The "The Track" circuit in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia sparkled with rising karting stars who came together to participate in the final round of the inaugural season of the Saudi Ayami Karting Race Series, held under the umbrella of the Saudi Arabian Motor Federation. A total of 21 drivers participated in the junior and senior categories, consisting of four rounds. The final round was crucial in determining the Saudi Arabian champion in these two categories, featuring intense competition for the top spots.
The round concluded with driver Mohamed Bin Mahfouz winning in the senior category, marking his first victory, followed by drivers Abdulaziz Al-Tayar in second place and Reem Al-Aboud in third. In the junior category, driver Omar Sandi finished first, followed by Abdullah Kamel and Jad Lawless in second and third places, respectively.
With the curtain falling on the first season of the Saudi Ayami Karting Race Series, which included four rounds, Abdullah Al-Khariji was crowned the champion of the senior category after accumulating the highest points, finishing just six points ahead of his nearest rival, Abdulaziz Al-Tayar, with Reem Al-Aboud in third place. The competition for the junior category was even more intense; driver Abdullah Kamel, supported by "Al-Rabi," secured the category title with just a four-point lead over Omar Sandi, who ended the season in second place, while Jad Lawless finished third.
It is noteworthy that the champions of the first season qualified to participate in the international Ayami Karting finals to be held in Portugal at the end of this year, where winners from Ayami series around the world will attend. Abdullah Al-Khariji, the champion of the senior category, received a prize to test drive a Formula 4 car in Malaysia, provided by the "Meritus Grand Prix" team. These rewards will allow the winners to hone their skills, gain experience, and meet their peers from different parts of the world.
Abdullah Al-Khariji, the senior category champion, stated: "I enjoyed the competition, and it was important to focus on accumulating as many points as possible in the overall ranking to achieve my goal of winning the category title." Meanwhile, Abdullah Kamel, the junior category champion, expressed after the season concluded: "I am happy to win the championship title in my first season. The championship was great, and the competition was very strong. My next stop will be participating in the Middle East Championship in the United Arab Emirates. I thank my sponsor, Al-Rabi Company, my parents, and my school for all the support they have provided me."
Hamza Dirani, who oversaw organizing the series and training the drivers, commented: "The first season was fantastic, and this is the first step. The performance of the competitors in both categories was excellent, and we are now working to develop an intensive training program for drivers who wish to enhance their skills." Hamza has a long history in karting in the Arab region, having won several titles in Jordan and trained a number of Arab drivers in motorsports, especially karting.
Abdul Jalil Khalid Batarji, the executive director of "The Track" in Jeddah, which organized the Saudi Ayami Karting Race Series and hosted the rounds of this season, stated: "Karting is the first step in the ladder of motorsports. We are working to organize several championships at the circuit, and our goal is to host the karting world championship in Jeddah." It is worth mentioning that "The Track" provides a launch point for young drivers towards professional motorsports and is now aimed at helping a Saudi driver achieve the karting world championship title. The facility also includes amenities for car experiences, allowing people to enjoy driving in a safe environment.
