AL AIN // It ultimately may not have been the podium finish that he had hoped for going into the competition, but Maurits Knopjes was content with his seventh-place finish in the final of the DD2 Masters at the Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals at Al Ain Raceway on Saturday.
The Dubai-based Dutchman, who was driving for Team UAE, had been forced to take part in a Last Chance race on Friday just to get a spot on the grid after spinning out of his final qualifying heat.
After finishing 16th from 29th on the grid for the pre-final that decided the starting line-up for the final, he charged up the order in the title-deciding race.
"I was hoping for even more [than seventh] but if you had said to me beforehand I would be going from 29th to seventh I would have been very happy," the 39 year old said. "We had a great race and hopefully next year I will be few spots farther up."
Knopjes and Arnaud Bouf, the Frenchman who also made it to the final of the DD2 Masters category, were the only UAE representatives to race Saturday.
It was a frustrating day for Bouf, who had started one place behind Knopjes on the grid, as a first lap collision saw him lose ground.
He finished back in 26th place.
"I got stuck on the kerb with one wheel on the dirt, so I could not rejoin quickly," Bouf said. "I pushed as hard as I could, but I bent my front wheel so the kart was not as fast."
The 39 year old was not downbeat about the disappointing end to the championship, and said he was a better driver as a result of the competition.
"With the level of competition in the UAE we have gained in one week two years of experience, as you have to push so hard to find the 10ths to compete against the top drivers," Bouf said.
gcaygill@thenational.ae
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
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Profile
Company: Justmop.com
Date started: December 2015
Founders: Kerem Kuyucu and Cagatay Ozcan
Sector: Technology and home services
Based: Jumeirah Lake Towers, Dubai
Size: 55 employees and 100,000 cleaning requests a month
Funding: The company’s investors include Collective Spark, Faith Capital Holding, Oak Capital, VentureFriends, and 500 Startups.
Museum of the Future in numbers
- 78 metres is the height of the museum
- 30,000 square metres is its total area
- 17,000 square metres is the length of the stainless steel facade
- 14 kilometres is the length of LED lights used on the facade
- 1,024 individual pieces make up the exterior
- 7 floors in all, with one for administrative offices
- 2,400 diagonally intersecting steel members frame the torus shape
- 100 species of trees and plants dot the gardens
- Dh145 is the price of a ticket
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The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
Power: 181hp
Torque: 230Nm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Starting price: Dh79,000
On sale: Now
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How to come clean about financial infidelity
- Be honest and transparent: It is always better to own up than be found out. Tell your partner everything they want to know. Show remorse. Inform them of the extent of the situation so they know what they are dealing with.
- Work on yourself: Be honest with yourself and your partner and figure out why you did it. Don’t be ashamed to ask for professional help.
- Give it time: Like any breach of trust, it requires time to rebuild. So be consistent, communicate often and be patient with your partner and yourself.
- Discuss your financial situation regularly: Ensure your spouse is involved in financial matters and decisions. Your ability to consistently follow through with what you say you are going to do when it comes to money can make all the difference in your partner’s willingness to trust you again.
- Work on a plan to resolve the problem together: If there is a lot of debt, for example, create a budget and financial plan together and ensure your partner is fully informed, involved and supported.
Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
