Rotax MAX Challenge Grand Finals 2012
Team UAE today fought battle in the knock out stages of the Rotax MAX Challenge Grand Finals. Yet again there were mixed fortunes and controversy both on and off the track. There was a torrential downpour overnight that meant all 350 drivers had to fit wet tyres to their karts.
Abdullah Al Rawahi was one of the fastest drivers on track in the morning warm up in the wet conditions and was looking good to qualify through to Saturday’s finals. Heavy rain threw the timetable into turmoil and Al Rawahi was contentiously not permitted to enter the starting grid in his last racing heat along with 10 others due to time constraints, severely denting his aspirations of progressing to the final phase.
Maurits Knopjes was by far the shining light of the day, relishing the treacherous conditions he passed kart after kart to finish in 10th place. The result means that he automatically qualifies for Saturday’s final race.
Mohammed Al Dhaheri was caught out by the conditions in the morning warm up, shredding his wet weather tyres. He lined up 15th in second chance race and made an amazing start. Running in 11th place by mid-distance his luck ran out when a kart higher up the order crashed into another. Al Dhaheri had nowhere to go and collided with the stricken kart. His race – and title hopes – over for another year.
Oli George showed good pace after making ground and finishing 17th. Sanad Al Rawahi nursed an ailing kart home in his final points scoring race and narrowly scraped through to the second chance race, lining up 33rd on the grid. He made progress but could only manage 23rd.
With George, Al Dhaheri and the Al Rawahi brothers out, Team UAE’s hopes of glory on Saturday rest firmly on the shoulders of Maurtis Knopjes.
Martin Fullard
