Dubai, UAE, 29 May 2018: A new track configuration was introduced at Dubai Kartdrome for Round Two of the 2018 Ramadan Challenge on Monday night (28 May), which packed the grids and kept the racing close. Anjum Shaikh mastered the new circuit well and came out on top of a scrappy Senior Cup battle, Atef Al Barwani continued his domination of the Masters category and Patrick Debattista took another win in the Junior Cup.
Dubai Kartdrome Manager David Bright said, “Drivers really enjoyed the new track configuration for this round and the layout produced some of the closest racing I’ve seen during the Ramadan Challenge.”
Ramadan Challenge Senior Cup & Masters
Romaldo Labrooy, winner of the opening round, carried the momentum into Round Two, topping the qualifying session of 34 karts with a best lap time of 53.085 to take pole position. The next ten drivers all qualified within a second of Labrooy’s time, with Anjum Shaikh getting the closest, just 0.283 seconds off the leader’s pace.
Labrooy made the most of pole and held on to take the first race by 0.138 seconds over Shaikh. Heat two belonged to Hussain Umid Ali, who won the race just 0.097 seconds ahead of Maz Nawaz. Anjum Shaikh was challenging for the lead all night and he finally got a win in the last heat, taking the chequered flag by 1.247 seconds ahead of Ahmed Al Hammadi.
When the points of the three heats were calculated, Anjum Shaikh emerged victorious with a total of 135 points, just three points ahead of Hussain Umid Ali in second-place on 132 points. Romaldo Labrooy claimed third-place with 128 points.
In the Masters category of the Senior Cup, Atef Al Barwani was slow to get going early on, but made it up for when it mattered most and claimed another class victory.
Paul David Sebright was the faster Masters driver in qualifying and heat one, but Al Barwani took control of the last two heats and put himself in great position for the championship.
Atef Al Barwani secured his second Masters Cup victory in row with 95 points total. Paul David Sebright put up a great fight but had to settle for second-place on 83 points, while defending Masters Champion Mohammed Ismail nabbed third-place with 79 points.
Click here for Senior Cup & Masters Results
Ramadan Challenge Junior Cup
Patrick Debattista is now firmly in control of the championship after securing his second Junior Cup victory in a row.
It was a near-perfect performance by Debattista on the night. The young driver stormed through qualifying, clocking in a best lap time of 59.247, edging out Maximilian Dexter by 0.048 seconds to take pole.
The pole sitter struggled in Heat One however, dropping down to fifth position, leaving the door open for Oliver Wareing to take the win over Andrey Ouziel by 0.242 seconds.
Debattista returned to form and went on to win the next two heats, taking the second race by just 0.951 seconds over Andrey Ouziel, and the third race by a comfortable 3.804 seconds ahead of Khalifa Al Qubaisi.
After points of the three heats were tallied, Patrick Debattista walked away with the Round Two winner’s trophy with a total of 138 points. Andrey Ouziel took home second-place honours on 132 points and Khalifa Al Qubaisi claimed third-place with 127 points.
Click here for Junior Cup Results
The third round of the Ramadan Challenge takes place on Monday night, 4 June at Dubai Kartdrome, and another new track configuration will be unveiled.
Report & Photos: Aaron Meriwether
