MUSCAT, DEC 20
Oman’s racing star Abdullah al Rawahi claimed the DD2 honours in the Mena Karting Championship Nations Cup 2022 which concluded in Muscat on December 17.
Lebanon clinched the overall champions crown in the Mena Karting series 2022 and Oman claimed the runners-up trophy in the championship organised by the Oman Automobile Association (OAA). Saudi Arabia took the third position.
Other Omani racers to bag honours in the intense five-day karting tournament include Adam Awan (third in Micro Max category), Mohammed al Balushi (runner-up in DD2 Master), Faisal al Raisi (third in RD1 Elite Sprint) and Wadee al Kharusi (runner-up in RD1 Elite Sprint). Faisal and Wadee teamed up for Oman to take second spot in RD1 Elite Endurance Category as well.
UAE’s Faris Haroun emerged champion in the Micro Max category while Joe Mourad of Lebanon came second and Oman’s Awan finished third.
Al Rawahi said he waited for his opportunity in the race to take the win.
“I started off with a lead in the first few laps then I got side tracked and didn’t feel I was up to pace but kept hanging on and waiting for a miracle. I saw the opening gap in the second-last lap due to the collision between the other two drivers, and so I took that opportunity and managed to take the win,” the Omani driver said.
When asked on how he felt about his win, champion of the Micro Max category, 9-year-old Faris Haroun said: “I feel so good. I feel like I want to explode. We should appreciate how much OAA spent time on Mena to make this come true because this is sincerely one of the best days of my life.”
Rotax World Karting Champion, Christopher Feghali, 13, winner of the Junior Max Category, said: “It’s crazy to think that we won the Grand Final almost three weeks ago and now we’ve won the Junior Max of the Mena cup, so it’s a really nice feeling.”
PROUD MOMENT FOR OAA
The closing award ceremony was held at the Rozna Boulevard for the winning members and teams.
Chief guest Brigadier Dr Mohammed al Rawas (ROP Director of Traffic), OAA Chairman Brigadier (retd) Salim bin Ali al Maskari, and Vice-Chairman Brigadier Jamal al Taie were present.
The OAA presented the awards to the winners who came out on top from amongst a total of 137 drivers from 16 different countries participating in this championship.
Managing Director of OAA, Suleiman al Rawahi, said: “When we took the responsibility to organise this event, our aim was to bring everybody together to develop karting in the region and we can see in this series that the level of competition is very high.
“There are drivers who started off their first karting competition here and have gone onto win and earn high rankings at international events. And this is what we set out to do and the reason behind this Mena championship.”
Mena Karting 2022 Results
Micro Max Category
Champion – Faris Haroun (UAE)
Runner-up – Joe Mourad (Lebanon)
3rd Place – Adam Awan (Oman)
Mini Max Category
Champion – Maxim Bobreshov (UAE)
Runner-up – Darek Rivera (UAE)
3rd place – Omar Sindi (KSA)
Junior Max Category
Champion – Christopher Feghali (Lebanon)
Runner-up – Georges Nassar (Lebanon)
3rd place – Luca Houghton (Bahrain)
Max Category
Champion – Theo Kekati (UAE)
Runner-up – Lewis Smith (Bahrain)
3rd place – Zack Scoular (UAE)
DD2 Category
Champion – Abdullah al Rawahi (Oman)
Runner-up – Kayne Cherian (UAE)
3rd place – Omar al Dereyanne (KSA)
DD2 Master Category
Champion – Nadir Kabbage (Morocco)
Runner-up – Mohammed al Balushi (Oman)
3rd place – Patrick Sarraih (Lebanon)
RD1 Elite Sprint Category
Champion – Tarik Almou
Runner-up – Wadee al Kharusi
3rd place – Faisal al Yafei
RD1 Elite Endurance Category
Champions – Team 2 Lebanon (Matthias Najiem and Christopher Najiem)
Runners-up – Team 2 Oman (Faisal al Raisi and Wadee al Kharusi)
3rd place – Team 1 Morocco (Ilies Foquet and Tarik Almou)
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