It is a rare occasion to speak with a generation of drivers too young to remember Lewis Hamilton’s first world championship title.
At Dubai Kartdrome’s annual O-Plate Race Day on Friday, the Bambino class – the karting category for children under the age of eight – appeared to be blossoming, with much of the credit going to the incredible exposure of one little boy with a red race suit and an increasingly famous face.
Rashid Al Dhaheri, a six-year-old Emirati nicknamed “Little Alonso”, on Friday set a lap record of one minute, 14.371 seconds, a time the assistant Kartdrome manager David Bright had previously deemed “impossible” in a 50cc kart.
The media attention surrounding Rashid is undoubtedly part of the reason for the rise in karting interest in the Emirates.
Friday’s Bambino class attracted a record 13 participants, almost double that of the number of children who took part in 2014.
The original purpose of the Bambino class, traditionally the first step into karting, was to teach rules and respect: racing was secondary.
For example, the Bambino karters do not race each other on track, but rather take part in 10-minute time-trials where the driver who sets the fastest lap time finishes first.
Gina-Maria Capenhurst, the coordinator of the UAE national championship, said any publicity that karting gets is a positive and Rashid’s prominence is certainly helpful.
“He is getting so much exposure – which is great for him and the sport – but, for us, every kid who gets in a kart is a winner,” she said. “So long as they have fun and enjoy themselves then we are happy.”
Not everyone takes it seriously. Georgeina Marker, whose parents are English and Thai, and Alisia Emil Khneisser of Bulgaria competed in Friday’s Bambino class time trials.
They finished the day fifth and seventh, but had more important things to worry about than fighting for a position higher up the time sheets.
“Hey, we’re not so little,” said little Georgeina, hands on hips and her bottom lip pushed out. “I am six years old.”
“Yeah, and I love Georgeina Marker,” Alisia said, before stating matter-of-factly, “and I love cupcakes, too.”
gmeenaghan@thenational.ae
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