Mohammed Ben Sulayem says next weekends first MENA Karting Championship Nations Cup in Oman offers a perfect stage for the UAEs top drivers to attain another level.

The UAE is among 14 countries represented in the inaugural FIA-supported event run by the Oman Automobile Association and taking place at the Muscat Speedway from February
10-14.

We have most of the regions top drivers coming together to compete on the equal stage for the first time, and its a notable chance for the UAE team, stated Sulayem, President of the Emirates Motorsports Organization (EMSO).

When youre competing towards the best in motor sport you rapidly see what you want to do to elevate your level of performance. Thats what all the leading drivers in the world do, and its taken so many from karting into Formula 1.

With 77 drivers getting ready for action in Muscat, the UAE crew includes Khalifa Al Qubaisi and Mohammed Matar Al Shamsi competing in the junior and senior divisions of the MENA Rotax Max Challenge.

Al Shamsi also contests the MENA RD1 endurance and MENA RD1 sprint events along with UAE team-mates Sultan Mohammed Al Suwaidi, Mohammed Esmaeil, Hussain Umid Ali, Greg Watt and Marc Roca.

Points amassed in the three categories will decide who emerges as the first ever MENA Nations Cup karting champions.

The new championship is designed as a multi-year development project for young drivers who are the future F1 and rally stars from the MENA region.

Among the leading contenders in the MENA Rotax Max Challenge will be Christopher Feghali, who grew to be Lebanons youngest ever karting champion at age eight in 2017 and is the son of three-times Lebanese Rally Champion and top drifter, Abdo Feghali,

The championship, which will be attended by FIA President Jean Todt, runs alongside a regional congress for FIA member clubs to talk about areas of mutual interest.