Seven year–old UAE Karting sensation Rashid Al Dhaheri ended an exceptional 2015 by winning the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Creative Sports Award in the ‘Local Young Athlete’ category. The highly prestigious award honoring creative Athletes on the local and Arab level, was presented at a ceremony on the 14th January in Dubai.
The prestigious award recognizes Rashid’s exceptional achievements over the past year despite his young age. Rashid started 2015 by blowing away the competition and winning the International Dubai O-Plate, for a second year in a row, setting the fastest lap time ever recorded by a ‘Bambino’ at the Dubai Kartdrome circuit. Rashid continued his run of form on the International Karting scene in Italy where he won back to back races at the Championkart Parolin Championship, in Lonato, Sienna and Adria. This is made all the more remarkable by the fact that Rashid was the youngest driver in his category by a significant margin. So young in fact, that he missed the first race of the season (losing out on valuable points) because he was too young to compete. Despite this Rashid still came 2nd overall in the Championship. Over the last three years Rashid has grown in confidence and skill, competing in 51 races locally and internationally, clocking up an impressive 21 wins amongst 38 podium finishes.
Rashid’s Father, Ali A Dhaheri said: We could not be more proud of Rashid for winning this award. It was a great honor even to be nominated. I would like to thank everyone has contributed to Rashid’s success on and off the track and to everyone who voted for him. We are now looking forward to repeating his success in 2016.
A busy year awaits Rashid in 2016 as he takes on his most challenging season yet. For the first time he will be taking part in the ROK Championship in Italy, the biggest and toughest karting event in the world. Rashid also moves up a category in the Parolin Academy in Italy. In the UAE, Rashid moves up a category in the Rotax Max Championship and will be competing in the IAME X30 Challenge.