Lewis on podium in MENA Nations Cup
TDT | Manama
The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com
Bahrain-based karting ace Lewis Smith flew the Kingdom’s flag high over the weekend with a sensational drive at the MENA Karting Championship Nations Cup 2022, held at Muscat Speedway in Oman with over 140 drivers representing 16 countries across the Middle East and North Africa taking part.
The 17-year-old, sponsored in Bahrain by pest management and disinfection experts VermineX and BirelArt Team, powered to a second-place podium in the highly competitive Senior MAX class of the Rotax MAX Challenge events held as part of the event.
Starting the 18-lap Final from third on the grid after claiming the same position in the Pre-Final, the British School of Bahrain student put on an impressive show to come just 1.330 seconds behind the overall winner at the chequered flag.
Lewis was in fine form the entire weekend, never placing out of the top five amongst the 23-strong Senior MAX field in any of the three heats before closing out strong in the meeting’s decisive sessions.
To add to his podium, Lewis showed his blistering pace by also clocking the Final’s fastest lap of 51.068 seconds with a top speed of 84.59kph.
That lap time was just 0.136s shy of matching the event record of 50.932s. “It’s really an amazing result to have finished second in Muscat,” Lewis said.
“I enjoyed the very high level of racing going up against such a talented field of drivers, and I feel so proud to have represented Team Bahrain in an excellent way, considering I have never driven the Muscat Speedway circuit before.
“Our entire squad did a fantastic job all weekend and I am so thankful to be part of Bahrain’s motorsport community.
There is no limit to what we can achieve and we proved that in the MENA championship.
“I hope to have done my small part to honour the Kingdom of Bahrain in this event, especially as we just celebrated National Day.
“I dedicate my performance to my teammates, our coaches and team officials, and of course my family, without whom I could not achieve any of this.”
Lewis’s podium finish in Muscat marked the end of a sensational 2022 for the Briton on the track.
His year also included winning the X30 Senior title in the IAME Summer Series 2022 in the UAE; an impressive showing in three international events at Karting Genk Track in Belgium; and a flawless run to securing the Senior MAX crown in the 2022 Sakhir Rotax MAX Challenge at Bahrain International Karting Circuit.
Lewis is now also one of the top contenders in the ongoing Bahrain Rotax MAX Challenge, which resumes its season schedule next month.
Lewis is one of Bahrain’s most exciting 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.
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