Karters return to action

TDT | Manama

Email: mail@newsofbahrain.com

Bahrain International Circuit (BIC), ‘The Home of Motorsport in the Middle East’, hosts this weekend the fifth round of the 2024/2025 Bahrain Rotax MAX Challenge (BRMC) at its world-class grassroots motorsport facility in Sakhir.

Bahrain International Karting Circuit (BIKC) is set to welcome tomorrow the Kingdom’s finest karting talent as they suit up for another action-packed meeting in their very own Rotax-powered challengers.

And with the second half of the season now in full swing, the battle for wins, podiums, and the all-important championship points will surely intensify in each of the BRMC’s competition categories, including the Micro MAX, Mini MAX, Junior MAX, Senior MAX, DD2 MAX, and DD2 Masters.

Schedule

Action tomorrow is scheduled to begin from 11.20am and continue until after 5.30pm. The free practices kick things off and then qualifying practice will be held from 12noon. That will pave the way for the pre-finals from 1.50pm, and then the finals will be held from 3.30pm until the last chequered flag comes down. The podium ceremonies will follow the racing at 6pm.

All are welcome to attend and cheer for the karters. Entrance to BIKC is free of charge.

The BRMC is organised by BIC, BIKC, the Bahrain Motor Federation, the Bahrain Karting Commission, and the Motorsport Marshals Club.

At the end of this campaign, the winners of each BRMC class will get the incredible opportunity to represent Bahrain at the annual Rotax MAX Challenge Grand Finals – one of the most prestigious karting events in the world. Around 40 competitors are set to hit BIKC’s 1.414-kilometre track this weekend in the series’ various divisions.

Set to compete in the Micro MAX class are championship leader Tariq Soofi, Rashid Al Mahroos, Abdulaziz Al Sarraf, and Leo Saruhan. Tariq so far has a pristine record this season, winning all the pre-finals and finals to go to 140 points. Rashid follows with 106, while Abdulaziz is third on 98 points.

The Mini MAX category will see top contenders Jude Andrews and Shaikh Ahmed bin Saqer Al Khalifa leading the field, which also includes Rayyan Najjar, Austin Gray, William Lette, Luca Saruhan, Khalid Al Mahroos, and Leonard Bossi. Jude is on 116 points atop the Mini MAX standings – just four ahead of Shaikh Ahmed, while Rayyan is third on 96 markers.

Nasser Nass has been the runaway leader amongst the Junior MAX karters and he will be looking to maintain his winning ways this round. He will be joined by Khaled Najjar, Rashid Hilal, Iron Abali, Shaheen Shaheen, and Yousif Alghaith. Nasser also has a perfect record this campaign and is on 140 points, well ahead of current runner-up Demir Abali who is on 94. Khaled is third with 86 points.

MAX class

The Senior MAX class once again boasts the largest grid, which will be led by Tye Mejia, who currently sits in first place on the championship table. He will be up against a quality field that includes Mohammed Alhassan, Vedant Menon, Gracie Rose Grantham, Talal Alattas, Mohammed Alarayedh, Abdullah Al Khater, Mohammed Hilal, Layla Zeineldin, Najashi Rashdan, Evdokiia Karpenko, Yousif Alaali, Musaad Albassam, Filipa Dorres, Karim Rizkallah, and Alfayez’s friend. Mejia has 128 points in first place and is followed by Alhassan on 109 points and Menon on 73.

The DD2 MAX category will see the quartet of Abdulla Sajjad, Raoul Sadi, Oliver Kruglov, and Mohammed Sajjad going wheelto-wheel. Abdulla Sajjad will be looking to maintain his championship lead where he has 128 points. Sadi follows with 106 and Kruglov on 102.

The DD2 Masters will feature a two-horse race between Mohamed Al Mahroos and Roberto Giannotti. Al Mahroos enjoys an unassailable advantage on the standings with 105 points. Khalifa Delaim follows on 29.

The BRMC’s 2024/2025 calendar features eight rounds running until next month. Following this weekend’s events, the sixth meeting is slated for 24 January, and then the seventh and penultimate round will take place on 8 February. That will set the stage for the BRMC finale two weeks later on 21 February.