The inaugural round of the new Formula Regional Middle East Championship Certified by FIA (FRMEC) was certainly dramatic and unpredictable. When the dust settled at the Dubai Autodrome from three sensational races from the high-quality, international 27-driver field, a trio of young talents were celebrating victories – yet none of them are in the leading three positions in the championship.

After a year of familiarising himself with single-seaters in the Spanish F4 Championship, young Moroccan hopeful Suleiman Zanfari is preparing for an important season in 2022. He will start with the United Arab Emirates Formula 4 Championship, the first round of which will take place from 20th to 23rd January on the Yas Marina circuit in Abu Dhabi.

The Emirates Group Karting Club (EGKC) traded one title for another as one of their two teams, Emirates Racing (#8), claimed its first Pro Championship on Saturday (14 December) during the final round of the Dubai Kartdrome Endurance Championship Powered by Motorsport Wheels, while its sister squad, Team Emirates (#9), fell short in a close championship battle with LD Russia (#18) for the 2019 Corporate crown.

This weekend we welcome top karting talent Tijmen van der Helm to Xcel Motorsport here at Yas Marina Circuit. From the Netherlands, Tijmen tested back in December in Dubai, and having just turned 15 he can now make his single-seater debut after an extremely impressive karting career which includes becoming winner of the 2017 Grand Finals Rotax Max in the Junior Rotax Category, along with 2nd place in the CIK Academy in 2017.

Suleiman Zanfari competed in the third round of the UAE IAME Series on Friday, 23rd November, at the RAK Track circuit in Ras Al Khaimah, about 100 kilometres northeast of Dubai. The young Moroccan driver, used to racing in many countries, was taking part in his first race in the Middle East. This time he took the wheel of a Birel ART chassis in the X30 Junior category. After a start of the meeting dedicated to learning, he made constant progress up to 2nd position in the Final.