Japanese driver Makino Tadasuke shared the front row for the final of the Junior Rotax Grand Finals at Al Ain 2011 with the Australian Joseph Mawson, while the fastest in Qualifying Ukyo Sasahara followed in third position. After two practice laps and two false starts, the 18-lap race that will determine the first world title of the meeting started. Makino took the lead briefly before Sasahara passed for the lead. Makino was hit from behind by hard charging Aston Hare which was a disaster for the Japanese driver. Sasahara lead from Nathan Harrison, who started ninth, then came Joseph Mawson, Pierce Lehane and Jordi Van Moorsel. Mawson took second place on lap five and Harrison lost another place on the next lap for the benefit of Lehane.
Sasahara was 7 / 10 ahead of Mawson at the approach of mid-race. In a multi-driver overtaking, James Singleton took third, but the battle intensified for the podium in a group that was now within to two seconds of the second place. Van Moorsel held on for now. Sasahara continued to widen the gap, 1.5” then 2” in front of Mawson, himself well ahead. There was a fuel between Singleton and Van Moorsel for third. They were followed fairly closely by Harrison and Nirei Fukuzumi in full battle as well. Fukuzumi in fifth retired on the beginning of the penultimate lap. Singleton finally secured third ahead of Van Moorsel while Ukyo Sasahara won the title for the second time after his victory in 2009 ahead of Joseph Mawson.
Info Kartcom with Kartlink / © Photo KSP Chris Walker