After a first positive experience in Abu Dhabi at the end of 2023 with the presentation of the "Arrive and Drive" competition concept, the RGMMC group returned to the United Arab Emirates for the continuation of the Champions of the Future Academy Program 2024, with a fourth event that was a unanimous success on the Dubai Kartodrome. Nearly 100 drivers of 32 nationalities put on a show of great intensity in the OK-N Senior, OK-N Junior and Mini 60 categories. Used to promoting the biggest international events, RGMMC brought its expertise and knowledge to the Middle East for this high-level event. Many of the drivers were new to the fast-paced and challenging Dubai circuit, which made for some uncertain racing. The next event in Al Aïn is already eagerly awaited...

OK-N Senior: First wins for Herrouin and Mneimneh
A number of drivers put in excellent performances, making the event exciting to follow. Markus Silkunas started Saturday with a pole position and two heat wins. But although he got off to a good start in the Final, just before a slow procedure was triggered, he missed the restart completely at the green flag and lost eight places. Luna Fluxa Cross spent just one lap in the lead, quickly overtaken by Jean Karras. Karras then gave way to Maksymilian Rafalik, before crashing out. Hugo Herrouin, who started 6th, drove a magnificent attacking race and got the better of Rafalik to take the win. The Frenchman celebrated his first success in this series ahead of the Polish driver. Silkunas came 4th, but was unable to catch the local driver Mohammed Mneimneh.

Rafalik took Sunday's pole ahead of Fluxa Cross, who won Heat 1 before retiring in Heat 2. It was Herrouin who came out on top, confirming his 1st place on the grid for the Final, with his compatriot Jean Karras on the front row. But thereafter, none of these drivers could trouble Mneimneh. Herrouin managed to get the better of his rival, but only for two laps. This time, Rafalik climbed onto the third step of the podium ahead of Philippe Amand, who was only 9th on the first lap. 5th-placed Spaniard Fluxa Cross scored important points in the Championship, which she still leads by a healthy margin. The performance of Japanese F1 Academy driver Sara Matsui is to be commended, as she made her presence felt several times in the leading group, even though she was only recently competing in the Junior category.

OK-N Junior: Local drivers in the spotlight
On Saturday, Thailand's Toby Gale won heat 1 from pole position. American Nicola Stanley took over from him in 1st position in heat 2. But other drivers and other nationalities came to the fore in the final. Maxim Bobreshov from the United Arab Emirates, who only a few weeks ago switched from Mini to Junior, overtook his compatriot Mitansh Jain and then Stanley to take victory. Stanley then gave way to Poland's Kacper Raijpold and Conor Clancy, a young driver trained in Dubai, while Gale could do no better than 5th.

For Gale, the second day of competition got off to exactly the same start as the first, with pole position and victory in Heat 2. With his fastest lap of the race, Clancy made the difference, but this time Gale was on the podium, with Stanley on the third step. Two Poles, Oskar Galan and Kacper Rajpold, finished just 52 thousandths apart, just ahead of South African William Marshall.

In the rankings, Australian James Anagnostiadis remains in the lead, but the gap has narrowed with Rajpold, Marshall, Clancy and Gale.

Mini 60: Well-deserved success for Dzhalilov and Perico
Nikita Dzhalilov and Nicolo Perico both had their moment of glory in Dubai. Nikita on Saturday and Nicolo on Sunday. On both occasions, the two young drivers took pole position, before winning both heats and the Final. The excitement came from behind, with constant duels between several drivers determined to climb the podium. On the first day, Italy's Nicolo Perico narrowly edged out Ava Lawrence from the United Arab Emirates and Belgium's Bruno Priam, as well as topping the U10 class ahead of Lawrence and Verba Danila. For Ava Lawrence, supported by Discover Your Drive-F1 Academy, this podium is another excellent result for the driver licensed in the United Arab Emirates.

On Sunday, Perico's victory quickly became apparent, but it wasn't until the final lap that four drivers were able to separate themselves in the final overtaking manoeuvres: Bruno Priam manoeuvred perfectly to get ahead of Australian Oscar Singh, Nikita Dzhalilov and local Achilleas Peruzzi, 2nd in the U10 class ahead of Frenchman Baptiste Augustin. Bruno remains a solid overall leader ahead of Switzerland's Albert Tamm and Nicolo Perico.

Final places available for Al Aïn and Al Forsan
It is still possible to register for the last two races of the 2024 season, which will take place in the United Arab Emirates from 14th to 17th November and from 2nd to 4th December. Information and entries on championskartingacademy.com.

Provisional rankings

OK-N Senior

1 Fluxa Cross Luna (ESP) 507 points
2 Herrouin Hugo (FRA) 392 points
3 Karras Philippe-Armand (FRA) 350 points
4 Silkunas Markas (LTU) 306 points
5 Rafalik Maksymilian (POL) 252 points
6 Motlekar Ghazi (MOZ) 223 points
7 Karras Jean-Paul (FRA) 193 points
8 Cegielski Franciszek (POL) 168 points
9 Woda Wojciech (POL) 160 points
10 Nassar Georges (ARE) 155 points
...

OK-N Junior

1 Anagnostiadis James (AUS) 439 points
2 Rajpold Kacper (POL) 386 points
3 Marshall William (ZAF) 376 points
4 Clancy Conor (ARE) 368 points
5 Gale Toby (THA) 349 points
6 Hakkinen Ella (MCO) 206 points
7 Simons Torres Angelina (ESP) 155 points
8 Peruzzi Leonidas (ARE) 148 points
9 Vitver Matyas (CZE) 141 points
10 Pedrotti Egon (ITA) 119 points
...

Mini 60

1 Bruno Priam (BEL) 501 points
2 Tamm Albert (CHE) 358 points
3 Perico Nicolo (ITA) 356 points
4 Bobreshov Maxim (ARE) 278 points
5 Palacio Lucas (ITA) 218 points
6 Feligioni Augustin (FRA) 211 points
7 Truchot Alessandro (ITA) 206 points
8 Capela Vicente (PRT) 159 points
9 Peruzzi Achilleas (ARE) 156 points
10 Kostrzewa Btazej (POL) 139 points
…

 Press Release © RGMMC