Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
Two teenage Bahraini karting enthusiasts are vying for a single position in a prestigious world championship event to be held in Europe and for the first time in the region at the kingdom's BD2 million state-of-the-art track.
Abdulla Al Thawadi and Adeeb Kuzbar, both 14, are high school friends and karting comrades. This week they have started to compete in a series of trial drives to secure the coveted place ... as well as writing an essay on why they dream of representing the kingdom on the global stage.
Bahrain will be hosting the third and final round of the CIK-FIA Under-18 World Championship and Academy Trophy at the Bahrain International Karting Circuit (BKIC) located in Sakhir on November 3 and 5.
Bahrain Bayan School student Abdulla Al Thawadi, from Hamad Town, started racing at the age of six and recently joined the Batelco Junior Karting team. Racing is a family affair as his father, Abdulaziz, 44, is general manager of the Bahrain Motor Federation (BMF).
Abdulla said: "It has always been my dream to represent Bahrain and experience racing at an international level. To get the opportunity would be fantastic and I am glad that I am trying out for it alongside my good friend, Adeeb."
School pal Adeeb, from A'Ali, is also following in his father's footsteps and has similar racing experience. Ahmed, 48, is a former desert rally racer, vice-president of the Motorsport Marshal Club (MSMC) and owner of one of the most well-known garages on the island, Salamiyah Garage in Salmabad. Ahmed said: "Abdulaziz and I go way back as our kids do too. Abdulla is like a son to me and I am so proud of both of them for getting nominated."
Adeeb said: "I am really excited and I am training hard. I would love to be an F1 driver like Michael Schumacher one day and, who knows, maybe this is the way to do it.
"Every Bahrainis dream is to represent his country. The fact that I have even been chosen to try out is an amazing experience in itself."
The BMF has nominated six of its members to draft a selection process and conduct the necessary examinations to decide which of the two racers will go on to compete in the event.
Mr Mazen Al Hilli, BMF board member and president of the Circuit Racing Club, said: "We are looking to getting new blood into the sport - a young Bahraini driver to represent the kingdom in the Academy Trophy competition.
"To be eligible the racer must be between 13 and 15 and have raced in national championships. Our two candidates are exceptional.
"They both have excellent racing backgrounds as their fathers are involved in motorsport, so it shows how much the children care about being in the running.
"They are both fast drivers with ambition and we are confident that no matter whom we choose, they will represent Bahrain in a very good way.
"The selection is based on a number of aspects. We will consider their driving skills, general knowledge of the sport, their current performance in the existing karting season, physical fitness and finally we require a written contribution on how it would feel to represent Bahrain on a global level, as well as what this opportunity will create for them.
"We are trying to find an all-round candidate, someone who has what it takes to succeed at the highest level."
The name of the selected candidate will be announced in the next 10 days and his application will be registered by May 10.
The first round of the international contest will be held at Ortona in the Italian Abruzzi on July 10 and the second at Essay in Normandy, France, on August 28.
The championships were first launched by the sport's international body, Commission Internationale de Karting (CIK), in 2010. It aims to combine a high-level of affordable racing, equal opportunities and educational training.
The BMF and Bahrain International Circuit will be responsible for organising the event at the BKIC in November with the aim of developing the sport in the region.
The organisation committee has offered to take care of transport costs for the equipment and accommodation for all the U18 World Championship Drivers, as well as the 51 Academy Trophy Drivers.
