Corporate victory for CG Racing 1 and ZOOM Racing Team claims Nations Cup

Dubai, UAE, 22 October 2017:   Batelco Racing is in firm control of the Dubai Kartdrome Endurance Championship after taking its third consecutive win of the 2017 series on Saturday (21 October), narrowly beating out arch rivals CG Racing Pro.  

The Choueiri Group (CG) fared better in the Corporate category, scoring its first class win of the year, while ZOOM Racing Team added another Nations Cup trophy to the one it earned in round two.

After 700 kilometres and over twelve hours of endurance kart racing on the Reverse Switchback Circuit at Dubai Kartdrome, Mohammed Mattar, Ramez Azzam and Saeed Al Mehairi of Batelco Racing completed the hat-trick victory over CG Racing Pro by just 12.095 seconds.

Early on Lukoil Racing looked to spoil the party of the title favourites (Batelco and CG) by claiming pole position with a best lap time of 1:10.510.  The all-Russian squad then went on to control the first few hours of the race.

Lukoil Racing, Bin Drai Karting Team and CG Racing Pro all took the lead at one point in the race, but it was the methodical pit stop strategy and relentless pace throughout the night that allowed Batelco Racing to eventually take control of the contest.

With CG Racing Pro giving chase in the final laps, Ramez Azzam kept his nerve and took the chequered flag for Batelco Racing, giving the team its third straight win and the Pro Championship lead with a total of 120 points.

With only one more round remaining, CG Racing Pro need a healthy dose of perseverance and luck to challenge for the Pro title. They currently sit in second place on 105 points.  Bin Drai Karting Team is still in hunt, maintaining third place on 96 points.

Following the victory Ali Abbas of Batelco Racing said, “We have another 24 hours to go in December but it was a really strong race today.  The guys on our team managed well and we kept the pace.  I think they really delivered a fast race for us.

“CG Racing Pro were coming up fast at the end, but we kept it cool, calm and won the race.”

The Choueiri Group missed out on the big prize but CG teams did well overall, managing to get drivers on each of the category podiums.

CG Racing 1 nabbed a class win by 48.873 seconds over the Corporate leaders, Team Emirates, and the victory gives it a good chance to challenge for the title in December.

On a total of 115 points, defending Corporate champion Team Emirates retains a narrow lead over CG Racing 1, in second place with 110 points.  IUM Racing has the third spot with 90 points.

In the Nations Cup, for drivers of the same nationality, the Indian pilots of ZOOM Racing Team earned their second consecutive class victory and kept their title ambitions intact, topping the championship on 112 points.

It was heartbreak for Lukoil Racing, who led the entire field early on, but had to settle for sixth overall at the finish, just behind class rivals ZOOM Racing Team.  With a points tally of 102, the Russian team is still a contender for the Nations Cup.  The all-Lebanese contingent of CG Racing 1 sits in third place on 92 points.

Dubai Kartdrome Manager Ryan Trutch said, “We brought back the Reverse Switchback configuration for the first time since 2015.  It is very popular with drivers due to the ultra-quick back straight which allows many overtaking opportunities.

“Well done to Lukoil Racing for taking pole, which is frequently locked out by Batelco Racing or CG Pro, and well done to Batelco Racing for a remarkable third consecutive victory.”

The fourth and final round of the 2017 Endurance Championship will take place on 15-16 December 2017 on the International Circuit at Dubai Kartdrome.