Shaikh Saif on podium at prestigious ‘Dubai O Plate’ karting championship

TDT | Manama

Email : editor@newsofbahrain.com

Bahrain’s young karting prodigy, Shaikh Saif bin Hassan Al Khalifa, secured a third-place podium finish for the Kingdom of Bahrain at the prestigious Dubai O Plate Karting Championship held at the Dubai Kartdrome.

The talented 9-year-old Bahraini driver battled through an intense weekend of racing against a highly competitive international domain to claim his place on the podium. Drivers from across the globe converged on the Dubai Kartdrome with hopes of winning the coveted O Plate title.

 The Dubai O Plate is a unique, one-off championship weekend designed to crown champions in a high-pressure race format. It is widely regarded as one of the most competitive karting events in the region, featuring multiple categories including Micro, Mini, Junior, Senior, and DD2, with winners earning prestigious prizes such as tickets to the Rotax MAX Challenge Grand Finals.

 Based in Dubai, Shaikh Saif bin Hassan races for Xcel Motorsport, one of Europe’s most competitive teams, operating from the UAE and competing from karting through to Formula racing. He currently competes in both the ROTAX and IAME championships in the UAE and is scheduled to race in Europe later this summer.  

Shaikh Saif bin Hassan said he had been training intensively with his team, Xcel Motorsport. He dedicated the podium finish to his family for their continued support, as well as to his team and coaches for their guidance and role in helping him enjoy the sport of racing. He added that while he would cherish the result, his focus would shift immediately to preparing for the next race with his team.

 This podium finish further underlines Shaikh Saif bin Hassan’s growing reputation as one of Bahrain’s most promising young motorsport talents, as he continues his development on both regional and international stages.