A 14-year-old Dubai schoolboy beat 49 rivals to win the final round of the 2012 CIK-FIA Karting Academy Trophy in Bahrain.

Tom Bale, who grew up in the city and has been part of the local karting scene at the Kartdrome for several years, came out on top in the highly competitive series made up of 50 of the best international young kart drivers, chosen by their national authorities.

The series saw drivers allocated identical Parolin karts powered by FIM KF3 engines to ensure a level playing field, and it ran on the same weekend as the Under 18 World Championship.

Bale competed in the two previous rounds in Braga (Portugal) and Angerville (France) and arrived in Bahrain 15th in the championship standings. His win saw him finish fourth overall in the final ranks.

“We have watched Tom Bale develop into a very fast and promising kart driver,” said Paul Velasco, the Dubai Autodrome communications manager.

“With remarkable commitment, training hard by choice at the Kartdrome, while most kids were playing, Bale dominated the junior categories in the UAE. Congratulations to him and his family on the fine achievement and for doing UAE karting proud on a night filled with the most promising youngsters from the world of karting.”

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