P1 Racing clinches first Nomad Class victory

Dubai, UAE, 16 January 2017:  Reigning champion Jumeirah English Speaking School (JESS) Arabian Ranches returned to form and seized victory in Round Three of the Senior Emirates Schools Karting Championship (ESKC) at Dubai Kartdrome on Sunday night (15 January).

Drivers Eliot Jones, Harry Tryggvason and Sam Burtonwood have put JESS Arabian Ranches in the championship lead prior to the fourth and final round in March.

JESS Arabian Ranches started the evening according to plan, nailing a best qualifying lap of 1:10.481 and booking pole position for the 60 minute endurance race.  Ghost Racing was next up, just 0.686 seconds off the pace, followed by Dubai English Speaking College (DESC) Team 7 in third.

When racing commenced the pole sitters looked to be in trouble as both Repton School and DESC Team 7 jumped ahead in the opening laps.  Last season’s champs remained calm however, as strategy and experience put them back in the contest.

Harry Tryggvason remarked, “We didn’t get the start we were hoping for but we made up for that quite quickly.  It was a pretty smooth race; all of the pit stops were nice and quick.”

JESS Arabian Ranches recovered the lead, cruising in for victory a staggering 25.718 seconds ahead of their nearest rival, Repton School.  Eliot Jones recorded the fastest lap of the race, clocking in at 1:10.361.

After three rounds JESS Arabian Ranches tops the Senior ESKC Championship on 99 points, with Repton School down 14 points on 85.  DESC Team 4 currently sits in third place with 82 points.

In the Senior ESKC Nomad category, with teams composed of kart racers of different schools, the championship is running very close.  P1 Racing, with drivers Rashid Al Awadhi, Ethan Watt, Kyle Kumaran, and Hugo Gid, finally made its mark in the series by seizing its first Nomad triumph.

P1 Racing qualified fifth on the grid to start Round Three, sitting well behind championship rivals Ghost Racing, however, excellent race pace and a newly employed pit strategy saw P1 Racing climb up to third place overall to take home the Nomad first place trophy.

After three rounds, P1 Racing earned its first season win and is now tied with VDR Racing, both on 73 championship points.  Ghost Racing is right in the mix with 69 points.

Emirati karting ace Rashid Al Awadhi was happy that his team is improving at the right time of the season.  He said, “Thanks to the team and for all of the effort we made today.  All of the best, inshallah, for P1 Racing.”

The Senior ESKC Championship and Nomad Cup will be decided at the last round on 18 March 2017 at Dubai Kartdrome.