Motorsport: Kunimal claims top spot in UAE Rotax Max Challenge

MUSCAT: Oman’s go-karting sensation Shonal Kunimal, Indian School Al Ghubra – International secured the first place in the third round of the 2018/19 UAE Rotax Max Challenge Championship in the Bambino Category at the Alforsan race track last Friday which is consisted of four time trials each of 10 minutes. There are another five more rounds of UAE RMC championship in this race season.
Shonal clocked a timing of 1:20.857 secs in Heat 1 with Greek driver Leonidas Peruzzi coming a close second with a timing of 1:22.165 secs.
In Heat 2, Peruzzi came stormed out of the grid finishing with a lap time of 1:20.586 secs with Kunimal chasing him down in second place with a fast time of 1:20.910 secs. Bad luck struck Peruzzi and had 10 points deducted due to the extra weight block on the kart which fell down on the track during the course of the race.
During Heat 3, Shonal also received 2 penalty because of collision when his kart came in contact with American driver Gavin Miller. At the end of the fourth and final time-trials Kunimal mustered up a total of 77 points out of a maximum 80 which was up for grabs earning him the top place.
Shonal ended the race in top position followed by fellow Oman driver Adam Awan in second place with the third spot going to the British driver Zak Sowerby. Despite his lap timings Leonidas Peruzzi lost out on a podium finish because of the 10 penalty points he incurred.
At the end of the race Shonal thanked Sulaiman Al Rawahi, managing director, Oman Automobile Association (OAA), who encourages and supports young talent. He even thanked Coach Sanad Al Rawahi.
Shonal is preparing for the next round action which will be held on November 23 at Ras Al Khaimah, which is the third round of IAME X30 Championship.