The 384 drivers that are in attendance for the 2023 Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals took to the Bahrain International Karting Circuit on Monday for the opening laps of the event. Today was about learning the 14-turn, 1.414km course for those who were not in attendance back in 2021, get accustomed to their spec karts, and break in the Rotax engines for the week long battle. Half of the eight categories competing received two sessions, while Mini, Micro, E20 Senior and E20 Master already put in their third practice sessions of the event. The nine drivers of Team USA with nearly all sitting inside the top-15 in their respective groups.
Below is a breakdown of each driver and some comments on the Bahrain facility along with a recap of their first day on track.
DD2 – Birel ART (72 Drivers)
#451 – Race Liberante
Hometown: Palmdale, California
Qualified: Second Highest US Trophy Series Finisher
RMCGF Appearances: 0
Practice 1 (odd): 26th – 54.130 +0.795
Practice 2 (odd): 13th – 53.645 +0.415
“The facility is absolutely amazing, and the track is the smoothest I’ve ever driven. Day 1 went okay; we had a defective part cut Practice 1 short, so we just repaired it and went for its first shake down to end. We ended up making some changes that will be much better for tomorrow’s three sessions, but we are happy with the start and getting used to how different the kart and conditions are.”
Senior MAX – Sodi Kart (72 Drivers)
#312 – Cooper O’Clair
Hometown: Phoenix, Arizona
Qualified: Top US Trophy Series Finisher
RMCGF Appearances: 2 – 2021, 2022 (Junior Max)
Practice 1 (even): 21st – 54.628 +0.529
Practice 2 (even): 15th – 54.438 +0.361
“It was a pretty good day. We have some things to work on but we’ve had a good sense of direction all day and know what it’s going to take to start tomorrow on-track sessions.”
Practice 1: 10th – 54.387 +0.595
Practice 2: 18th – 54.163 +0.562
“I had an OK first session breaking in the engine and feeling out the kart. A carb issue plagued us in the second session. Hopefully it’s resolved for tomorrow.”
#524 – Billy Cleavelin
Hometown: Shell Beach, California
Qualified: Top US Trophy Series Finisher
RMCGF Appearances: 2 – 2016, 2017 (DD2 Masters)
Practice 1: 33rd – 56.576 +2.784
Practice 2: 34th – 55.087 +1.486
Junior MAX – Praga (72 Drivers)
#257 – Giovanni Santora
Hometown: Phoenix, Arizona
Qualified: Top US Trophy Series Finisher
RMCGF Appearances: 0
Practice 1 (odd): 33rd – 56.328 +1.500
Practice 2 (odd): 33rd – 56.302 +1.624
“The facility here is amazing and the track is awesome. Day 1 went ok. I focused on getting my lines and learning the track. I’m really looking forward to our three sessions tomorrow.”
#224 – Nixx Eggleston
Hometown: Scottsdale, Arizona
Qualified: Runner-up – US Trophy Final
RMCGF Appearances: 0
Practice 1 (even): 10th – 55.433 +0.292
Practice 2 (even): 16th – 55.211 +0.487
Mini MAX – Birel ART (72 Drivers)
#127 – Gage Korn
Hometown: Aurora, Colorado
Qualified: Runner-up – US Trophy Final
RMCGF Appearances: 2 – 2021, 2022 (Mini)
Practice 1 (odd): 9th – 59.891 +0.532
Practice 2 (odd): 8th – 59.459 +0.310
Practice 3 (odd): 9th – 59.101 +0.299
“It was a great day running in the engine, finishing inside the top-10 throughout the three sessions. Now it is time to make a change in the right direction and prep for qualifying.”
#120 – Matteo Quinto
Hometown: Golden, Colorado
Qualified: Top US Trophy Series Finisher
RMCGF Appearances: 0
Practice 1 (even): 12th – 59.827 +0.625
Practice 2 (even): 12th – 59.494 +0.600
Practice 3 (even): 26th – 59.683 +0.914
Micro MAX – Praga (36 Drivers)
#12 – Lucas Palacio
Hometown: Vienna, Virginia
Qualified: 1st – US Trophy Final
RMCGF Appearances: 0
Practice 1: 18th – 1:02.900 +0.964
Practice 2: 10th – 1:02.363 +0.527
Practice 3: 9th – 1:02.385 +0.511
“This is an amazing place. I was very nervous coming to the Middle East with all that’s going on now, but everyone here has been great. Day 1 was good. I ran in the top-10 all day and with no draft help. In a race, we will be fine and think we will find more speed. The pace is getting there, but it’s a long week.”
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