MENA Karting Championship Nations Cup Ends in a Blaze of Glory

The Middle East and North Africa’s (MENA) karting scene witnessed a breathtaking display of talent and competition at the 2023 Nations Cup. Held from December 14th to 16th on the Lusail International Circuit, the event saw 165 drivers from 15 MENA countries vie for glory.

Champions Crowned:

Three teams stood out for exceptional performance, earning the coveted “MENA Nations Cup” accolades. Morocco reigned supreme, followed by the United Arab Emirates and Qatar in second and third place, respectively.

Team Qatar enjoyed individual triumphs, with victories in various categories. The RD1 Elite Sprint saw an all-Qatari podium sweep, with Ahmed Fakhroo and Omar Aswat claiming second and third behind Khalid Al Maraghi’s first-place finish.

Final Day Excitement:

The final day brought pre-final and final races across Micro Max (8-11 years), Mini Max (10-13 years), Junior Max (12-15 years), Senior Max (14+), DD2 (15+), and DD2 Masters (31+) categories.

Category Champions:

• Micro Max: Nahil El Gahoudi (Morocco) took P1, with Atiqa Asif Mir (UAE) in P2 and the fastest lap (52.814 seconds). Tamem F.S. Mustafa (Palestine) clinched P3.
• Mini Max: UAE dominated with Faris Haroun and Darek Rivera taking P1 and P2, followed by Kamil Benchekroun (Morocco) in P3.
• Junior Max: Zain Elhommossany (Egypt) secured P1 and the fastest lap (47.962 seconds) with Sanad Al Hamawi (Jordan) in P2 and Tameem Hassiba (Qatar) in P3.
• Senior Max: Bader Al-Sulaiti (Qatar) delivered a commendable P3 alongside Georges Nassar (UAE) in P1 and Kamil Rahali (Algeria) in P2.
• DD2: The Njeim brothers (Lebanon) remained undefeated, claiming P1 and P2, while Abdullah Al Rawahi (Oman) held onto P3. Omar Benhayoun (Morocco) recorded the fastest lap (47.380 seconds).
• DD2 Masters: Nadir Kabbage (Morocco) won P1, followed by Roger Feghali (Lebanon) in P2 and Faesal Mohsen Alyafei (Qatar) in P3.

Qatar’s Commitment to Motorsports:

This year has been a landmark period for Qatar, showcasing its dedication to the global motorsports scene through hosting numerous successful regional and international events. The Lusail International Circuit has cemented itself as a hub for thrilling racing action.