The Dubai Autodrome and Kartdrome tracks will stage an impressive 50 days of practice, qualifying and racing activity between a curtain-raising SWS Sprint Races and the season's climax on April 30, 2016.

The latest Autodrome race season was officially launched recently in Dubai by Mohammed Ben Sulayem, president of the Automobile & Touring Club of the UAE and FIA vice-president.

 Dubai Autodrome general manager Richard Birch said: “The highlight of the year will be the now traditional Hankook 24H Dubai on 14-16 January 2016, along with a host of UAE National Race Days at the Autodrome featuring: Porsche Cup Middle East, UAE Superbikes, Radical Cup Middle East, NGK Racing Series, Formula Gulf 1000 and for the first time at the venue the MRF Challenge Formula 2000 Championship, plus the Fun Cup endurance race.”

“For the DAMC series we have once again kept the entry fees the same as they have been for the past decade as we continue to focus on developing motorsport in the UAE.  We have listened to the considered input from competitors and agree that stability is the best way forward, and this has been embraced for the forthcoming year,” Birch added.

Kartdrome manager Ryan Trutch said: “Our venue and staff is braced for a very busy season of racing with the Dubai O-Plate race day in January, featuring international drivers against our local home grown talent – this will be one of the highlights of the karting season.”

“We are proud to host two double headers of the 2015-2016 UAE Rotax Max Challenge, along with our world famous Kartdrome Endurance Championship driven by MINI and a busy schedule of Sodi World Series Sprint races throughout the year,” he added.

“We are also excited to have conceptualized Emirates Schools Karting Championship (ESKC) along with the support of the ATCUAE and under the Patronage of Dr Mohammed Bin Sulayem.  We have partnered with circuits Al Ain Raceway, Al Forsan and RAK Track which will provide the effective introduction and development of karting at grassroots level across the UAE,” Trutch explained.

An additional five or six SWS Sprint dates (to take place between January and April 2016) will be added to the roster, according to a statement. – TradeArabia News Service