MUSCAT, OCT 31: The Oman Automobile Association (OAA) is in the final preparations for the second Mena Nations Cup Karting Championship to be hosted in Muscat from November 16 to 20.

The Sultanate competitors are the defending overall champions.

Over 200 racers from 19 countries including hosts Oman, Libya, Lebanon, Cyprus, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Yemen, Syria, Egypt, Algeria, Jordan, Syria, Tunisia, Palestine, Morocco and Turkey will showcase their talent in the five-day karting races. 

Events will be held in 8 categories at the OAA’s Muscat Speedway Circuit for Mena Rotax Max Challenge (RMC) 6 classes and Mena RD1 Elite Endurance, Mena RD1 Elite Sprint 2 classes.

Brigadier (R) Salim Ali Khalifa Al Maskari, Chairman of Oman Automobile Association, said this is a grand occasion for the Sultanate and the OAA as it is hosting the second edition of the Mena Karting Championship in a row.

"We at the OAA are committed to promote grass root of motor sports and the Mena Karting Championship is a major event for the motor-sports young generation in the region. It is a great achievement that our dedicated team at the OAA have managed to make arrangements for another edition of the regional championship in Muscat during the difficult period due to the Covid-19.”

"This event is an important fixture for the future motor sports champions of the region and the OAA are determined to provide the best facilities to all the participants and the visiting delegations during their stay in Oman,” Al Maskari said.

The OAA chief thanked the FIA sport grand and the participating Mena national motor sports federations for their support and cooperation.

The first day, Tuesday, November 16, will be the registration and kart raffle draw for the championship. The drivers will collect their equipment on the same day. Two practice race days will follow (Wednesday and Thursday) with the official welcome ceremony taking place on Thursday, November 18 at 6 pm.

The timed qualifying and three qualifying heat races will be held on Friday (November 19). The pre-final and final are scheduled for the last day on Saturday (November 20) ahead of the awards presentation.

In RMC, competitions will be held in Micro Max, Mini Max, Junior Max, Senior Max, DD2 and DD2 Master, covering all age ranges from eight years and above.

RD1 Elite Endurance will be a team event for the two-hour endurance race for the drivers with the minimum age of 15 years. 

The number of drivers per team can be 2 or 3.

RD1 Elite Sprint is an individual event for the drivers having a minimum age of 15 years. The longest final race will determine the overall RD1 Elite Sprint rankings with the top 3 drivers receiving the trophies.

The Mena drivers in all categories will contribute to their ‘Nations Cup’ or country ranking points based on their performance.

Points scored in each discipline will be accumulated to decide the top three nations and the overall winners crowned as Mena Nations Cup 2021 champions.

FIA President Jean Todt and FIA vice-president for Middle East Mohammed Ben Sulayem have pledged full support for the popular karting event.

The Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region karting championship is a major karting series for the young and upcoming drivers under the International Automobile Federation (FIA), the world body for motor sports.

The inaugural edition of Mena Nations Cup was also hosted by Muscat during February 10 to 14, 2020.

The event comes under the FIA Sport Grant Programme that enables any Mena country with suitable facilities and minimal annual investment to host the regional karting contest.