Hyderabad: With cloudy skies and cool weather supporting their endeavours at Hyderabad’s Kart Center - Lahiri Resort, the young racers couldn’t have hoped for a better day to showcase their skills in the critical penultimate round of the 9th JK Tyre Rotax Max National Karting Championship.
The drivers from different parts of the country competed on familiar turf in three different categories - Micro Max, Junior Max and Senior Max in Round 4.
In the Micro Max Category, which turned out to be the most exciting class of the round, the day ultimately belonged to championship leader Pradyumn Danigod (Team Mohites Racing). Danigod was given stiff competition by twelve-year old Mira Kirit Erda (Team Maini Racing), who was poised for a perfect victory.
Even though the Baroda based racer and the only girl in the championship impressed everyone with her excellent driving skills and led Round 4 all the way through, Danigond gave her anxious moments in the final, passing her on a few occasions, and finally going ahead at the very last turn. At 33.259 seconds, the best lap of the final race belonged to Erda, who was disappointed with the results but hoped to do well in the final. By finishing third, Phaneesh HB (Mohites Racing) put in a consistent performance for a well-earned podium finish.
“Mira and I had a tough fight in the final race. I got a chance to overtake her during the last corner and I am pleased I took advantage of it and went past her to win the race,” said Pradyumn Danigod. The clever karting driver won the final 0.441 seconds before Erda, consolidating his lead in the championship.
In the Junior Max Category, Bangalore boy Kush Maini (Team Maini Racing) reigned from beginning to end, winning all proceedings, including the pre-final and final races.
Putting in the best lap in 29.458 seconds, the talented young driver was way ahead of all the other competitors including championship leader Krishnaraj Mahadik (Mohites Racing), who finished the final in fourth place. It was a tough fight for second place between Abhirath Shetty (Meco Racing) and Dhruv Mohite (Mohites Racing) and Shetty eventually went ahead, gaining vital points in the championship.
With this victory, Maini has a great chance to finish the finals of the 2012 championship on top in a category that is nicely poised for a close contest between the top contenders.
Talking about the race, Kush Maini said, “I had a very good weekend. I am glad that I was very fast in the races. I had a stable and consistent kart and I thank my dad and everyone in my team for all the hard work that they have put in to ensure I had a great kart.”
In the Senior Max Category, talented driver Ameya Bafna (Rayo Racing) - who started on pole - led from beginning to end, winning the pre-final with ease 4.7 seconds before Mithun Ganatra (Team Maini Racing). With his stupendous win in the final race, Bafna proved that he is still one to watch out for when it comes to professional karting.
Defending champion Chittesh Mandody made his mark in the final by finishing second, 3.309 seconds behind Bafna. Though an unlucky Mithun Ganatra finished third, at 29.631 seconds, his was the best lap of the category in the final race. It will be interesting to see who comes out on top in the soon to be held finals in this closely contested category.
After his victory, Ameya Bafna confessed that he struggled during practice and qualifiers because of his kart but said that he was happy that he was able to do well in the races that counted. “I had an upsetting start to the weekend but won the other races. I could not have hoped for a more perfect weekend than this. I hope to continue the good form and perform well in the final”, he said.
The Final 5th Round of the 9th JK Tyre Rotax Max National Karting Championship is scheduled to take place at JK Tyre-MMS Kartainment Track in Hyderabad on September 22 and 23, 2012.
By Indian Sports News Network