RMCGF 2023: Heat 3 and intermediate classifications

The final Qualifying Heats of the 2023 RMCGF took advantage of a beautiful late afternoon in Bahrain, with an average temperature of 25°, while the sun was rapidly fading over the horizon. The floodlights were useful from the last Senior MAX heats onwards.

Mini MAX
H3 – A-D : Denholm
The race was interrupted by a red flag on the third lap. In a very intense finish, Cole Denholm (GBR) won clearly ahead of Albert Friend (GBR) and Charlie Woolfit (GBR) for a British hat-trick. Maxim Bobreshov (ARE) was back in 4th and Alexis Baillargeon (CAN) had moved up eight places to 5th.

H3 – B-C : Crisan
The whole heat was restarted after a red flag. Ilie Tristan Crisan (CAN) took off well ahead of his rivals from the second start, with the Belgians Lars Lambers and Alexander van Meeuwen joining forces to try and pull away from their pursuers. Crisan took victory with a 2.8″ advantage over Lambers. Jacob Ascroft (GBR) moved into 3rd place ahead of Maxim Becker (DEU) and van Meeuwen in 5th.

Denholm finished first in the heat classification ahead of Friend and Bobreshov, with Lambers and Aschcroft in the top five.

Junior MAX
M3 – A-D: Graham
The second formation lap was completed at the speed of an over-excited snail. Louis Comyn (FRA) took advantage of his good start to take a small lead. Tino Sidler (CHE) overtook Kenzo Craigie (GBR), helped for a moment by Joshua Graham (GBR). Luka Scelles (FRA) rejoined the top five. Sidler took the lead halfway through the race. Graham won for the second time, followed by Sidler, Craigie was 3rd, Comyn 4th, and Mika van de Pavert (NLD) 5th. Scelles was 12th with a penalty.

H3 – B-C: Jungling
Timo Jungling (GBR) overtook Christopher El Feghali (LBN), who responded. Thomas Pradier (FRA) entered the top five. Lu You-De (JPN) took the lead, El Feghali moved back up to P1 at the start of the final lap and won before being disqualified. Jungling was declared the winner ahead of You-De. Beau Lowette (BEL) finished 3rd ahead of Pradier and Luca Houghton (BHR). Tom Dussol (FRA) was 6th.

You-De took P1 in the intermediate classification ahead of Craigie, Graham, Houghton and Lowette. Comyn took P6 and Pradier P10.

Senior MAX
H3 – A-D : Bishop
Sean Butcher (GBR) lost places and Macauley Bishop (GBR) led ahead of Ethan Jeff-Hall (GBR). Jeff-Hall attempted several attacks in the final two laps, but Bishop fought back to win by 66 thousandths. Matthew Higgins (GBR) finished 3rd ahead of the cautious Sean Butcher (GBR) and Dion van Werven (NLD). Jules Roussel (FRA) dropped from 7th to 15th at the end of the race.

H3 – B-C : Hunter
Kai Hunter (GBR) took advantage of the tough battle behind him to get away on the first lap. Austin Lee (DEU), Oliver Hodgson (GBR) and Daniel Hauswirth (AUT) were neck and neck. Adam Rahali (FRA) had already moved up 13 places to 5th by the second lap. Hunter went on to win with a 3.6″ lead. Hodgson was 2nd ahead of Hauswirth and Lee, while Mark Kimber (GBR) had moved up from 13th to 5th, with Rahali finishing 7th with a penalty.

Butcher led the heat standings ahead of Hunter, Hodgson and Kimber, with Hauswirth 5th. Rahali was 11th (+24 places).

DD2
H3 – A-D: Bezel
Jakub Bezel (CZE) took the lead over Leonardo Baccaglini (ITA) from the start. Within striking distance, Rasmus Vendelbo (DNK) and Axel Saarmiala (FIN) battled it out for P3. Bezel made no mistakes and won the race 0.184″ ahead of Baccaglini. Saarniala had overtaken Vendelbo for P3 and Race Liberante (USA) finished 5th ahead of the incredible Xen De Ruwe (SVN) +18 places.

H3 – B-C: Veerus
Ragnar Veerus (EST) led on the first lap ahead of Rasmus Fridell (SWE) and Antoine Barbaroux (FRA).
Daniel Muallem (ANC) rounded off the group of four who were well clear of the rest of the field. Veerus pulled away and gained 2.6” ahead of Fridell. Barbaroux was ranked 3rd ahead of Gianluca Savaglio (CAN) and Michael Rosina (ITA).

In the final round rankings, Baccaglini was 1st ahead of Bezel, Veerus, Saarniala and Moitzi. Barbaroux was 7th.

Info Kartcom with Kartlink / Photo © KSP