Abu Dhabi’s Yas Marina Circuit, the Middle East’s premier motor racing facility, is used to staging international events of the scale of Formula One, where the best drivers in the world race in front of over a billion global viewers.

This coming weekend however, the iconic venue joins another expanding championship, albeit, of a slightly smaller scale than the Formula One Grand Prix.

The UAE Rotax Max Challenge, founded in 2006 by the Al Ain Raceway Karting Club (AARKC), and taking place from 22-23 March, is the country’s National Karting Championship, featuring up to 80 drivers of all ages competing across seven separate classes.

Each season, the national champions in each class progress to the world finals, which were staged in Al Ain in 2007 and 2011, and will be held in New Orleans in late 2013.

Karting is widely accepted as the starting point for future Formula One World Champions, with Sebastian Vettel, Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso all beginning their racing careers as junior karters.

The 2012-13 UAE Rotax Max Challenge is held over 13 rounds throughout the season, including Al Ain Raceway, Dubai Kartdrome, Al Forsan Sports Club, and now Yas Marina Circuit.

Al Ain Raceway Managing Director Antonio Kekati commented: “We are excited to have Abu Dhabi Motorsport Management (ADMM) join our championship with the fabulous Yas Marina facility.

“We have worked with ADMM many times before, including when they were the main sponsor for the 2011 Rotax Grand Finals, and we are delighted that they share our passion for karting.

“We are expecting our strongest ever field of competitors for this event, with up to 80 drivers featuring throughout the classes. At recent rounds of the championship, we have been very fortunate to have strong teams also come from Oman and Bahrain to compete, and we hope that they will also be in attendance.”

The UAE Rotax Max Challenge is organized by the AARKC under the supervision of the Automobile & Touring Club of the UAE (ATCUAE), the designated representative of the Commission Internationale de Karting (CIK) in the UAE. ATCUAE President Dr. Mohammed Ben Sulayem will be in attendance at the event to lend his support to the championship.

“Karting is the grassroots of motorsport,” said Ben Sulayem. “It provides the greatest amount of enjoyment for the least amount of money, and we are very fortunate to have great karting facilities in the UAE, including two CIK International circuits.”

The event at Yas Marina Circuit will comprise two rounds of the championship back to back on Friday 22nd and Saturday 23rd March, and is due to take place on a specially designed layout, located around the North Circuit in front of the Yas Marina Driving School. Admission to the event is free of charge and all are welcome to come along.

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