MOTORSPORT – An 11-strong Team Bahrain are all geared up and excited to hit the track this week in one of the biggest annual events in the world of grassroots motorsport.
The Rotax MAX Challenge Grand Finals (RMCGF) 2025 takes Bahrain International Karting Circuit (BIKC) by storm this week, bringing to Sakhir 400 of international karting’s elite.
They are representing 60 countries from around the world, and will be battling it out in eight high-octane categories.
Headlining the field are the kingdom’s top talents, featuring Tariq Soofi in the Micro MAX class, Shaikh Ahmed bin Saqer Al Khalifa and Jude Andrews in the Mini MAX, Demir Abali and Rashid Hilal in the Junior MAX, Tye Mejia in the Senior MAX, Abdulla Sajjad and Abdulqader Qasem in the DD2, and Yousif Alaali, Vedant Menon, and Mohammed Alhasan in the E20 Senior.
“I’m super excited!” Tariq, who is the squad’s youngest competitor, told the GDN.
“I’ve been counting the days down and I can’t wait to race. It feels like a huge adventure as the event is in our own country, and I wish the best of luck to all the racers.”
Added Mejia, who was also part of Team Bahrain the last time the RMCGF was held at BIKC in 2023: “I have high hopes, but I must stay humble. I have huge goals for the week and, knowing it’s my home track and that two years ago we finished P10 in the grand final, I believe anything is possible.”
Tariq and Mejia are part of Bahrain-based karting team NorthStar Racing, and both were champions in the 2024-25 season of the Bahrain Rotax MAX Challenge, which earned them their spots in this year’s RMCGF.
Hilal was a late addition to the kingdom’s roster after a spot opened up during the participants’ official registration, which concluded yesterday at BIKC.
Aside from the aforementioned categories, racing will also be held this week in the RMCGF’s DD2 Masters and E20 Masters classes.
Pre-event formalities continue today with the raffle of karts, the traditional track walk, the drivers’ briefings and presentation, and a welcome get-together.
On-track action gets underway tomorrow at BIKC with the opening non-qualifying practice sessions, which continue on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Qualifying practices will also be held Wednesday along with the first qualifying heats, which carry over to Thursday.
The pre-finals are then set to be held under lights on Friday, setting the stage for the finals on Saturday on the concluding day of this year’s karting spectacle.
All are welcome to attend from Wednesday onwards and enjoy the high-intensity, wheel-to-wheel racing.
Entrance is free of charge and will be on a first-come, first-served basis.
BIKC will be opening its gates to fans from 10am until the end of track activity on each day, except for Friday, when spectators can access the circuit from 4.30pm.
A Bahraini competitor has yet to climb the podium in the RMCGF, and Alhasan is aiming to change that. “My goal for this week is to bring home Bahrain’s very first grand finals podium,” he told the GDN.
Alhasan, Alaali, and Menon are all set to compete in the RMCGF’s E20 category for the first time.
“I hope to adapt to the E20 as quickly as possible – it’s pretty different from what I’m used to, so I want to learn fast and do my best,” Alaali told the GDN. “And of course, I want to help Team Bahrain get strong results.”
The kingdom’s karters are looking to make the most of this week’s experience.
They highlighted the RMCGF’s significance to their racing careers and to all those who are a part of the event, which offers a tremendous boost to their development.
“Racing in the grand finals is a chance that not many people get, so when you have that opportunity, take it!” Mejia told the GDN. “I’ve been lucky to be here three times now and every time, I have learned something new.”
Alaali concurred. “Top drivers from all over the world are here – it’s one of the highest levels in karting, and being here helps us learn a lot and see where we stand as we move up in motorsport.”
Young Tariq added: “This event is really important because it lets us all race against each other from around the world. It helps us learn fast, get better, and gain experience for the future.
“Big races like this make us stronger and more confident as we move up in our racing careers.”
Alhasan stressed: “This is the biggest karting event of the year for me and for many others. It is a great opportunity to be seen on the global stage against the very best.”
This week’s thrilling battles will be held along BIKC’s 1.414-kilometre CIK-FIA track, which has also hosted world championship events in the past featuring drivers such as Max Verstappen, Lando Norris, George Russell, and many more who are amongst the biggest stars in Formula One today.
The RMCGF 2025 is the third time Rotax karting’s showpiece event is being held in the kingdom, following hugely successful occasions in 2023 and 2021.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh
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