Oman racing drivers prove too strong in RMC final round

1.1707457-300426872 — Mohammad Al Habsi leading the final race Image Credit: Supplied

Dubai: Six new racing champions were crowned at the final round of the UAE Rotax Max Challenge (RMC) at Al Ain Raceway on Saturday, four of which where from Oman.

Mohammad Al Habsi drove to a hard-fought victory in the RMC’s Micro Max class, claiming the class championship as a result. Al Habsi held off a prolonged attack from six other drivers, who at the chequered flag were separated by 1.1 seconds.

Al Habsi, winning the final race by a slender 0.089 seconds from Georgie Zouein, led a frantic race in which the lead changed several times. Alex Connor, who finished second in the championship, came home in fourth place.

The title in the Mini Max class was within the grasp of five drivers going into the final race. Young Dutch driver Sem Knopjes had led the series all season, and only needed to finish third in the final round to take the title. However, title rival Shihab Al Habsi made the better start and would race home to victory by three seconds, leap-frogging the pack, including Knopjes – who could only manage seventh – and as a result took the championship.

A three-way title fight for the Junior Max title between Khalid Al Wahaibi, Taymour Kermanshahchi, and Tehmur Chohan would become a two-horse race after lap one when a miscalculated move by Chohan would lead to his retirement, and subsequent third place in the championship.

Al Wahaibi and Kermanshahchi, together with Lucas Petersson, raced nose-to-tail for the rest of the final, but Kermanshahchi’s challenge began to fade in the dying laps. Al Wahaibi eked out a two-second advantage which was enough to give him a comfortable finish and well-deserved championship title.

In the Max class, Jordan Lennox, a big name in European karting, had dominated the day. However he was not eligible for points and would not have an effect on the title outcome. Chased by champion-elect Pasqual Pook and Jakob Robinson, Lennox was made to work hard to maintain the lead. The top three changed positions several times but the experienced Lennox did enough to end his day in polished style. Pook and Robinson were both within a second at the flag.

Pook, though, had done enough to win the title. Guilio Peroni, who was fourth in the race, was confirmed as the season's runner-up. Robinson was third

Sanad Al Rawahi had already sealed the DD2 championship title before the final race. However the season would not end in fairy-tale fashion for the young Omani. While leading, a recovering Emanuele Pagani misjudged his braking at high speed and he ploughed into the back of Al Rawahi, sending them off the track.

Pagani, accepting of his error, did not re-join until after Al Rawahi, who by now had handed the lead to Saeed Al Ali.

Al Ali would maintain his lead and take victory in the final round, with the new champion, Al Rawahi, five seconds further back in second place.

Hussain Umid Ali was crowned the DD2 Master champion, a sub-class for those over the age of 32.