Nine-year-old Ali Al Shamsi, one of the six of UAE’s most talented junior drivers from the Daman Speed Academy who took part in an Invitational Rotax race event at the Al Ain Raceway, put in a stellar performance to make his first podium.

Despite being spun in the prefinal and finishing in seventh position, Al Shamsi fought back in the final to come second in Micro Max. In same class, Abdulla Al Qubaisi qualified in ninth and finished in eighth place.

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The nine-lap race was won by Mohamed Al Habsi in 11 minutes 43.962 seconds, just 0.063s faster than Al Shamsi.

The Al Qubaisi sisters both had tough races. In the Mini Max category, Hamda qualified in fifth and gained a place in the final to come fourth. In the Junior Max category, Amna started the final in ninth and fought her way back to finish sixth.

Racing for the first time in the Senior Max category, Ahmed Al Khamisi posted some impressive lap times but was hit with engine failure in final race and finished in fifth place. The category was won by Pasqual Pook.

Also making his debut in a new class, Saeed Al Ali put in a solid performance in the DD2 class finishing the pre-final in fourth place. However, the Emirati driver pushed off the track in final race in a fight for third place.

Robert Cregan, Daman Speed Academy Program Director at Abu Dhabi Racing, said: “Daman Speed Academy’s drivers showed great confidence on the track and we are happy with the results. “I am especially proud of Ali Al Shamsi for getting his maiden podium, I am sure it will not be his last.”

The objective of the Daman Speed Academy, launched ADR and Daman, is to prepare the next generation of Emirati track stars.