2012 Ramadan Challenge at Dubai Kartdrome (L to R) third placed in both races Atef Al Barwani, Race 1 second and Race 2 winner Rami Azzam, Kartdrome assistant manager David Bright and Race 1 winner and Race 2 second placed Mohammed Al Mutawaa

A large quality field of leisure kart drivers gathered at the Dubai Kartdrome for the first round of the 2012 Ramadan Challenge, and in the end it was the trio of Rami Azzam, Mohammed Al Mutawaa and Atef Barwani who dominated proceedings on a sweltering hot night.

In race one the trio had to overcome a concerted challenge from a number of top drivers including: Paul Chatenay, Talal Al Jasmi, Alex Silanine, Abdulla Al Ali, Haytham Al Ali to name a few.

The heat and conditions took their toll, but at the front it was a nail biting affair as Azzam and Mutawaa circulated bumper to bumper with Al Barwani not too far behind. The top two swapped positions throughout the final few laps, and in the end it was Al Mutawaa who took the chequered flag and top honours in the opening race of the 2012 Ramadan challenge.

Azzam was second, but was aggrieved that the chequered flag dropped a lap earlier than he expected. Al Barwani was third, Al Jasmi was fourth and Silanine fifth – one second separating the top five as they crossed the line.

For race two it was reverse order grid, thus the winner of Race 1 would be starting from the back and so on. Chatenay was on pole after he suffered a DNF in the race and he proceeded to set the early pace.

But all eyes were on Azzam, Al Mutawaa and Al Barwani as they carved their way through the ‘battle-field’, and by around the halfway mark Azzam and Al Mutawaa were in among the leaders with Al Barwani closing in rapidly.

The pair who dominated race one edged ahead, again Azzam and Al Mutawaa ran bumper to bumper, but this time Azzam made no mistake pouncing to take the lead with a top notch move, a classic undercut, on the final lap with a couple of corners to go. He crossed the line 0.300 seconds up on Al Mutawaa with Al Barwani taking third again, followed over the line by Daniel Price in fourth, Paul Chatenay fifth and Hyatham Al Ali sixth.

Al Mutawaa said afterwards, “I am glad I won the first one. In the second race I knew when I did not defend at the pit entry hairpin he would go for it. I knew there and then I had made a mistake but he is my buddy so no problem. Those were amazing two races.”

The next round of the 2012 Ramadan Challenge takes place at the Kartdrome on Friday, 2 August with the series offering prizes for the top three.

Prizes include:

• 1st: Free entry for all remaining SWS rounds in 2012 and 12hr Endurance team entry

• 2nd: Free entry for all remaining SWS sprint rounds in 2012

• 3rd: Free entry for 2 rounds of SWS sprint in 2012