Dubai Schoolboy Kart Star Sets Sights on New Targets After Entering Record Books

Eleven-year-old Dubai schoolboy Jamie Day has set his sights on more success on the kart tracks of Europe over the next three months after powering his way into the record books.

Day, a student at Dubai English Speaking College, became the youngest Mini Max class winner at the 2017 Motor Sports Association Kartmasters Grand Prix in the UK and the first driver holding a UAE licence to find victory at the event.

“It was my best achievement so far, but I still have the rest of the British Championship, the OKJ Worlds and Rotax World Final to go this year,” said the two-time UAE karting champion who calls Dubai Kartdrome his home track.

More than 260 drivers competed in nine different classes at the 22nd running of the Kartmasters event which attracts top karters from around the globe, with past winners including three-times F1 World Champion Lewis Hamilton.

Day, who drives for Energy Dubai, contested both the Vortex OK Junior and the Rotax Mini Max categories for KR-Sport on the 1.38-km PF International Kart Circuit in Brandon, England.

Starting fifth on the grid for the final OK Junior round he climbed to fourth, just missing out on a podium place, before setting off on a sensational run in the Mini Max series.

Following four heats and a pre-final, Day put his kart second on the grid for the final Mini Max race and went past frontrunner Tom Adams, going on to edge Kai Hunter out for victory by just 0.08 seconds.

Day, who has been training hard this year at Dubai Kartdrome, is spending eight of his 12- week summer holidays racing in Europe.

He will be back in action on the PF International circuit for the CIK-FIA World OK & OKJ Championships from 20-24 September, and also has his sights on the Rotax MAX Challenge Grand Finals in Portugal from November 4-11.

Day said: “It’s been tough being away from my family so much, but I’ve gained a lot of experience. I’ve raced in some high level competitions this year, all under the UAE flag, and have picked up a number of trophies and fastest laps.”