by NR INDRAN / INT

The Meritus JKRacing Asia Series team confirms sponsorship of the 2011 Rotax MAX Challenge Grand Finals. TheAl Ain Raceway (UAE) hosts the Grand Finals from 19 to 26 October.  The RotaxMax Champion will be awarded a two-day scholarship test in a Formula JK Seriesracecar with Meritus.GP. The test scholarship will be held during January 2012on the Sepang Formula One circuit in Malaysia.

Mohammed BenSulayem, FIA Vice President and President of the Automobile and Touring Club ofthe UAE is thrilled that the event has returned to Al Ain after the emiratefirst staged the race in 2007 and commented: ” I am happy that ourArab/Asian owned Meritus team have again provided a significant motorsportscholarship, it sends the right signals out to the youths, that talent will berecognized. It is important to encourage young talent from the grass-roots, andkarting is where the sport begins”, Sulayem said while welcoming Meritus’initiative to now fund a two-day development programme for upcoming drivers atthe Sepang circuit in a Meritus.GP car.

The internationalCIK event is one of the most prestigious championships in the world of kartingapplying the Olympic spirit to an international semi-professional kart racingseries. National champions from each of the Rotax classes are invited to theGrand Finals.  This year the 12th Annual World Final event will see 262 driversfrom 60 countries fighting for World Titles.

Meritus.GP is oneof the top Asian race organizations and winners of 34 Asian motorsport titles,including seven Formula BMW Asia/Pacific titles. The JK Racing Asia Series wasformerly known as Formula BMW Asia from 2003-2008, and Formula BMW Pacific from2009-2010. When BMW pulled out of formula racing in 2010, Motorsport Asia tookover the title rights of the series and entered into an agreement with MrEcclestone and Formula One Management.

The JK Seriescontinues to support three Formula One Grand Prix in 2011 with Malaysia, Singaporeand India Grand Prix on the calendar, while being a part of the Asian FestivalOf Speed in Malaysia and Indonesia. The2012 Season is expected to expand to a 7-event format with additional events inJapan and Korea.

The purpose of theJK Racing Asia Series is to provide a platform to develop young karting talentstowards their ‘dream’ of Formula 1. The JK Series winner will be awarded a testwith one of the leading GP2 Teams, which is just one step from Formula 1. ThisGP2 test will not only provide further motivation for JKRACERS to secure the JKRacing Asia Title, but will also give them an opportunity to understand whatwill be expected from them in their future careers.

Meritus are proudof their association with karting and, through the JK Racing Asia Series, weprovide the initial step for karters and their families seeking a long-termcareer in motorsport.

President ofMeritus.GP Peter Thompson says:  “we are happy to award the JKTEST Scholarshipto the winner of the prestigious Rotax World Finals and we hope it will becomean annual scholarship to promote and motivate young karters.”

Thompson goes onto say: “We have an in-house motorsport responsibility programme and we aredelighted to support His Excellency Mohammed Bin Sulayem initiative and toencourage young UAE karters to join this truly international event. We are theonly truly Middle East team that offers all the steps on the motorsport ladderfrom karting to the doorstep of F1 and we have a responsibility to find andeducate young karters and their families in their transition to formulamotorsport and we are proud to support Al Ain Raceway and encourage youngdrivers from the UAE to take up the sport.

Many of today’sFormula One drivers graduated from karting series like Rotax Max to the FormulaBMW championship, while the 2011 Formula One double world champion SebastianVettel secured his future by winning the 2004 Formula BMW championship.  It isour hope that the Meritus scholarship will kick-start the career of a youngRotax Max World Champion.

You can contact author @ [email protected]