Driving in the UAE is usually a source of stress for many people. However, if you would like to experience the joy minus the frustration and anxiety, then you’d do well to head out to the Yas Marina Circuit for a karting session. The Yas Kartzone is equipped with enough karts and winding turns to keep you entertained, while enjoying the thrill of some friendly competition. We headed out on a Tuesday evening to test our skill at this increasingly popular sport.
We visited the venue at 9pm and found it surprisingly busy, with a mix of people from various nationalities and ages signing up to race. The staff were extremely friendly and helpful, and walked us through the process to make sure we were confident. Each session for adults lasts 15 minutes, while the session for children under the age of 13 lasts for ten minutes.
Before getting out on the track, we had to register at one of the kiosks.
As an option, you can use your Facebook account to register, which means the image used would be your profile picture and your race details would be uploaded to your online account. By assigning yourself a nickname and having your image taken, spectators can watch your progress during the race on one of the several screens in the reception and viewing areas. Once a race is finished, the large screens announce the three winners (first, second and third place), as well as summing up other specifications, such as time and laps. Each participant gets a printout of the race details, which include overall ranking.
Having picked our quirky nicknames, we then went to the briefing room. Our host, Mr. Ali Al Marzooqi, took us through the necessary safety precautions, such as never getting out of your kart while on the track. The track is 800 metres long and composed of a series of sharp and wide curves. Racers begin in the pit lane and return there once time is up. There are personnel stationed at most of the turns on the track, with flags; one for danger signalling you to stop, one for slowing down and a checkered one indicating that this is the last lap and that you should enter the pit lane as soon as you can.
As we are being briefed, a group of teenagers begin racing on the track nearby, and we can observe them from the window. Our excitement soon turns to fear as we see the speed with which they zoom by and start hearing the various popping and screeching sounds. Ali quickly puts us at ease with his pleasant demeanour, emphasizing that the experience is meant to be fun, and that it is a safe environment. ‘If you follow the safety precautions, nothing bad will happen. The most important thing is to never get out of your kart while on the track’. And the reason for that is they are fast. ‘The karts can reach up to 65kph and have a 390cc Honda 4 Stroke engine,’ says Ali.
Following the briefing, we head to the locker room to don our safety overalls as well as our helmets and gloves before we finally get into our karts and hit the lanes. The track is well lit at night, however it did take us a few rounds to get used to the lay out and how to handle some turns. We were racing with nine other people, although the track can hold 15 karts at one time. The karts have very low seats, with the gas pedal on the right and the brake on the left. The steering is rather stiff, and requires a lot of effort to manage. Nevertheless, by our third lap around the track, we are happy and confident and attempting some special manoeuvres on some sharp turns. The racers we share the track with are good natured and we never feel in any actual danger.
Although 65kph might not seem very fast, in an open kart with the engine blaring at your side, it can seem that you are about to break the sound barrier. The feeling of the air rushing by you is exhilarating and the enjoyment mounts as you gain more experience with each round.
Soon the personnel on the track wave the checkered flag, signalling that time is up and that we should head to the pit lane. We note that we have completed just over nine laps during the race and Ali smiles and informs us, ‘Good drivers should be able to complete eight laps in ten minutes.’
The experience is a lot of fun, and with karts available for any age it makes for a great family outing as well. The Yas Marina Circuit is a spectacular venue and the Kartzone section matches it in sophistication and appearance. They also have a system in place so that the more you play, the less you pay. Ultimately, this is one motorsport that should be experienced in the city.
Open Tue-Sun, 3pm-11pm. www.yasmarinacircuit.ae (800 YAS (927).
