Defending champion Matthew Graham of Great Britain and Dmitry Dlougy of Russia each won their opening Qualifying Heats on Friday in the third and final round of the CIK-FIA U18 World Karting Championship, taking place at Bahrain International Circuit’s world-class VIVA Karting Track in Sakhir.
Graham captured first place in the ‘A-C’ Qualifying Heat, while Dlougy won the ‘B-D’ Qualifying Heat.
Meanwhile, Russian Alexander Maslennikov and Norwegian Martin Ellegard claimed the first two Qualifying Heats in the CIK-FIA Karting Academy Trophy.
Maslennikov was triumphant in his A-C heat, and Ellegard won first in the B-D race.
In the Qualifying Heats, the drivers have been divided into groups for the world championship (A to E) and academy trophy (A to D). Each group faces one another in separate heats of 11 and eight laps (example: A-B, A-C, A-D, A-E and so on).
The A-C and B-D Qualifying Heats were the first of the day. The others were held late into the night.
At the end of the round, which features 10 Qualifying Heats in the world championship and six in the academy, results will be collated and a top 34 will emerge. They move on to Saturday’s Final Phase.
This season’s new under-18 world champion and academy trophy winner will be crowned at the end of the finale in Bahrain.
All are welcome to attend the day’s festivities and be a part of motorsport history.
Entrance is free of charge to the general public. There are also Paddock Tickets costing BD10 apiece, which allow holders’ access to the Paddock where they can rub shoulders with the “Legends of Tomorrow” and enjoy special seating along an exclusive grandstand above Parc Ferme.
Spectators will also be able to enjoy plenty of off-the-track entertainment. These include a series of fun games, children’s carnival rides, roaming acts, arts and crafts stations, live music and other enjoyable activities.
Matthew Graham (Zanardi) won the 11-lap A-C Qualifying Heat despite starting from fourth on the grid. Graham had an excellent start and on the second lap was able to snatch the lead.
Compatriot and current championship leader Henry Easthope (Sodi) finished in second place just 0.345s behind, while Sam Webster (ART GP), another Briton, and was third 0.511s adrift.
German Villanueva Suarez (FK) of Spain was fourth 0.921s from the victor, while pole-sitter Seva Gagen (Parolin) of Russia had to settle for fifth place 1.053s back.
Bahraini Abdulla Al Thawadi (Swiss Hutless) was also competing in the 23-driver heat and he was ranked 17th. Al Thawadi finished 14.720s off the pace.
In the B-D Qualifying Heat, Dlougy (MS Kart) captured a late victory ahead of Australian Joseph Mawson (Top Kart).
Dlougy started from second on the grid, but had to battle from as low as fourth for much of the race. He made a strong push at the end of the 11-lap sprint and brilliantly moved up to first by the chequered flag.
Dlougy finished 0.383s in front of Mawson, while Anthoine Hubert (FK) of France completed the top three 1.446s behind.
Ricky Collard (ART GP) took fourth place 1.814s from the winner, while fellow-Briton Hannah Pym (Intrepid) finished as the fastest girl driver in fifth just 1.894s back.
Bahrainis Adeen Kuzbar (Swiss Hutless) and Shaikh Ali bin Mohammed Al Khalifa (Swiss Hutless) were ranked 14th and 19th, respectively in the 21-man race. Kuzbar was 9.817s behind first, while Shaikh Ali was 15.537s behind.
In the Academy Trophy, Alexander Maslennikov of Russia had a pole-to-flag win in their A-C Qualifying Heat.
Maslennikov completed the eight-lap battle 0.432s ahead of Briton George Russell. France’s Erwan Jule was third 3.689 behind.
Alex Gill (+4.017s), also of Great Britain, was ranked fourth whereas Arjun Maini (+7.806s) of India rounded out the top five.
Bahrain’s Shaikh Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa was ranked 18th in the race 34.870s from Maslennikov.
In the B-D Qualifying Heat, Martin Ellegard of Norway won 0.338s in front of Thomas Michael Bale representing the UAE.
Academy trophy leader Joonas Lappalainen (+0.755s) of Finland was third, Martjin Van Leeuwen (+1.067s) of the Netherlands fourth and Javier Cobian (+1.953s) of Spain fifth.
Earlier in the day on Friday, Russians Gagen and Maslennikov topped the classifications of their respective championships today after the Qualifying Practice round.
Gagen was the fastest amongst all participants in the under-18 Qualifying Practices with a best lap of 55.244s, while Maslennikov set the pace amongst academy participants with a 55.794s top time.
Each driver’s best lap time during Qualifying Practice was collated and based on their ranking, the groups for the ensuing Qualifying Heats were determined.
Ranked behind Gagen in the world championship were Anthoine Hubert (55.375s) and Sam Webster (55.425s). In all there were 53 drivers with times and three not classified.
In the 37-driver academy ranking, Ellegard was second with a best lap of 55.823s. George Russel was third (55.846s).
Saturday’s Final Phase will consist of two Pre-Final races and one Final Race for the under-18 world championship drivers.
Each of the two Pre-Finals will be over 15 kilometres or 11 laps in total distance. A driver’s starting position for the first session will be determined by their ranking after the Qualifying Heats. The second Pre-Final race will have a reversed starting grid.
Points will also be awarded to drivers in both sessions based on where they finish.
The Final Race will then follow, to be held over 30 kilometres or 22 laps. Starting positions will be determined by each driver’s accumulated points from the Pre-Finals.
The Final Race’s classification will then be regarded as the round’s official results.
Apart from the Final Phase, there will also be a Consolation Final, called the ‘B’ Final. This is for another 34 drivers who did not qualify in their top rankings.
They will compete over 20 kilometres in a single race, and the top six classified will win points.
In the academy trophy, two final races will be held on Saturday. Each race will be over 15 laps, and each will have its own final classification and winners’ podium.