Close battles likely in JK Tyre Karting

The two-day fifth and concluding round of the JK Tyre-FMSCI National Karting Championship beginning here Saturday is expected to dish out plenty of action given that the titles in all three categories, Micro Max, Junior Max and Senior Max, are still to be decided.

The points difference among the front-runners in each of the three classes is virtually negligible and with 41 talented youngsters in the fray, the competition is expected to be intense.

MECO Racing team-mates Yash Aradhya (154 points) and Paul Francis (140), both from Bengaluru, head the Micro Max class (7-12 age group) while the competition is closest in the Junior Max (13-16 years) with just eight points separating the top four.

Bengaluru's Ricky Donison of BPC Racing (144) heads the championship, closely followed by fellow-Bengalurian Kush Maini (Dark Don Racing) and Mumbai's Aaroh Ravindra (Rayo Racing), both tied on 140 points. Behind the trio is Akash Gowda (MECO Racing) from Bengaluru with 136 points.

In the Senior Max class, Mumbai's Ameya Bafna (Rayo Racing) leads with 147 points, ahead of Vishnu Prasad (MECO Racing, 133) from Chennai while Kolhapur lads and Mohite's Racing team-mates Dhruv Mohite and Chittesh Mandody are tied on 130.

The championship, in its 11th consecutive year, is based on the regulations of the Rotax Max Challenge. Rotax is the largest kart engine manufacturer in the World and is part of the Bombardier Group from Austria.