Big battles expected in round three of the DAMC Karting Championship

Round 3 of the DAMC Karting Championship takes place at the Kartdrome this weekend (Friday, 27 November 2009). Once again the country’s best karters will line up for what is sure to be an action packed day.

The premier Max Seniors Class has turned into a three way battleground Between championship leader Sheikh Hasher Al Maktoum, reigning champion Scott Latham and Maurits Knopjes who last year was DD2 champion and this year has decided to move to the Max Seniors Class.

Scott Latham leads the highly competitive Max Seniors pack at the Kartdrome

There is very little to separate the trio and at the Kartdrome this weekend lap records are set to be threatened as they push one another to the limit. Al Maktoum won last time out at the Kartdrome while Knopjes came good last weekend at Al Ain Raceway. Latham will be itching to make it on to the top step of the podium, thus setting the scene for an intriguing battle on Friday.

Going into Round 3, the ever improving Piers Pakenham-Walsh leads the points standings in the Max Juniors Class. However he will be hard pushed to overcome reigning champion Edward Jones and Shahaan Engineer who have been the pace setters in recent rounds both in Dubai and Al Ain. The Jones versus Engineer fierce contest for top honours in the Max Juniors class is turning out to be one of the highlights of the season.

Who can stop Tom Bale? This is the question that dominates proceedings in the Cadet Class. Young Bale, who is the defending Cadet champion, has not put a foot wrong so far this season. Behind him the battle for secondary honours is intense with a number of drivers slugging it out for the runner-up slot in this class.

These include Pascal Pook, Patrick Hannah and Cyrus Engineer. Again expect this “tiny tot” trio to be slugging out amongst themselves. However, in the unlikely event of them working together, they may even be able to give Bale something to think about…

Also on the bill will be the popular Sodi W-Series Sprint Races featuring the best leisure karters racing for victory with in equal karts. Invariably the series attracts a big field and provides skirmishes throughout.

 The contest at the front is fierce with nothing between the top several drivers which are likely to include Sam Zian, Chatenay Paul, Haytham Al Ali, Luca Cima, Nathan Stevens and Rami Joudi. In for races Zian has won twice while Al Ali and Saeed Al Mehairi have taken a win apiece.

Practice starts at 9.00 am on Friday with qualifying scheduled to start at 10.35 am and the first heats set to be flagged off at 11.30 am and the first of four finals to start at 3.25 pm. The podium ceremony, for all classes, will commence shortly after 5.00 pm.

source: Dubai Autodrome (Photo: JP Souter)