Female karting driver, Tarryn Pods, drives the tyre tracks at Gulf Speed One for the first time and shares her story and love for the sport with PowerUp.
PowerUp graciously invited me to try out the race track at Gulf Speed One in Juffair. It was a great opportunity to experience the track for the first time and I was reminded of when I first started out in the sport so many years ago.
y interest in karting started much later in life than most. A few friends decided that we should try out the new karting track that had just opened in Sakhir. We opted to do a mini GP which included a qualifying session and two race sessions. I was by no means the fastest but thankfully also not the slowest in the group.
The passion had begun and during the following year, I would go down to the track and do practice sessions to try and beat my times; watching and learning from more experienced drivers.
Track-minded Femme
Towards the end of 2012, a friend and I were encouraged to join an SSWS race which is a leisure karting series where drivers can use the karts available from the track (SODI Karts) to earn points, and if they finish first in Bahrain they will have a chance to compete at the SODI World Finals. It was a great learning experience and I competed in a few races during the 2012-2013 season to gain more knowledge. I was encouraged by the track staff and lucky enough to befriend one (ESPO) who helped to train me, showing me where to brake and the correct racing lines and improve on my overall times.
In November 2014, I qualified to join the RedBull Kart fight, where the fastest 40 qualifiers competed for a chance to drive at the Red Bull Kart fight finals. Two groups of 20 racers competed for a spot in the final 20. The top 10 would make it through to the next round, I finished in 11th place in my group of 20 just missing out a place in the finals.
It was an amazing experience and I was approached shortly after this race to join a local team. It was a great way to gain more knowledge and I was lucky enough to compete in a 3-hour endurance race with another team member. My time with the team was a great experience and I will be forever thankful to the team for giving me the chance to race with them.
2015 saw me compete in my first full SSWS season and I was delighted to finish 10th overall for the season. The following season, I was 12th overall. It has been such a great experience and to be the only female driver competing for the full season made it even more special.
Since then I have had the opportunity to teach students who have wanted to start karting. If you wish to take up karting competitively, you will need to have your own safety gear with specific safety ratings, including a helmet, racing overalls, gloves and racing shoes.
I recently had the opportunity to experience a drive around the Gulf Speed One track. The track is a tight and twisty tyre track with a short straight and fast first corner followed by 7 hairpin turns. It is located next to Al Najma Club in Juffair. Adults have the option of a single (6hp) or double (12 hp) engine kart to drive.
The track at Gulf Speed One is a tight and twisty tyre track with a short straight and fast first corner followed by 7 hairpin turns. It is located next to Al Najma Club in Juffair. Adults have the option of a single (6hp) or double (12 hp) engine kart to drive.
Karting is a great sport and even better when enjoyed in groups. Grab a few friends and head down to the track for an exhilarating, fun and good workout. See you there!
For more information:
Gulf Speed One
Tel. No. +973 1759 3737
