Batelco Karting Team from Bahrain took a highly charged and emotional victory in the Battery 24 Hours at the Dubai Kartdrome. The team overcame a concerted challenge late on in the race and overcame some of the most challenging conditions ever encountered in Dubai’s endurance karting classic, to notch up their second win in this year’s Kartdrome 24 Hour Endurance Challenge Championship.
Immediately after receiving the winner’s trophy Batelco team manager Ali Abbas dedicated the win to the late Christophe Hissette who was part of the Batelco team which won the April edition of the 24 hours endurance race.
He said, “The team are all very emotional as we constantly felt the presence of Christophe Hissette with us giving us strength during this race. We also trained hard for the past two months because this win has been always been our goal. We dedicate this victory to Christophe, gone but never to be forgotten.”
Adding to a weekend packed with emotion was the presence of Christophe’s father, Jean Louise Hissette, who handed out the trophies to the winning teams and was recipient of a special memorial poster signed by all the competitors. There was not a dry eye in the house…
On the track, it was a hard fought victory for Batelco as they took the lead in the first quarter of the race, consolidated their leadership overnight but saw their hard work threatened as they were given a number of penalties for minor infringements in the final hours of the race. Nevertheless they persevered to take another famous win at the Kartdrome.
After 24 gruelling hours it was the Sheikh Hasher Al Maktoum captained Santos Motors team who never gave up in their pursuit throughout. In the final hours they reduced the gap on the leaders to a single lap and never gave up until the chequered flag fell. They crossed the line second a mere 24.7 seconds adrift of the winning team.
Third overall went to the Paul Chatenay led Ocean Rubber squad featuring Mohammed Al Mutawaa took the final podium spot, third place and seven laps down on the pace setters. They fought of a concerted challenge from a trio of teams: CER Karting 3, Forum Racing and Speedsters who ended fourth, fifth and sixth respectively.
In the Corporate Category, a race within a race, there was a massive battle throughout the day and night between OMD Racing, The National and MBC Action. At the end there was little to separate the trio of teams with OMD taking the win, a lap ahead of second placed The National with MBC Action five laps behind in third. The three teams finished were 9th, 10th and 11th overall.
Special prize for showing true racing spirit during the race went to the French squad CER Karting 3 who also managed to finish fourth overall in their first visit to Dubai.
Kartdrome Manager Ryan Trutch said afterwards, “Congratulations to Batelco team as they showed again they are the team to beat. But really for the teams who finished, crossing the line after 24 hours was victory in itself as the trying weather conditions took their toll. The unseasonal hot and humid weather challenged the endurance and fitness of drivers all the way to the finish.”
The third and final round of the 2010 Kartdrome 24 Hours Endurance Championship takes place, at the Kartdrome. on 10 and 11 December 2010.
Kartdrome 24 Hours Race Results
Top 3 Professional Teams
1. Batelco Team 1151 laps
2. Santos Motors 1151 laps
3. Ocean Rubber 1144 laps
Top 3 Corporate Teams
1. OMD Racing
2. The National
3. MBC Action
Watch the full gallery of pictures here. |
