9th JK Tyre Rotax Max National Karting Championship gets off to a scorching start in Hyderabad

- Mira Kirit Erda, Krishnaraj Mahadik and Ameya Bafna take pole position in the Micro Max, Junior Max and Senior Max categories respectively -

Hyderabad, June 9, 2012: The 9th JK Tyre Rotax Max National Karting Championship got off to a scorching start at the JK Tyre-MMS Kartainment Track in Hyderabad today. Day one of the first round witnessed intense action with teams showing no signs of this being a season opener through the qualifying round followed by two heats. This season, drivers from four professional racing outfits will square-off in five rounds to compete for the most prestigious karting title in the country.

The championship was flagged off with the young guns in the Micro Max category hitting the track first for the qualifying round of the day. This category was all about consistency with the top three drivers maintaining the same positions all through qualifying as well as the two heats. Eleven-year old girl Mira Kirit Erda (Team Maini Racing) from Baroda put in a stellar performance that saw her topping the qualifying with a best lap time of 46:460 seconds. The starting line-up for the pre-final race on Sunday will see Mira taking pole position followed by Pradyumn V Danigond and Phaneesh HB, both representing Team Mohites Racing.

The Junior Max class was a very closely contested affair with the top four constantly trading positions through the qualifying and heats. Krishnaraj Mahadik (Team Mohites Racing) from Kolhapur beat Abhirath Shetty (Team Meco Racing) and Kush Maini (Team Maini Racing) in Heat 2, in the process notching a best lap time of 41.619 seconds, faster than what he clocked in the qualifying (41.620 seconds). Last year’s Micro Max champion Kush Maini who has now graduated to the Junior Max made a smooth transition by putting in a consistent performance to land a third position at the starting grid for the pre-final race. Arya Gandhi (Team Rayo Racing) will keep him company at second position.

Senior Max was a keenly fought battle especially the top two - Ameya Bafna (Team Rayo Racing) and Mithun Ganatra (Team Mohites Racing) fighting tooth and nail. The margin of victory between Ameya and Mithun in Heat 1 was a mere 0.227 seconds, but Ameya’s consistent performance will see him starting at pole position tomorrow. While Ameya consistently clocked best lap times in early-mid 40s, there was a point in Heat 2 where he seemed to be on his way to a sub-40 second time; this until he was requested by the team principal to slow down. Gaurav Davare (Team Rayo Racing) at second position will join Ameya and Mithun at the starting grid.

The performance of the day was by Raj Ganatra (Team Rayo Racing) who started eighth in Heat 2 to eventually finish third, this on a very tight track which made it is difficult for racers to manoeuvre and overtake. Yet it was not enough to get him a better position than number five at the starting grid on day two. Day two (June 10) will have the pre-final and the final races where the teams will be looking to notch up their first points of the season.

Starting Grid Positions for Pre-final and Final Races on Sunday, June 10, 2012:

Micro Max Category: