Fine weather and 23° over Bahrain on Saturday lunchtime for the Mini MAX Final. Cole Denholm (GBR) and Albert Friend (GBR) shared the front row of the starting grid. Denholm led on the first lap, followed by Lars Lambers (BEL) and Alexander van Meeuwen (BEL), then Friend in 4th place. Friend moved into the lead on the next lap, with Rory Armstrong (GBR) in the top five ahead of Nikita Ljubinov (EST). Ilie Tristan Crisan (CAN) was 23rd and Alexis Baillargeon (CAN) 34th, while Ljubinov moved into 2nd place between Friend and Denholm. At the halfway point, the battle was at its height with a number of twists and turns. Lambers and Maxim Bobreshov (ARE) crashed out at the back of the field, with Denholm again leading from Friend and Jacob Ashcroft (GBR). Niklas Cassarino (DEU) and Charlie Woolfit (GBR) had made up eight places each by closing in on the top fiv. Denholm increased his lead thanks to the fights behind him and seemed to have taken a good option on victory with two laps to go. But his lead was suddenly reduced on the penultimate lap. Friend and Ashcroft were about to try their luck. Denholm nevertheless managed to take the win 1.45″ ahead of Armstrong and Ljubinov. Ashcroft finished 4th and Friend 5th. Denholm was then penalised and found himself in 6th place, while Armstrong was declared the winner.
Info Kartcom with Kartlink / Photo © KSP