Lewis stays in Rotax karting title contention

TDT | Manama                 

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com 

Bahrain-based karting sensation Lewis Smith is in high spirits after maintaining his strong standing in the 2022/2023 Bahrain Rotax MAX Challenge (BRMC) and as he suits up to compete with Team Bahrain in the third MENA Nations Cup in Oman.

Sponsored by pest management and disinfection experts VermineX, Lewis impressed in back-to-back days of action last weekend in the BRMC at Bahrain International Karting Circuit in Sakhir.

The 17-year-old Briton first posted a Pre-Final victory and then took the runner-up podium in the Final of the Senior MAX class in the season’s second round.

Then, in round three, Lewis took second place in the Pre-Final before an incident late in the Final forced him to miss out on a potential podium.

It was an otherwise superb weekend with an unfortunate ending, and Lewis was able to hold on to second position amongst 18 competitors in the BRMC’s Senior MAX championship standings. He has 69 points so far, just five behind the current leader and with five rounds still to go in the campaign.

“I had a good weekend but was quite unlucky towards the end of the Final in the third round,” recalled Lewis.

“On the very last lap, there was an incident in front of me and I was hit from behind, which pushed me into the accident.

My steering column was broken and it’s amazing I was able to drive my kart back into the pits.

“After an investigation, it was determined to be a racing incident and I was in last place on the final classification.

Fortunately, I had done enough over the weekend to maintain my place in the championship, which is a positive looking at the bigger picture.

“There’s still a long way to go in the season and I will continue to work hard and prepare for the next rounds.” Before then, Lewis has brought his talents to Muscat Speedway as part of Team Bahrain in the MENA Nations Cup.

This year’s meeting marks its third edition and it brings together almost a thousand visitors comprised of drivers, supporting team members, officials and spectators, with the racers representing more than 20 nations from the Middle East and North Africa.

Lewis is racing in the Senior MAX class of the event’s MENA Rotax MAX Challenge.

Following practices held Wednesday and Thursday, the field will be competing in Qualifying Heats on Friday and then the Finals on Saturday.

“I’m very much excited about competing in the MENA Nations Cup and getting to fly the flag of Bahrain high in a multi-nation event,” said Lewis.

“It’s always a wonderful challenge to race against top competitors from other countries and a valuable learning experience that I will take with me in my development as a racing driver.

“I hope to perform well and represent my family and friends, my sponsor VermineX, and the Bahrain motorsport community to the best of my abilities.”

Lewis is one of Bahrain’s most promising young karting talents.

He has made a name for himself on the national, regional and international stage and continues to flourish at all levels.

Lewis is continuously looking for support from Bahrain companies for sponsorship opportunities, which would offer exposure all across Europe and the region, and within the Kingdom of Bahrain.

Those interested in backing such a rising talent in the motorsport sector can contact Lewis’s parent Tony Smith on mobile +973-32200420.