Dragsters DXB top Nomad Class with two wins in four heats
Eighteen student teams competed in the inaugural race night for the Emirates Schools Karting Championship (ESKC) Junior category at Dubai Kartdrome on Sunday (29 January).
Swiss International Scientific School (SISS) Team 3, with drivers Enzo Al Azhari and Paul Seefeld, claimed overall and ESKC Class wins for Round One. Dragsters DXB, with drivers Kayne Cherian, Joshua McGregor, Vladik Dashkovsky and Elie Nassar, wrapped up the Nomad Class.
Founded in 2015 under the patronage of Dr. Mohammed Ben Sulayem and supported by the Automobile and Touring Club of the UAE (ATCUAE) and the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), the ESKC witnessed significant growth in its first season. Due to the increased interest from local schools, the championship has been divided into two categories for the second season: ESKC Senior (ages 13 to 18) and ESKC Junior (ages 7 to 12).
Sunday night marked the first running of the ESKC Junior category. Four sprint heats were run over the course of the evening with the podium winners determined by overall points.
Swiss International Scientific School fielded three well-drilled teams, making an impact right from the beginning of the event. Constantin Reisch of SISS Team 2 won the first heat by 2.975 seconds over his colleague Adam Al Azhari of SISS Team 1.
SISS Team 3 jumped in the mix when Enzo Al Azhari won Heat Two by just 0.975 seconds over his brother Adam Al Azahari of SISS Team 1.
Harry Hannam of Dubai English Speaking School (DESS) Team 1 got involved in Heat Three, taking a comfortable victory, a full 10.491 seconds ahead of Keanu Al Azhari from SISS Team 1.
SISS Team 3 returned in style for the final heat, with Paul Seefeld racing to the chequered flag 9.144 seconds ahead of Hannam of DESS Team 1.
When the points were tallied after the four heats, SISS Team 3 claimed a first round victory on 122 total points. SISS Team 1 was right behind on 115 points and DESS Team 1 claimed third place with 108 points.
SISS Team 3 driver Enzo Al Azhari said, “I’m really amazed. Our team did very well, everyone, even team one and two. We really enjoyed it and I think it was very interesting racing.”
In the Nomad Class, with teams comprised of students from different schools, it was Dragsters DXB who came out on top, nabbing two class wins out of the four heats, placing as high as sixth overall. JT Racing kept close all night but had to settle for second place, and Horizon PP secured third.
Fastest lap of the night belonged to Constantin Reisch of SISS Team 2, clocking in a blistering 1:20.152 lap time in Heat Two.
The next ESKC Junior round will take place at Dubai Kartdrome on Sunday, 19 February 2017.