Karting-Drivers ready to roar in Dubai Endurance Championship |06 October 2012

The two teams will leave the country for the United Arab Emirates on Monday after receiving their air tickets from Tourism and Culture Minister Alain St Ange in a short ceremony at the Cultural Centre on Thursday. The event was attended by Seychelles Tourism Board (STB) chief executive Elsia Grandcourt, STB officials, representatives of sponsors, kart drivers and members of the Seychelles Karting Association (SKA).

Minister St Ange said he is happy that “a new group of people will be marketing Seychelles and flying high the country’s colours”, thus making it “a good day for Seychelles’ tourism”.

The minister noted that the SKA sought the support of his ministry and the STB to represent Seychelles against the best in Dubai and wished the teams luck on the track – the same track on which he received, on Seychelles’ behalf, the trophy for best destination marketing campaign by a tourism board in the world earlier this week.

SKA chairperson Liza Rene-Cosgrow said the “12-hour Dubai Kartdrome Endurance Championship will surely go down as a good experience for the drivers” and noted that “completing the event is a victory in itself”.

She also thanked all the sponsors “as without them the trip would not have been possible.”

Other than the Ministry of Tourism and Culture and official partner STB, the other sponsors who have chipped in for the trip are Reliance Insurance Brokers, Berlouis Mondon Design Studio, Vijay Construction, Hunt, Deltel & Co. Ltd, EHW Honda, the SKA, Excel Motors, Vijay Construction, Civil Construction Company Limited, Best Way Plumbing, Elite Car Hire, Cubana Car Hire, the National Sports Council, Waterworld Boat & Yacht Charter, Land Marine Company, Boat House Restaurant, Yangtze Construction, F. Simon & Son, ALT Engineering, Sacos and Surfers Restaurant.

The drivers on the two Seychelles teams are David Rene (captain), Peter Fred, Roland Delcy, Marc Delcy, Damian Bonnelame (team one), John Simon (captain), Stephan Simon, Dane Decommarmond, Marvin Sophie and Redmond Bonnelame (team two).

Reserve driver Debra Mellon and officials Bernadette Mein and Cyril Simon will also make the trip to Dubai.

The popular international event which will be held from October 12-13 at the Dubai Kartdrome is dubbed “extreme racing” as it is tough and requires stamina, concentration, speed, consistency and probably most importantly team work.

Run since 2004, the Endurance Challenge is a mainstay of the UAE motorsport calendar and the final round is in December.

G. G.