Rashid Al Dhaheri, one of the UAE’s most exciting karting stars has been selected to represent the UAE at the 17th edition of the Rotax MAX Challenge Grand Finals from October 15 to 22, 2016 at the Circuito Internazionale di Napoli in Sarno, Italy.

The eight-year-old Abu Dhabi schoolboy last year became the youngest Emirati driver ever to compete on the world stage, and now becomes the youngest UAE driver to be invited to the Rotax Max Grand Finals.

Al Dhaheri made his Rotax MAX debut at the recent Al Ain Raceway Invitational challenge last month where he impressed with his pace finishing third in the Micro Max class, setting the fastest lap of the race in the process.

Fausto Ippoliti, the technical director for the Al Dhaheri Team in Italy during the Grand Finals week, said: “It is a great honor for Rashid to be representing his country on such a big stage. I have no doubt he will rise to the occasion.

“Despite his young age Rashid has the rare ability, to adapt to all conditions and find the limit of whatever kart he drives with ease.

“This will be a fantastic experience for him, where he will learn a lot and hopefully even surprise some of the older and more experienced drivers.”

Al Dhaheri will be part of a contingent of UAE who will contest the 2016 Rotax MAX Grand Finals with the aim of bringing home silverware.