Karting teams to face ultimate 24-hour endurance test

The stage is set for a spectacular finale to the 2019/2020 Bahrain Karting Enduro Championship (BKEC) as Bahrain International Karting Circuit (BIKC) hosts the series’ fourth and final round this weekend in Sakhir. Following the season’s first three races held over three, six and 12-hour durations, the Kingdom of Bahrain’s top karting teams will now be facing the ultimate test of endurance racing: a 24-hour challenge. The event is the highlight of this year’s BKEC and it will see participants not only battling one another but also facing multiple factors that could potentially influence the race outcome, such as teamwork, stamina, weather conditions, air and track temperatures, and so many other elements.

The 24-hour race is scheduled to flag off at 12.30pm on Friday, with the chequered flag being waved the same time the next day. The podium ceremony where the winners will be awarded will then be held at around 1pm on Saturday. Spectators are welcome to enjoy all the unique action in the race.

Entry to BIKC is free. A total of 15 teams are in the fray, with each featuring a minimum of four and a maximum of 10 drivers. Aside from racing for the best overall positioning on the final classification, the participants will also be competing for podium places and points in three different classes, namely the Pro, Nations and Corporate.

The participating squads include round three overall winners Bapco Engineering, Bapco Sadeem, Bapco Smart Fueling, Bahrain Airport Services (BAS) A, BAS B, BAS C, BAS F, Racing BH Junior, GO Bahrain, Manama Drift, Redline Racing, Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) 1, BIC 2, Motorsports Marshals Club (MMC) 1 and MMC 2.

All the action will will be held along BIKC’s 1.414-kilometre Commission Internationale de Karting (CIK) track. The circuit is homologated for high-profile global events and it combines a great mix of corners and level changes that will challenge even the most experienced drivers.

BIKC also offers facilities and electronic systems built to the highest standards. The competing karters will be sharing the duties amongst their teams in identical 390cc Honda-powered Sodikart RT8s. Heading into the BKEC finale, there is a tight battle atop the overall championship standings with only seven points separating the first four teams.

Bapco Engineering are currently in the lead with 99 points, but just four points behind with 95 are GO Bahrain. Racing BH are third with 94 points, while Racing BH Junior are fourth on 92 points. It is also tight atop the Pro category standings, with GO Bahrain in first place on 110 points, just five ahead of Racing BH with 105. Bapco Sadeem are on 90 points but they will be challenged for third in class to end the season by BAS A who are just nine points behind.