The free practice of the Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals ended on Tuesday under the persistent sun at Portimao. Four 15-minute sessions, three of which with transponders, were scheduled for Monday and Tuesday. Timed practice will begin on Wednesday morning after a warm-up of 10 minutes. Here’s a quick look at the top performers in each category.
Micro Max
Al Ain Raceway driver Keanu Al Azhari was fastest in the youngest category with a time of 1’08”732, followed by Zlotan Koros. The Portuguese Adrian Malheiro was ahead of France’s Théophile Nael in 4th and Belgian Douwe Dedecker 5th, while France’s Louis Iglesias was 7th. Despite certain differences in standard among the 36 participants, the leading group was very close.
Mini Max
The Frenchman Marcus Amand posted the fastest times in each session, with or without slipstream. He was followed by the Australian James Wharton, American Josh Pierson, Spaniard Eric Alanis, Latvian Tomass Stolcermanis and Russian Yakov Sokolov. Craig Tanic of France was in the top 20.
Junior Max
Clayton Ravenscroft of Britain posted the fastest time of the Juniors in 1’00”460 while Frenchman Victor Bernier followed him by just 9 thousandths. Finland’s Axel Saarniala and Sweden’s Hannes Morin were also close in 3rd and 4th, with Spain’s Ivan Bataller Camare taking 5th. Camille Prouteau of France posted the 21st time of the day.
Max
It was again a Brit, Brett Ward, who was the fastest in the Max class with 1’00”137, a hundredth ahead of the Spaniard Enric Bordas Cotes. Poland’s Jakub Gregula was 3rd, Japan’s Koki Mizuno 4th, Switzerland’s Jan Schwitter 5th and Italy’s Lorenzo Nistri 6th, grouped in less than 4 hundredths. The top Frenchman, Jean Nomblot, was close to the top 10.
DD2 Max
The Finn Ville Villaeinen impressed by being the only one to go below the 59” mark. Australian Ryan Kennedy and Slovakia’s Jan Slosar were the closest to him, while South Africa’s Bradley Lienbenberg and Dutchman Joey Alders completed the top five.
DD2 Max Masters
Finland’s Antti Ollikainen beat New Zealander Ryan Urban with 59”395, followed by Argentina’s Gabriel Zughella. 4th place went to the South African Michael Stephen in front of the Portuguese Vitor Manuel Mendes. Close attention was paid to the good performances from the Belgian Christophe Adams, who was quick despite a less than perfect state of health, and the Frenchman Michael Dauphin.
Info Kartcom / © Photo KSP