The UAE Rotax Max Challenge karting series holds the 10th round of the season at Yas Marina Circuit on Friday with all to drive for in several of the championships.
It is not only titles at stake for the drivers as a top-three spot in each category comes with the opportunity to represent the UAE at the international Rotax Grand Final in November.
The series is organised and run by Al Ain Raceway Kart Club.
Antonio Kekati, the circuit’s managing director, said: “For the second year in a row, we are grateful to be invited to host a round of our Rotax Max Challenge at the Yas Marina F1 Circuit. The sport of karting continues to grow here in the UAE and we are finding more and more talent emerging to be competitive with the rest of the world at an international level.”
In the DD2 Shifter class, Oliver George leads the pack ahead of Piers Pakenham-Walsh, who trails by 64 points, while Maurits Knopjes holds a comfortable lead in the DD2 Shifter Masters class over nearest challengers Jonathan Mowatt and Patrick Jarjour.
In the Max Masters Class, Kevin Day has a 10-point lead over Raed Hassan to defend, with Duncan Foster a further two points adrift in third. Pasqual Pook maintains a sizeable 132-point lead over Giulio Peroni in the Max Junior competition, while Tehmur Chohan and Sem Knopjes are the respective leaders of the Mini Max and Micro Max competitions.
In the Bambino category for racers between five and seven years old, Harry Hannam is on top.
Heats will take up most of the day, with the finals of the respective categories taking place from 4pm.
The remaining two rounds of the season take place at Muscat, Oman, on March 21 and at Al Ain on April 11-12.
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What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
HIJRA
Starring: Lamar Faden, Khairiah Nathmy, Nawaf Al-Dhufairy
Director: Shahad Ameen
Rating: 3/5
The specs
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Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
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Price: From Dh117,059
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The biog
Title: General Practitioner with a speciality in cardiology
Previous jobs: Worked in well-known hospitals Jaslok and Breach Candy in Mumbai, India
Education: Medical degree from the Government Medical College in Nagpur
How it all began: opened his first clinic in Ajman in 1993
Family: a 90-year-old mother, wife and two daughters
Remembers a time when medicines from India were purchased per kilo
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
MATCH INFO
Manchester United 1 (Fernandes pen 2') Tottenham Hotspur 6 (Ndombele 4', Son 7' & 37' Kane (30' & pen 79, Aurier 51')
Man of the match Son Heung-min (Tottenham)
Votes
Total votes: 1.8 million
Ashraf Ghani: 923,592 votes
Abdullah Abdullah: 720,841 votes
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
How the bonus system works
The two riders are among several riders in the UAE to receive the top payment of £10,000 under the Thank You Fund of £16 million (Dh80m), which was announced in conjunction with Deliveroo's £8 billion (Dh40bn) stock market listing earlier this year.
The £10,000 (Dh50,000) payment is made to those riders who have completed the highest number of orders in each market.
There are also riders who will receive payments of £1,000 (Dh5,000) and £500 (Dh2,500).
All riders who have worked with Deliveroo for at least one year and completed 2,000 orders will receive £200 (Dh1,000), the company said when it announced the scheme.
