Seasoned racers Khaled Al Suwaidi and Ridwan Hidayat at the Tamiya Mini 4WD Grand Prix stage six, at Flat 12 Cafe in Dubai. All photos: Victor Besa / The National

Photo Essay: the UAE's model car racing scene



Model car racers from all over the country will be competing on Sunday at Times Square Centre, Dubai, to represent the UAE in an all-expenses-paid trip to the Tamiya Mini 4WD World Challenge in Shizouka, Japan, in November.

The Tamiya Mini 4WD car is a 1:32 scale four-wheel drive snap-on race car kit. It is put together with screws, washers and bolts to firmly keep the major parts of the car, such as the bumpers, from flying off as the car zips along a fixed circuit with straights and turns and, in some technical tracks, ramps and even 90-degree turns. No glue is required.

The Tamiya company introduced this kit in Japan in 1982. The model cars are powered by an electric motor using two AA batteries and the perfect build is a well-balanced car that does not fly off the track. Every track, whether it is a high-speed circuit or a technical track, has a different set-up.

The National joined the UAE's most promising racers at stage six of the competition, at Flat 12 Cafe, ahead of the final round on Sunday.

Updated: August 30, 2024, 6:01 PM