Team Bahrain karters excel early on at Rotax MAX Grand Finals in Italy

Team Bahrain drivers Mohamed Matar and Luca Houghton impressed in the first qualifying races of the 2019 Rotax MAX Challenge (RMC) Grand Finals at Circuito Internationale di Napoli in Sarno, which took place on Wednesday.

Scorching heat again greeted the 360 drivers from 60 countries which added to the challenges of a track that tests drivers to the limit.

In the Senior MAX class, Matar struggled to find the right setup for practice and qualifying earlier in the day. But in the first of three qualifying races, he used his experience and found the pace to make his way to 28th place in a field of 36 starters.

Driving at the venue for the first time was ten-year-old Houghton who again impressed in a very competitive Micro MAX class. He qualified 12th and made his way through the field of 36 starters to fifth place, but late in the race during the heat of battle, he was pushed onto the grass but recovered to finish 12th.

Bahrain team official Ali Abbas commented: “It was a good day for our small team with Luca really making us proud with his performance. He was good for a top-five until the incident. But he kept his cool to bring it home 12th. But we know he has top-five pace which is a good boost for the youngster.

“After a couple of frustrating days with technical issues and trying to find a solid setup, in the qualifying race he showed he has the speed and was comfortable with his kart which will give him confidence for the next two qualifying heats. Our boys are flying the flag with pride.”

On Thursday there will be two more qualifying races to determine starting positions for the Pre-Finals on Friday, followed by the Grand Finals on Saturday.

Meanwhile, on Tuesday earlier this week on the final day of free practice, Team Bahrain’s drivers enjoyed a solid day.

Once again the heat was on in the shadow of Mount Vesuvius, with hot temperatures challenging the competitors.

Impressing on the day was 10-year-old Luca Houghton who ended his three Micro MAX sessions 11th fastest in a field of 36 drivers from around the globe. Unlike most of his rivals the youngster proved to be a quick learner as he familiarised himself with the tricky track.

A mere half-second separated the top half dozen drivers, setting the stage for a close fight for top honours in the category.

After technical issues on day one and in the morning sessions on Tuesday, Mohamed Matar finally managed a hassle-free session which saw him improve dramatically and end the day feeling that we will continue to improve as the weekend evolves.

Bahrain team official Ali Abbas summed up: “We were all very impressed by Luca, the boy has never been to this track but was soon running with the pacesetters proving that he is a fast learner. Mohamed was able to have a clean session towards the end of the day that was good for his confidence. Both our drivers improved which is a good omen for the important days ahead.”

The Grand Finals continue to heat up with the all-important Qualifying, which will determine the grids for the Heats, the Pre-Finals and the Grand Finals on Saturday.