Teams Manager Habib Chouery said: “CG Racing is never short on ambitions and after achieving many of our goals with our existing male-dominated Professional and Corporate teams, we decided to move ahead with the introduction of another competitive platform, CG Racing Angels, which is aimed directly at bringing more female drivers onto the kart racing track”.
Top rivals Batelco Drag965 Racing, Bin Drai Karting Team and Dubai Falcon Racing Team have all returned to try and topple the CG teams. Captained by Sheikh Hasher Al Maktoum, Dubai Falcon Racing Team is running an all-Emirati driver line-up this year, making them the favourites for the Nations Cup as well.
Another UAE team, SABG, will challenge the Falcon drivers for the Nations Cup, as well as the highly experienced CG Racing 1 representing Lebanon and the Russian squad of Lukoil Racing Team.
In the Corporate Class, Fly Emirates will be back to defend their 2016 title and their partner team, Team Emirates, are amongst the top contenders as well. Two Choueiri Group teams, CG Racing 1 and 2, will also be up to compete for the Corporate crown.
Racing will take place on the outdoor 1.2 kilometre Reverse International circuit configuration at the Dubai Kartdrome.
Dubai Kartdrome Manager Ryan Trutch said: “As promised we have introduced the four different track configurations again this year. These were sorely missed last year due to some construction in an adjacent plot (the MotorCity Ribbon), but now the construction has been completed we can safely run these different track configurations again.
“In addition, we have a brand new fleet of Sodi RX8 karts which I am sure all our competitors will be eager to get their hands on.”
Track action starts at 11.00 on Friday with qualifying. The Endurance Championship 12 Hours Endurance Race officially commences with the famous Le Mans start at noon with kart racing running continuously until midnight.