Hyderabad: Chittesh S Mandody of Mohite’s Racing, Krishnaraj Mahadik of Mohite’s Racing and Paul Francis of Meco Racing claimed pole positions in Senior Max, Junior Max and Micro Max categories respectively in the ongoing Round 4 of the JK Tyre-FMSCI National Rotax Max Karting Championship 2013 at Kart Centre in Hyderabad on Saturday.
In the Round 4, 34 karters in three categories - Micro Max (7 to 12 years), Junior Max (13 to 16 years) and Senior Max (15 and above) are showing their top performances at the 650-metre long track in Lahari Resorts, where the racers are battling to win the most prestigious grassroots level motorsport championship in the country.
In the Senior Max category, Chittesh dominated both the Heats (Heat 1 & 2) and was way ahead of other racers, will start at pole position on Sunday’s Pre-Finals. Most of the time, he was chased by Vishnu Prasad of Meco Racing, who will start from the 3rd position after finishing 3rd at Heat 1 and 2nd at Heat 2. Nayan Chaterjee of Rayo Racing will start at 2nd position after a hard battle with Vishnu and his fellow teammate Ameya Bafna in the Qualifying session.
Junior Max category was totally dominated by Kush Maini of Dark Don Racing, winning both Heat 1 and 2 today, will start at 3rd position as clocked third fastest in Qualifying. The Bengaluru-racer was followed by Krishnaraj Mahadik of Mohite’s Racing in both the Heats, who will start at 1st position on Sunday’s Pre-Finals as he clocked the best timing the Qualifying. Arya Chirag Gandhi of Rayo Racing raced brilliantly today and claimed 2nd pole position after finishing 3rd in both the Heats.
In Micro Max category, defending champion Pradyumna V Danigund received fierce competition from Paul Francis of Meco Racing, who snatched his pole position after defeating him in Qualifying session. Paul also finished 2nd in Heat 1 and won the Heat 2 after racing spectacularly. Pradyumna of Mohite’s Racing will start from 2nd position tomorrow after winning Heat 1 and finishing 2nd in Heat 2. Shahishnu Bagamane of Meco Racing will start at 3rd position after clocking third fastest timing.
There are three new faces in the Round 4 of the JK Tyre-FMSCI National Rotax Max Karting Championship 2013 - Ashish Narrandas of South Africa (Senior Max), Eshan David Pieris of Sri Lanka (Junior Max) and 2007 national karting champion Nikhil P Kashyap (Senior Max).
Experienced racer from South Africa Ashish Narrandas, who is currently racing in the JK Tyre Racing Championship 2013, is enjoying his break from the current season by karting first time in his life. Meco Racing’s Narrandas fared well in the Qualifying session but couldn’t continue his performance due to some problem in his kart.
15-year-old Eshan David Pieris may open doors to many Sri Lankan karters, who can participate in professional karting championship in India at cheaper price than any other South-East Asian country or Europe. Dark Don Racing’s Eshan, whose father David Pieris raced in India in 70’s and 80’s, is racing in India first time and finds the competition level very high in Junior Max category.
Nikhil Kashyap, who is 2007 national karting champion (Junior Max) and 2010 runner-up (Senior Max), is racing after two years after taking a break for his studies. Kashyap also raced in Formula Rolon after karting and was 2nd runner-up in 2010. The Meco Racing racer has joined the aggressive pack of championship leaders in Senior Max - Vishnu Prasad, Nayan Chatterjee, Ameya Bafna and Chittesh Mandody.
The country’s most revered karting championship - currently in its 10th successful year - is the only karting event in the country that has produced drivers who have participated and won in top races abroad. JK Tyre is credited with introducing the concept of karting in India and has patronized karting circuits across the country. JK Tyre together with Meco Motorsports introduced professional karting in 2004 with the introduction of the Rotax 2-stroke kart engines. It was then that the current championship came into being and is today the most revered karting contest in India.
RESULTS - HEAT 1 (15 laps)
Senior Max
Chittesh S Mandody (Mohite’s Racing)
Ameya Bafna (Rayo Racing)
Vishnu Prasad (Meco Racing)
Junior Max
Kush Maini (Dark Don Racing)
Krishnaraj Mahadik (Mohite’s Raicng)
Arya Chirag Gandhi (Rayo Racing)
Micro Max
Pradyumna Vipul Danigond (Mohite’s Racing)
Paul Francis (Meco Racing)
Yash Aradhya (Meco Racing)
RESULTS - HEAT 2 (15 laps)
Senior Max
Chittesh S Mandody (Mohite’s Racing)
Vishnu Prasad (Meco Racing)
Ameya Bafna (Rayo Racing)
Junior Max
Kush Maini (Dark Don Racing)
Krishnaraj Mahadik (Mohite’s Raicng)
Arya Chirag Gandhi (Rayo Racing)
Micro Max
Paul Francis (Meco Racing)
Pradyumna Vipul Danigond (Mohite’s Racing)
Yash Aradhya (Meco Racing)
RESULTS - QUALIFYING
Senior Max
Chittesh S Mandody (Mohite’s Racing)
Nayan Chatterjee (Rayo Racing)
Vishnu Prasad (Meco Racing)
Junior Max
Krishnaraj Mahadik (Mohite’s Raicng)
Arya Chirag Gandhi (Rayo Racing)
Kush Maini (Dark Don Racing)
Micro Max
Paul Francis (Meco Racing)
Pradyumna Vipul Danigond (Mohite’s Racing)
Shahishnu Bagamane (Meco Racing)