UAE Rotax MAX Challenge rounds 5 & 6 write-up
When you are standing outside in the sun all day, two days in a row, and making decisions that have to be accurate while watching a total of 64 karts racing around in circles, and people want to talk to you at the same time, things can get a little confusing and tiresome. For example, I have been commissioned to put together a write up about last weekends double-header in Dubai and, truth be told, I can’t remember a thing. Okay, that is not strictly true, I remember who won and certain incidents, but I can’t remember if it happened on Friday or Saturday. So, with that in mind, I am as intrigued as you are to see how this pans out…
We begin with a query: how can driving standards change so drastically overnight? Most people will agree that on Friday things weren’t the best. There were people trying to overtake in the most curious of places and from distances of such length that they technically could have been starting their manoeuvre in France. As a result, there were a few frowns and spare parts receipts knocking about on Friday night. As you would expect, then, the issue was addressed on Saturday in drivers briefing. It is amazing how much of a difference a few choice words can have an effect on people. Saturday was like watching another championship altogether. The Mini MAX class was certainly noteworthy as far as overnight improvement was concerned. Alain Bauwmans started 2013 with a bang by storming to a superb final victory. As you would expect, it was a close run thing, right up until the point when Ivan Berets and Tehmur Chohan became entangled in a minor skirmish. As far as I could see, Ivan ran too deep into that funny chicane after the tunnel exit allowing Tehmur to move onto the line and cleanly take the place. But, Ivan tried to recover ground and keep the kart tight on the inside to retake second. Tehmur knew he was there and left just enough room but Ivan hit the kerb. As a result, Tehmur went bouncing across the sand and Ivan lost momentum, both drivers though continued and finished second and third respectively. It was a total racing incident and the mature behaviour demonstrated from both of them at the end really put a lot of older paddock-heads to shame. Tara Eichenberger finished the final in fourth place ahead of Alyzee Pelegry. Sachio Kekati didn’t make the finish and debutant Yahya Houston was unable to take the start. I am fairly certain this happened on Friday; if I’m wrong then I’m sure my inbox will be awash with emails starting with sentences like “I’m not complaining but…â€
Micro MAX saw an influx of new drivers with both Ziggy Kermanshahchi and Theo Kekati moving up from the Bambino class. This is good news for the purists, big grids mean big racing. But, on the flip side, it is jolly harder to win. No matter for Sem Knopjes, it was a case of “come and get me†from the young Dutchman. In the final, Sem was seven tenths of a second faster than his closest rival, Yusuf Moola. Yusuf, however, retired on lap five after something went wrong with his kart. I apologise for not being able to give you more of a technical explanation. Anyway, the retirement of Sem’s nearest rival meant that he went on to win again, ahead of Theo Kektati and Amir Dargahi. Ziyad Houston very nearly took the final podium place, narrowly being beaten by Amir to the flag by only six tenths of a second.
Now, Saturday. With Format B adopted, which is the traditional random grid set-up, we would get a chance to see how the new drivers would handle the pressure of starting at the front. The results were good and I am pleased to report, in case you weren’t there, that all Mini and Micro drivers dealt with it well. In the same way that Friday was national Alain Bauwmans day, Saturday belonged to the series leader; Tehmur Chohan. From three random grid positions and pole position in the final, the young Tehmur stole the show. I don’t really know how to elaborate on that. It was a great day full of smiles. Alain though was not too far away during the day. Ivan finished the podium line up by taking another third place in what was a far more “relaxing†race to watch than Friday’s affair. Yahya Houstons’ luck turned a corner, with the disappointment of Friday’s DNS fresh in his mind; he drove against the odds to score a fantastic fourth place. By the time the race had finished he was only 3.4 seconds away from a first trophy. Tara narrowly beat Sachio to fifth place, the latter too looking to bounce back after Friday’s mechanical problem. Alyzee Pelegry continued her pursuit of the midfield pack and crossed the line in seventh place.Sem completed his perfect weekend with another win, one that has extended his lead in the championship, I think. There was no mechanical failure gift for him this time as Yusuf’s kart was in full working order. Yusuf had a pop at leading in the early stages but Sem put his toe down and beat Yusuf by a little over six seconds. Ziggy slotted home third which was warmly received by the adoring masses at the presentation. Doubtless he will be looking to emulate his big brothers achievements. Amir was fourth after putting on a much improved display but Ziyad and Theo had a minor skirmish. Ziyad was able to continue to finish fifth but Theo’s race was over before the end.
This write up is going to go on forever.
Now, then, what happened in the Junior 125 Rotax MAX class? Let me see. Ah, of course. On the Friday everything was going super fantastically with lots of action. There were a few curious shunts but by and large things were okay. That was, of course, until we reached the final. Maybe there was something in the water, but it seemed that everyone took their eyes off the ball and as a result there were a few scuffed side-pods lying hither and thither. One notable collision was that between CIK racer Tom Bale and UAE RMC championship leader, Pasqual Pook. They were racing, as racers do, until they went out of sight over the bridge. Yellow flags went out and neither of them emerged from the tunnel when they should have. Neither driver seemed to mind too much as the parc fermé area was awash with jokes and smiles. Curious. Anyway, along with all the other brouhaha, a two-way fight for the lead ensued between new-faces Stephanie Le Vesconte and Shiekh Isa Salman Khalifa of Bahrain. There was all manner of close racing and so on but ultimately only man can win, or in this case, only one lady. It’s been a while since we had a female winner in the UAE RMC and it was refreshing to see a series debutant take some of the boys to school. Stephanie crossed the line a slender 1.6 seconds clear of Sheikh Isa to score a seemingly popular win. Interesting celebration behind the wheel, too. Meanwhile, Guilio Peroni was engaged in a tough fight by holding off an aggressive charge from Tejas Hirani, a much improved Antoine Pelegry and the recovering Tom Bale. They crossed the line in that order parted by mere tenths.
Ultimately, things were cleaner on Saturday and this time Tom Bale was able to relish the speed of his Junior MAX by beating Pasqual in a collision free and fair fight. Pasqual was the faster driver in the dying laps as he reeled Tom in closer and closer. Chris, Pasqual’s dad, was going mad with excitement cheering his son on to the end and had it been a lap longer then he may very well have done it. But second place it was to be. Taymour Kermanshahchi came home in third place after staying out of trouble, and that’s good news as he can score points now. Friday’s winner, Stephanie, held off the advances of Tejas and Sheikh Isa Abdullah Al Khalifa in a thrilling battle that I can barely recall, but I seem to remember watching it closely. Guilio finished seventh ahead of Shiekh Isa Salman Khalifa. What I do remember quite clearly is the much improved performances of Sebastian Seeling and Antoine Pelegry. Both of their lap times were akin to those being set by third place down. The pair of young lads have joined the midfield and, so long as they don’t get embroiled in collisions, should soon be in a position to challenge for trophies.
Further down the track, Piers Pakenham-Walsh and Abdullah Al Rawahi – rivals title contenders from their Junior MAX days – were going at it. Piers overtook Abdullah at one stage and that was kind of that, he would finish fourth with the young Omani with funny hair in fifth.
More drama for sixth, Walid Al Qassemi, with both hands on the steering wheel, enjoyed a tussle with Ammar Rayess, who it seems has really gone up a level this year. I can’t recall any remarkable incidents between them so let’s leave it at that. Eighth was Duncan Foster who was doubtlessly relieved after coming off better in a fight against Raed Hassan. I think that will do for details as all I am doing is writing out the results in prose when really you can see the proper classification elsewhere. Sorry for wasting your time.
Blast, I forgot that I need to somehow think back to Saturday’s race too. That was relatively incident free, I think. If I have missed out any good crashes I’m sure those with a fondness for emails will let me know. Let me think back to what I actually remember. Ameer Hassan started from first place, I remember that because the first start was rubbish, but he got the second one spot on. The front two, Ameer and Philippe, immediately jumped into a battle with each other that endured race long. I can’t remember what lap it was when Philippe eventually took the lead, but he did, so it doesn’t matter. As you would expect, Ameer fought back but Philippe had the legs on him and they crossed the line half a second apart. I don’t normally like to gush, but you just know that had both of those drivers been in this position a year ago, it would have very likely ended up in a collision. But on Saturday it was noted by the Steward how much they have both grown up, and their display was the epitome of professional racing. Kudos, boys.Abdullah came home in third place beating both Alexandre and Piers. It meant that we saw the same five drivers in the top five in both days, so that speaks volumes about the classes’ consistency. Walid was sixth, but since my back-space button is broken I can’t edit what I just said. It was the same top six on both days.
Elsewhere in the field, I think there was a pile up at the first corner as karts went in there but never came out again, but the poor drivers involved probably don’t want reminding. Otherwise I think it was all ok. I should really get you guys to send me a 2-3 sentence summary about each of your own races to make this “report†a bit more read-worthy. For full details, please refer to the results sheet on the website.
Finally we move into DD2 country. Just because they have two gears doesn’t make them better than the rest of you. They’re just different. But, credit where credit is due, they are a well behaved bunch. Oliver George dominated the DD2’s all weekend by doing lots of winning and it was all jolly exciting. However, things were by no means easy as Saeed Al Mehairi – resident racing driver yet first time RMCer – gave it the beans all weekend. In Friday’s escapade, Oli led from pole with Saeed in close proximity. The gap seldom changed and that was that. Mohammed Al Dhaheri finished third some five seconds further back. Mohammed was hounded by Arnaud Bouf who finished fourth. Drama however in the battle for fifth as Hussain Umid Ali tried desperately to keep Beardy Jarjour at bay. Well, I say drama, it was actually fairly low-key.
