Exciting finals on the cards at the 10th JK Tyre–FMSCI National Rotax Max Karting Championship

~Chittesh Mandody, Kush Maini & Pradyumna Danigond dominate the qualifying and heat races in the Senior, Junior & Micro Max categories respectively~

Noida, October 19, 2013: The final round of the 10th JK Tyre–FMSCI National Rotax Max Karting Championship got underway in pleasant October conditions at the newly commissioned Wonder Speedway in Noida. Wonder Speedway is North India’s first professional two–stroke karting track.

Young drivers representing country’s top professional karting teams –Mohite’s Racing from Kolhapur, Rayo Racing from Mumbai, Meco Racing & Dark Don Racing from Chennai and Bangalore–based Indian Karting are geared up for some wheel–to–wheel racing in the grand finale & to win the coveted title. The overall winner in the senior and junior max categories gets a lifetime opportunity to represent India in the Rotax Max World Karting Finals scheduled in New Orleans, USA this November.

The freshly laid surface of the 610 metre virgin track threw plenty of challenges at the drivers as the free practice and qualifying sessions got underway. With a combination of slow and fast corners, the young racers needed utmost concentration to find their rhythm as they got up on speed.

Chittesh Mandody of Mohite’s Racing in Senior Max, Kush Maini (Dark Don Racing) in Junior Max and Pradyumna Danigond (Mohite’s Racing) in Micro Max categories tamed the difficult track conditions best to post the best qualifying times.

Amidst challenging conditions 40 drivers from across the country in Senior Max (above 14 years), Junior Max (12–14 years) and Micro Max (7–12 years) battled it out in a high speed qualifying affair that determined the starting order for the heats. The order in the heats will then determine the grid positions for the pre–finals and finals on Sunday.

Behind Mandody, who is also making his marking in the JK Tyre Racing Championship, championship leader, Vishnu Prasad representing Meco Racing and Ameya Bafna placed second on the championship table, representing Rayo Racing claimed second and third places respectively in the Senior Max class. In the Junior Max class, Krishanraj Mahadik, heading the points table in the Junior Max category, could only manage to qualify in second place, while Tejas Ram placed third on the leaderboard claimed the third slot on the starting grid for the heats. In the Micro Max category, Paul Francis and Shahan Ali Mohsin, both in Meco Racing colours, claimed second and third places respectively on the start grid.

With more than a handful of points up for grabs in the final round of the JK Tyre FMSCI National Rotax Max, the championship is poised on the edge.

A close look at the championship points table after four rounds:

In the Micro Max category, Mohite’s Racing’s Pradyumn V Danigond from Kolhapur holds the top spot with a 21–point lead over second placed Yash Aradhya from Bangalore representing Meco Racing at 324 points. Closely following him are the Meco Racing trio of Shishu Bagamane, Arjun S Nair and Shahan Ali at 312, 308 and 306 points respectively. Will Pradyumn be able to seal his 2nd Championship title at Wonder Speedway?

In the Junior Max category, 2012 Junior Max Karting Champion, Kolhapur lad Krishnaraaj Mahadik of Mohite’s Racing is at the top of the points table with 344 points followed by Bangalore’s Akash Gowda, who at 322 points trails the championship leader by 22 points.Meco’s Chennai born Tejasram is trying to catch up with the top two at 311. Will Krishnaraj walk away with the coveted title in the Junior Max yet again this year?

In the Senior Max category JK Tyre Racing Championship star Vishnu Prasad representing Meco Racing is placed at the top of the leader board with 343 points. Rayo Racing’s Ameya Bafna is in second place 16 points behind the championship leader, who in turn is pursued by teammate Nayan Chatterjee with just a point adrift. With few points separating the top three, would be interesting to see who is crowned the 2013 National Karting Champion in this category.

The pre–finals are scheduled from 1400 hrs with the formal track inauguration and final races scheduled from 1600 hrs tomorrow, Oct 20, 2013 at Wonder Speedway!

Qualifying Results:

Senior Max : 1. Chittesh Mandody (Mohite’s Racing) 30.262; 2. Vishnu Prasad (Meco Racing) 30.281; 3. Ameya Bafna (Rayo Racing) 30.379

Junior Max: 1. Kush Maini (Dark Don Racing) 30.233; 2. Krishanraj Mahadik (Mohite’s Racing) 30.283; 3. Tejas Ram (Meco Racing) 30.355

Micro Max: 1. Pradyumna Danigond (Mohite’s Racing) 32.575 2. Paul Francis (Meco Racing) 32.697; 3. Shahan Ali Mohsin (Meco Racing) 32.887