6 Hour Endurance Race Report

The second instalment of Al Ain Raceway’s 6 hour kart endurance challenge took place on Friday with 13 teams entered.  At the start of the race the crowds were treated to a terrific 3-way fight between UAE Arrow Racing 1, UAE Arrow Racing 2 and DXP Racing.  The three teams raced nose to tail for the first 80 minutes forever trading the lead.  Team ATR 1, who were holding 5^th position made a tactical early stop 35 minutes before anyone else, a move that would prove to be inspired.  By the first round of fuel stops the lead order hadn’t much changed with the two UAE Arrow Racing teams pitting laps apart 15 minutes after the DXP Racing kart had made its stop.  By being able to run longer into the second stint and taking advantage of the fact that the other teams were carrying a heavier fuel load, Team ATR 1 took the lead and from there on in had control of the race.  

The climax of the race was intense.  Team ATR 1 swapped drivers with Hussain Umid Ali set to take on the last 75 minutes.  He was being chased hard by DXP Racing, with Sam Zian at the wheel.  Atef Al Barwani was in third place for UAE Arrow Racing 2 trying desperately to keep DXP in sight.  Hussain had a comfortable margin of safety but Sam was on a mission setting fastest lap after fastest lap; eventually setting 1:23.753 which is phenomenally quick around the garden city circuit.  Alas he could only do so much as Team ATR 1 crossed the line after 249 laps victorious.

Team ATR 1 Captain Dan Price was full of emotion at the awards presentation saying, as he wiped away the sweat, “This is just incredible.  We won the last 6 hour race in April, but put that down to a bit of luck.  Today we did it again against some of the best kart drivers in the UAE.  We made a brave choice to pit so early but it paid off as we were able to run longer as the track got better.  We have a 100% win record in 2012 so yeah, we’ll take that! ”

Sam Zian, team Captain of DXP Racing said “we finished 2^nd last time to Team ATR, and again today. We’ll get them at the next race for sure!  It was a proper race from start to finish, both Anas and myself drove to the max.  We got the fastest lap so we’re pleased with that!”

Atef Al Barwani, the finishing driver for third place UAE Arrow Racing Team 2 said “Wow that was tough at the end.  It’s called an endurance race for a reason!  It was a good race, but of course we would have preferred to win.  Still, the team can very proud.  I think I now need a massage to put me back together!”

Martin Fullard 

Results:

Team ATR 1 drivers Hussain Umid Ali (L) and Dan Price (R)