Three Emirati drivers have high aspirations when the Sodi World Series (SWS) Grand Finals take place at Paris over the weekend.
Atef Al Barwani, Abdullah Al Ali and Hussein Umid Ali all say that they can achieve podium finishes at the RKC track in the biggest prize in international leisure karting.
“This is the fourth invitation for these finals that I’ve received,” Al Barwani said.
“But it’s only the third time I’m taking part, as the first time I was unable to attend for personal reasons, and it is the second time for me on this track.
“It’s a very technical, very difficult circuit. But for the last two years I feel that as a driver I have progressed in a very big way.”
Al Barwani, 33, first took up karting in 2004 while pursuing his studies in Malaysia, and continued racing on his return, mostly at Dubai Autodrome.
He has since become one of the country’s most decorated racers.
Al Barwani is the first Emirati to win the Dubai leg of the SWS four times in a row, from 2011 to 2014.
“Hopefully at the end of the year it will be the fifth time as well,” said Al Barwani, who stated that the standard of karting in the UAE has been raised in recent years, pushing drivers harder.
“You have people from all over the world racing in the Emirates,” he said.
“The number of Emiratis taking part is on the rise too. It makes me proud to see locals taking part from a very young age, from as young as six years.
“The sport is being taken seriously now, so it’s not just people taking up sports like football.”
Having other Emirati drivers competing has helped increase competition and at the same time the camaraderie between them.
“We always discuss racing,” Al Barwani said. “I’m grateful that I’ve won six competitions and the boys have never been anything less than supportive. We all want to win but also try to raise each other’s spirits.
“There are no disagreements between us, and if one of us is absent from a race we always feel something is missing.”
Al Ali, 33, said being friends has not stopped them from being competitive.
“Inside and outside the tracks we are all friends, but the competitiveness is always there,” he said. “Race time is race time. Everyone looks after themselves. We have similar ambitions but the competition is there.
“For the past five years, if there is a race here you would find me on the circuit. SWS in Dubai gives you a taste of what is to come in France. It prepares you physically and mentally for the big races.”
Umid Ali is itching to prove himself in France against the best.
“It is an honour to represent the UAE on the international stage. I am inspired to do the best possible performance and hopefully we can bring back some silverware,” he said.
“We are a strong team, and although this is a solo sport we drivers from the UAE can work together to ensure that we are well represented on the grid when the Super Finals take place.”
Al Barwani agreed that displaying the nation’s flag on the podium is the ultimate aim.
“The UAE comes above everything else. The rest is secondary,” he said.
akhaled@thenational.ae
Follow us on Twitter @NatSportUAE
