Asian karters in round 2 of COFTA

Valencia

Champions of the Future Academy Program

After an action-packed first round of Season 2 of the Champions of the Future Academy in Portimao, Portugal, proceedings moved to Valencia, Spain for Round 2—and all three categories produced intense racing again.

In OK-N Junior class, Philippines' own Axel Nocom, who scored P12 in both finals in Portugal, started the weekend on a strong footing by finishing P5 in Qualifying Heat 1. But he faded to P8 in Race 1. Struggles did not subside in QH2, where he finished P26, but he regained momentum by adding 8 places to end up P18 in Final. 

In the same league, there was a split weekend for Veer Chopra too. He had a good QH1 with a P17 qualification and moving up to P9. He failed to take this momentum ahead to QH2, qualifying P30 and finishing race 2 in P31.

Indian driver Shivaan Karthik Mohan, with an uneventful opening to his campaign in Portimao, encountered an identical tale in Valencia. P28 on the starting grid after a disappointing QH1 awaited him, after which he had some movement but ended up at P21. His QH2, including Race 2, was consistent in that both brought home P23.

Sanjana Dandu, who had impressed in Round 1, was not able to take advantage this time. While she upgraded from P31 to P25 in Race 1, her QH2 at P36 kept her too far behind, finishing Race 2 at P30. Fellow Singaporean Sujana Dandu also brought over her fight from Portugal, qualifying P30 in QH1 but gaining 11 spots impressively to take P19. QH2 was another testing ride with a P31 run, but she moved up to P21 in the last event.

MINI-60

Indian driver Rehan Khan Rasheed, who made a good beginning with Round 1, was not able to carry this momentum through. Although he qualified P11 in QH1, he lost ground and ended up at P18. QH2 was not any better with a P17 result, and he ended up in P16 after the second race.

On a positive note, Indian driver Rivaan Dev Preetham improved immensely. From P25 in QH1, he moved up 14 spots to end P11, then followed up with a P10 in QH2 and an equally strong P11 in Race 2.

Another Indian, Atiqa Mir, posted a steady weekend following an uneven first round. She qualified P17 in QH1 but improved to P13 in the event. She improved her qualifying in QH2 to P12 and finished P13 in the main event once again.

OK-N Senior

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In OK-N Seniors, Japan’s Sara Matsui had a dramatic weekend. She started with a P29 in QH1 but moved up 12 to end P17. Continuing her momentum, she qualified P9 in QH2 and seemed poised for a grand finale. She lost speed mid-race, however, and slipped 12 to end up at P21.