Oliver George came from second on the grid to win his maiden DD2 Rotax MAX Challenge championship after holding off rivals Sanad Al Rawahi and Arnaud Bouf in a thrilling season finale. The Englishman was gifted the lead after pole sitter Hussain Umid Ali retired from the lead with a gearbox failure at half distance. George found himself under intense pressure from both Al Rawahi and Bouf and crossed the line three tenths of a second clear to rapturous cheers from the crowd.
In the 125 MAX class, Philippe Valenza won a dramatic race that saw him also take his first ever championship win. Valenzas’ only rival, Abdullah Al Rawahi, lined up third on the grid and at the start the pair were side by side into the first corner. Ameer Hassan slipped into second place ahead of Al Rawahi on lap two allowing Valenza to pull out a small gap. Valenza didn’t put a wheel wrong and powered to the finish line punching the air in exultation.
The Junior MAX championship went to Pasqual Pook after he once again dominated the days’ proceedings. Taymour Kermanshahchi and Guilio Peroni fought race long for the runner-up spot, with Peroni coming out better off in the end. Tehmur Chohan won a second consecutive Mini MAX title after his nearest challenger Alain Bauwmans suffered a wheel failure at mid-distance. Chohan has now cemented himself as the man to beat in the Mini class.
Sem Knopjes struggled for relative pace at the season finale, but a conservative drive to third place on the final day was enough to grant him his first ever Micro MAX championship. Ziggy Kermanshahchi took top honours in the final race ahead of championship runner-up, Yusuf Moola.
Sam Zian and Piers Pakenham-Walsh went wheel-to-wheel in the Honda Challenge in what turned out to be a dramatic race. The two title contenders were separated by a handful of points but it was Zian who crossed the line first to take the championship, a fraction ahead of his rival.
Georgie Zouein beat Gaia Eichenberger to the first ever Bambino title by a solitary point with Ethan Walsh taking third place overall.
