RMCGF 2023: intense second heats under the Bahrain sun

Round 2 of the 2023 RMCGF got underway fairly early on Thursday morning in Bahrain, but the sun was already shining brightly with 22°C at the start and 26°C at the finish.

E20 Senior – H2: Brougham
Spencer Brougham (GBR) took a second victory after leading from start to finish, but Mats Johan Overhoff (DEU) kept up the pressure in 2nd position to finish less than 2 tenths behind. Knud Nielsen (DNK) secured 3rd place to make up for his deficit of the previous day. Phillip Loacker (CHE) and Maryus Lyager Rose (DNK) completed the top five. Brougham led the intermediate classification ahead of Overhoff and Loacker, then Lyager Rose and Piotr Borowyczyk (POL).

E20 Master – H2: Goncalves
Joao Goncalves (BRA) again dominated the Master’s group to claim a second victory. This time, Igor Mukhin (CYP) took P2 by more than three seconds after a close battle with Andreas Matis (DEU).
Goncalves took P1 in the intermediate classification with the maximum score ahead of Mukhin and Matis who were tied on points. Gilberto Loacker (CHE) was 4th and Manuel Martins (PRT) 5th.

Micro MAX – H2: Haynes
At the end of a hard-fought race, Edward Haynes (GBR) finally added a win to his tally against Emerson MacAndrew Uren (GBR) and Oliver Spencer (GBR). Jenson Chalk (GBR) completed the British quartet ahead of Julian Rivera (ECU). Spencer finished top of the heats ahead of Lucas Palacio (USA), MacAndrew Uren 3rd, Chalk and Rivera.

Mini MAX
H2 – A-C: Friend
Albert Friend (GBR) led for most of the race, taking a clear victory from his main rival Jacob Ashcroft (GBR). Maxim Bobreshov (ARE) took 3rd place, followed by Lars Lambers (BEL) and Daniil Voinov (KGZ).

H2 – B-D: Denholm
Cole Denholm (GBR) took a clear victory nearly 4” ahead of Travis Teoh (MYS), then Joao Pereira (PRT) again in 3rd place just a few lengths behind. Joshua Griffin (GBR) was 4th ahead of Charlie Woolfitt (GBR).

Junior MAX
H2 – A-C: Graham
A big battle from start to finish culminated in victory for Joshua Graham (GBR), who moved up six places. Lu You-De (JPN) and Tino Sidler (CHE) remained in the top three, while Luca Houghton (BHR) moved up 10 places to 4th. Louis Comyn (FRA), who had led at the start of the race, finished 5th. Clovis Nougueyrede (FRA) had to pull out of the competition because of his injuries on Wednesday.

H2 – L-R: Craigie
Kenzo Craigie (GBR) took the lead from Christopher El Feghali (LBN) and distanced Timo Jungling (GBR). Toms Strele (LVA) came 3rd at the end of the race (+14 places) ahead of El Feghali and Beau Lowette (BEL). Thomas Pradier (FRA) dropped from 3rd to 8th on the final lap.

Senior MAX
H2 – A-C : Butcher
Sean Butcher (GBR) took his second win in slightly more comfortable fashion than the day before. Simon Ohlin (SWE) took 2nd place, just ahead of Oliver Hodgson (GBR), while Kai Rillaerts (BEL) moved up to 4th ahead of Kenta Kumagai (JPN). Adam Rahali (FRA) made up 7 places by finishing 11th.

H2 – D-G: Lewis
An incident on the first lap forced out several drivers, including some top seeds. Austin Lee (DEU) had taken the lead, but Gilbert Lewis (GBR) climbed back into P1 to take the win, while Kai Hunter (GBR) finished 3rd, Mark Kimber (GBR) 4th +9 places and Laurent Legault (CAN) 5th. Eduardo Barrichello moved up 19 places to 9th.

DD2 Master – H2: Kinsman
Mathew Kinsman (NZL) pulled away from the start of the race and was able to take the win comfortably one second ahead of Denis Thum (DEU). Martynas Tankevicius (LTU) had moved up 11 places to 3rd, while Ben Cooper (CAN) moved up 16 places to 4th ahead of Rubens Barrichello (BRA).

Kinsman was the heat leader ahead of Thum and Barichello, Federico Rossi (ITA) was 4th and Tankevicius 5th. Nicolas Picot (FRA) was 9th.

DD2
H2 – A-C: Baccaglini
Leonardo Baccaglini (ITA) again broke away in front and beat Axel Saarmiala (FIN). Rasmus Vendelbo (DNK) followed in 3rd place ahead of Bende Szabo (HUN) and Harry Hannam (ARE).

H2 – B-D: Bezel
Jakub Bezel (CZE) set off in pursuit of Ragnar Veerus (EST) and took the lead, followed by Philipp Moitzi (AUT) with three laps to go. Bezel won, Moitzi 2nd, David Auljetner (POL) 3rd. Xen De Ruwe (SVN) achieved another feat by moving up from 24th to 4th ahead of Sebastian Boyd (ZAF).

Info Kartcom with Kartlink / Photo © KSP