The Dubai-based team, formerly Synergy UAE, marked its first race weekend under a new name with two victories and a second-place finish at the Rotax UAE Al Ain Invitational.
Ignite GP has opened a new chapter in its UAE junior motorsport programme with three podium finishes at Al Ain Raceway, led by Scottish team principal Forbes Nichol.
At the Rotax UAE Al Ain Invitational on 27 September 2026, Albi Jay Stubbs won Mini Max, Jenson Kelly took first place in Micro Max, and six-year-old August Southall finished second in Bambino. According to the team, all three podium finishers are young British drivers.
The results marked Ignite GP’s first race weekend under its new identity following its rebrand from Synergy UAE this month. Under its former name, the team won the 2025/26 IAME UAE Bambino Championship with Mark Ristic.
A winning start for Ignite GP
Nichol described the Al Ain results as an encouraging start for a programme that aims to support drivers through successive stages of their development.
“Taking P1 in both Micro and Mini, alongside P2 in Bambino at the Rotax Al Ain Invitational, is a fantastic way to begin this next chapter for the team.”
He said the new identity reflects a broader focus on coaching, technology, racing and international programmes, building on the team’s experience in Bambino karting.
“These results across all three categories demonstrate exactly what we want Ignite GP to become: a complete driver-development programme capable of supporting young talent from their very first laps through each stage of their racing journey.”
Lead mechanic Lui Dailo credited the preparation behind the results, explaining that the team refined carburation, tyre pressures and chassis balance throughout the weekend in response to driver feedback and track conditions.
“By the finals, all three karts were where they needed to be — and the drivers did the rest.”
Developing young drivers in the UAE
Ignite GP offers first-drive sessions and academy coaching for children from the age of five. Its programme uses onboard video and telemetry to track progress over time, alongside coaching and championship racing.
The team currently runs Bambino, Micro, Mini and Junior drivers at Dubai Kartdrome, Al Forsan and Yas Marina. Its longer-term ambition is to build a pathway through senior karting and towards international competition and single-seater racing.
Nichol also sees an opportunity for the UAE to attract young drivers and their families from overseas. Ignite GP’s plans include winter camps and race programmes for drivers from the UK, Europe, the GCC and Asia seeking training and track time during their off-season.
For the team, the Al Ain weekend provides an early result to build on as it develops that wider programme.
Rotax UAE Al Ain Invitational results
- Mini Max: Albi Jay Stubbs — 1st
- Micro Max: Jenson Kelly — 1st
- Bambino: August Southall — 2nd
More information about Ignite GP’s junior karting programme is available at kidskarting.ae.
Reporting based on information supplied by Ignite GP. Photographs supplied by the team; backgrounds extended using AI to fit the article layout.
