As the 2016/17 Formula 4 UAE Championship reaches the halfway point of the season, two new drivers will enter Round 3 this weekend (27-29 January) at the Dubai Autodrome with the German Team Motopark.

Seven championship races and three exhibition races have been held during the current F4UAE Championship since it began back in October 2016, and will now see two young international drivers join for Races 8-10 of the season, as teams prepare for a busy two days of racing around the circuit which only this month held the prestigious 24 Hours of Dubai.

“To see the list of drivers in F4UAE growing is a great step forward in developing the category and the racing stars of the future here in the UAE,” said Mohammed Ben Sulayem, President of ATCUAE and Emirates Motor Sports Foundation. “I would like to wish everyone an enjoyable and safe weekend of competition at the Dubai Autodrome.”

Team Motopark has dominated the season to date, with their lead driver Jonathan Aberdein (#21) from South Africa winning all seven championship races ahead of teammate Logan Sargeant (#23) from the USA, who also leads the rookie standings.

This weekend, the experienced outfit will expand to a four-car operation, running two additional Abarth-powered Tatuus cars for 16-year-old Venezuelan driver Sebastian Wahbeh (#7) and 15-year-old karter Charles Weerts (#25) from Belgium.

“Already experienced in Formula 4, Sebastian is a really quick guy, who has already won races in the Italian F4 championship,” said Timo Rumpfkeil, team principal of Team Motopark. “For Charles, it’s going to be his very first race ever because so far he has only been driving karts. To him, F4UAE is the ideal chance to prepare for the racing season in Europe too and we are going to support him in the best possible way to get good results in his first races.”

During the last round at the Home of F4UAE, Yas Marina Circuit, the category welcomed circuit racing debutants Australian Oscar Piastri (#88) for Dragon F4, and American David Malukas (#79) for Rasgaira Motorsports. Both will return this weekend alongside local Dubai-based standout and podium-finisher Sean Babington (#4) for Energy Dubai F4 Racing Team.

Meanwhile QMMF F4 Team’s Ahmad Al Muhannadi (#22) from Qatar has the most championship points among his fellow GCC competitors including teammate Abdulrahman Tolefat (#20).

The 2016/17 F4UAE calendar features 18 championship races across five rounds, with Round 3 this weekend beginning on Thursday January 26 with extended testing from 10am. Friday sees official practice, qualifying, and then Race 8 of the season from 5.20pm, followed by Races 9 and 10 on Saturday from 9.20am. Entry for spectators is free.