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Scott Latham, Simon Dennis, Fadi Al Aswad, Maurits Knopjes, Edward Jones, Tim Murdoch and Riccardo Curatola provided the thrills — winning the final races in their respective categories as the DAMC and RMC Karting Championships drew to a close at Dubai Autodrome last week.
The day was characterised by some intense racing with the DAMC Club honouring its champions at the end of the action-packed day.
With Shaikh Hasher Al Maktoum returning for the last Rotax Max Seniors race, Latham was assured of a keen contest. And things went according to script with Latham taking pole and winning Heat 1, with Shaikh Hasher the runner-up.
The order was reversed in the second race though, which set up a much-anticipated final that ended in disappointment for Shaikh Hasher, who was forced to retire after mayhem broke out as the drivers entered turn one.
Latham though, escaped unscathed from the pile up, kept his cool and proceeded without a care in the world to record another impressive victory that won him the title.
Ashraf Raza and Rami Azzam completed the podium taking second and third respectively.
Knopjes proved too hot to handle in the DD2 Class taking pole and winning three races, including the final.
His closest rival Saeed Al Shamsi, who overshadowed him throughout the early races, stumbled on the final day and could only manage third in the final race, but his results in the earlier rounds of the championship saw him clinch the overall honours.
Sandwiched between Knopjes and Saeed in the final race was Joubin Gharaei.
The TAG Class was won by Murdoch, who took advantage of previous winner Adam Reeve’s final day absence and won all three of the day’s races to take home the championship.
Paul Healy and Anthony Byrne finished second and third in the last race, respectively. Fadi grabbed the honours in the Heavyweight TAG Class with victory over second-placed Ian Prestwich and John Mace, who finished third.
The Cadets Class has been dominated by Tom Bale recently, but things failed to go according to plan as his arch-rival Riccardo Curatola rose to the occasion and won the final three season-ending races.
The Rotax Max Juniors Class has provided some of the best racing this year despite its smallish fields. The last round was no different as the chief rivals for top honours Edward Jones, Elliot Patrick and young lady racer Grace Brownlee got ready to do battle.
Jones has weathered the hype generated by his opponents Brownlee and Shahaan Engineer (who was absent) and raised his game a notch to declare himself as the driver to beat in this category.
Dennis stole the limelight in the Rotax Max Masters Class by clinching the overall honours ahead of 60-year-old Mace, the only driver competing in two classes on the same day, and third placed Paul Walsh.
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