Karting season opener looms as sport get own exhibit

AMMAN — The first exhibition for Karting opened its doors at the Jordan Speed Centre racetrack for enthusiasts of this sports all year around.

The exhibition, organised by Jordan Motorsports, displays everything a professional or amateur driver needs for Karting whether for indoor or outdoor racing, and as a professional or recreational hobby.

Musa Qandah, 13, said the idea of an exhibition for karting is an excellent one.

“I have the passion for this sports and I believe the more we know about it the more we become professionals to move to other auto sports such as rallying which I am really interested in, although I am young,” he said.

“I have the support of my father who was really interested in karting and auto sports in general. I hope things will move faster in the karting championship,” the young driver added.

Barken Shadian, a veteran driver who started as a karting driver and moved to Speed Test events, said that the popularity of karting exceeds expectations.

“It is a smaller version of the Formula 1 and there is absolutely nothing compared to driving a kart at the racetrack and enjoy several laps. The spread of various centres that offer karting contributed in spreading this sport,” he said.

“Everyone knows that you need to learn everything as a karting driver to move to rallying or speed test or even drifting and this is the chance for all those who want to become drivers to join the karting revolution,” he added.

Othman Naseef, Jordan Motorsport CEO, told The Jordan Times that the exhibition is a unique idea.

“Karting is the mother of all auto events as everyone starts with karting and moves to rallying, speed events or any other auto sports. We have always found that Jordan has this special relation with karting and this exhibition will complement this passion with all you want to know about karting,” he said.

“The exhibition open all year around and will display equipment like racing suits, helmets and tools in addition to information about karting,” he added.

Jordan Motorsports has recently formed a karting committee to supervise, plan and promote the sports to everyone.

“The committee, which consists of Barkev Shadian, Zaid Abu Zaid and myself, will work together in developing this sports and promote it to all in a very strategic way,” he said.

The 2015 karting season’s first round is on June 23.

“We will have five rounds two in June, two in July and one in August. This season the winner of the Jordan Karting Championship will reserve a seat in the Rotax MAX Challenge,” Naseef said.

The Rotax MAX Challenge is a motor sport race for karts, and is approved by and complies with the Commission Internationale de Karting/Federation Internationale de l’Automobile.

The Jordan Karting Championship will include several categories: Micro Max (7-10 years), Mini Max (10-13 years), Junior Max (13-16 years), Senior Max (15 years and older), DD2 (15 years and older) and Masters Max (32 years and older).

Last year, Amir Najjar won the Mini Max category, Royd Hanoush the Junior Max and Hesham Najjar the Senior Max.