The 500 Miles Endurance Cup World Final race, held at Le mans, proved to be a close affair. Photograph courtesy of Dubai Autodrome
The 500 Miles Endurance Cup World Final race, held at Le mans, proved to be a close affair. Photograph courtesy of Dubai Autodrome

UAE-based CG Racing finish second in Le Mans karting race



CG Racing, a UAE-based karting team, finished second in the the Sodi World Finals at the brand new Alain Prost Kart Circuit in Le Mans, France on the weekend.

The Dubai outfit narrowly lost first place to the French Ask Performance 360. It also proved to be a good race for the Dubai Falcon Racing Team, who placed 10th.

Four teams, who contested and excelled in the 2013 Dubai Kartdrome Endurance Championship driven by Mini, qualified for the 500 Miles Endurance Cup World Final race.

Throughout the race a dozen teams were always within a lap or two of the leaders and in among them were all the Dubai Kartdrome championship contenders, and when the chequered flag fell to end the race it was Ask Performance 360 who clinched victory by a mere 3.140 seconds from second placed CG Racing, CER Karting from France taking the final podium spot in third.

Fourth went to Batelco Racing from Bahrain, who currently lead the 2014 series in Dubai. Dubai Falcon Racing Team ended in 38th position.

The only downside for the Dubai contingent was that being used in the Sodi World Finals for the first time were the GT Max Sodi kart, powered by a Rotax max engine delivering twice the power they have been used to in the UAE based series, while most of their rivals were familiar with the new machines.

Flying the UAE flag were reigning Kartdrome SWS Sprint champion Atef Al Barwani, Ali Al Mansoori, Abdullah Al Ali, Sam Zian and wildcard Moeen al Sarraj who all enjoyed races where they won or were at the sharp end of proceedings. Collectively, on day one, they bagged five podium finishes despite their lack of experience in the karts being used.

Dubai schoolgirl Logan Hannah and schoolboy Mansour Al Sarraj (younger brother of Moeen Al Sarraj) represented the UAE in the Sodi World Finals Junior Grand Prix, where they lined up alongside 20 of the best SWS juniors from around the globe.

Ryan Trutch, the Kartdrome manager, summed up the 2014 SWS World Finals, saying: “Once again our teams and drivers did the UAE proud as they proved that the local scene is on an international level. Particularly impressive was our performances in the Endurance format where teams contesting the Kartdrome Endurance Championship by Mini were excellent. The GT Max Sodi karts, which none of our drivers had ever used, proved to be a challenge, but I was impressed by how our drivers adapted and were impressive throughout the weekend.”

sports@thenational.ae

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GOLF’S RAHMBO

- 5 wins in 22 months as pro
- Three wins in past 10 starts
- 45 pro starts worldwide: 5 wins, 17 top 5s
- Ranked 551th in world on debut, now No 4 (was No 2 earlier this year)
- 5th player in last 30 years to win 3 European Tour and 2 PGA Tour titles before age 24 (Woods, Garcia, McIlroy, Spieth)

Director: Jon Favreau

Starring: Donald Glover, Seth Rogen, John Oliver

Rating: 2 out of 5 stars

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Scores

Wales 74-24 Tonga
England 35-15 Japan
Italy 7-26 Australia

Europe wide
Some of French groups are threatening Friday to continue their journey to Brussels, the capital of Belgium and the European Union, and to meet up with drivers from other countries on Monday.

Belgian authorities joined French police in banning the threatened blockade. A similar lorry cavalcade was planned for Friday in Vienna but cancelled after authorities prohibited it.

Dubai Bling season three

Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed 

Rating: 1/5

German intelligence warnings
  • 2002: "Hezbollah supporters feared becoming a target of security services because of the effects of [9/11] ... discussions on Hezbollah policy moved from mosques into smaller circles in private homes." Supporters in Germany: 800
  • 2013: "Financial and logistical support from Germany for Hezbollah in Lebanon supports the armed struggle against Israel ... Hezbollah supporters in Germany hold back from actions that would gain publicity." Supporters in Germany: 950
  • 2023: "It must be reckoned with that Hezbollah will continue to plan terrorist actions outside the Middle East against Israel or Israeli interests." Supporters in Germany: 1,250 

Source: Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution

Vidaamuyarchi

Director: Magizh Thirumeni

Stars: Ajith Kumar, Arjun Sarja, Trisha Krishnan, Regina Cassandra

Rating: 4/5

 

If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.

When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.

How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
 
Started: 2020
 
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
 
Based: Dubai, UAE
 
Sector: Entertainment 
 
Number of staff: 210 
 
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
The Sand Castle

Director: Matty Brown

Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea

Rating: 2.5/5

Company profile

Date started: 2015

Founder: John Tsioris and Ioanna Angelidaki

Based: Dubai

Sector: Online grocery delivery

Staff: 200

Funding: Undisclosed, but investors include the Jabbar Internet Group and Venture Friends

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Cryopreservation: A timeline
  1. Keyhole surgery under general anaesthetic
  2. Ovarian tissue surgically removed
  3. Tissue processed in a high-tech facility
  4. Tissue re-implanted at a time of the patient’s choosing
  5. Full hormone production regained within 4-6 months
Paatal Lok season two

Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy 

Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong

Rating: 4.5/5

The biog

Siblings: five brothers and one sister

Education: Bachelors in Political Science at the University of Minnesota

Interests: Swimming, tennis and the gym

Favourite place: UAE

Favourite packet food on the trip: pasta primavera

What he did to pass the time during the trip: listen to audio books

Guide to intelligent investing
Investing success often hinges on discipline and perspective. As markets fluctuate, remember these guiding principles:
  • Stay invested: Time in the market, not timing the market, is critical to long-term gains.
  • Rational thinking: Breathe and avoid emotional decision-making; let logic and planning guide your actions.
  • Strategic patience: Understand why you’re investing and allow time for your strategies to unfold.
 
 
The specs

Engine: 1.5-litre turbo

Power: 181hp

Torque: 230Nm

Transmission: 6-speed automatic

Starting price: Dh79,000

On sale: Now

Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
 
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
 
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
 
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
 
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia