Mixed fortunes for Team Bahrain drivers during first day in Italy

Team Bahrain drivers got their first taste of track action ahead of this weekend’s 2019 Rotax MAX Challenge (RMC) Grand Finals at Circuito Internationale di Napoli in Sarno. Unusually hot conditions greeted the 360 drivers from 60 nations as they took to the track for the first day of free practice with 24 sessions of 15 minutes for each of the classes with Bahrain representatives ten-year-old Luca Houghton contesting the Micro MAX class and experienced 33-yearold Mohammed Matar in Senior MAX.

Traditionally day one at the Grand Finals is one where drivers familiarise themselves with the track, first-timers at Sarno using the valuable time to learn the circuit while others reacquaint themselves with a venue that has hosted the likes of Kimi Raikkonen, Lewis Hamilton, Nico Rosberg, Michael Schumacher among many legends of the sport.

Speaking at the end of the first day, team manager Hasan Al Shehabi summed up: “The first day always brings unknowns which drivers have to deal with. Mohammed had an issue with his kart that prevented him from maximising his time on the track but we would rather have problems now rather than later when it gets very important.

“On the other hand, Luca was fast and impressed in his first two sessions at the venue he has never raced at, running strongly among the pacesetters early on in the week’s proceedings which should serve him well for the remaining days of action. All in all, it was a good day with some challenges which we will overcome,” added Shehabi. On Tuesday drivers will again have two practice sessions with the Heat races set to start on Wednesday followed by the Pre-Finals on Friday and the Finals on Saturday