Drivers gathered at the Bahrain International Karting Circuit in Sakhir for the opening round of the 2026/2027 Bahrain Rotax MAX Challenge season. The event marked the start of the latest campaign for the series, which is held under the supervision of the Bahrain Motor Federation and the Bahrain Karting Commission. Competitors navigated the track layout to contest the initial standings of the year. This first round brought together a field of racers to begin the multi-event calendar at the venue, which is operated by the Bahrain International Circuit. The season-opening competition serves as the first stage for participants aiming to secure points in the early phase of the championship. The 2026/2027 Bahrain Rotax MAX Challenge season-opening round took place at the Bahrain International Karting Circuit, providing a platform for local and regional talent to demonstrate their skills in high-speed karting.
Young Drivers Secure Early Wins
Sami Albandak claimed victory in the Micro MAX final during the opening round of the competition. He completed the race in a total time of 9 minutes 20.734 seconds to secure his result. Sami Albandak won the Micro MAX final in a total time of 9 minutes 20.734 seconds.
Abdulaziz Alsarraf also achieved a win in the Mini MAX category. He finished his final in 8 minutes 56.961 seconds. Abdulaziz Alsarraf won the Mini MAX final in 8 minutes 56.961 seconds. Both drivers established early leads in their respective classes as the season commenced at the Bahrain International Karting Circuit. Their performances set a competitive tone for the remainder of the racing season.
Senior and Junior Category Results
Rayyan Najjar secured the top position in the Junior MAX final. He completed the race distance in a total time of 13 minutes 56.409 seconds to claim the victory. Rayyan Najjar won the Junior MAX final in 13 minutes 56.409 seconds.
Demir Abali emerged as the winner of the Senior MAX final. His performance resulted in a total race time of 13 minutes 31.674 seconds. Demir Abali won the Senior MAX final in 13 minutes 31.674 seconds.
Rakan Alfayez finished first in the DD2 MAX final. He recorded a winning time of 13 minutes 20.798 seconds to conclude the category competition. Rakan Alfayez won the DD2 MAX final in 13 minutes 20.798 seconds.
Organizers have scheduled the 2026/2027 championship calendar to span a total of eight events. The series concludes with the final round in February 2027. The 2026/2027 championship calendar features a total of eight events, ending in February 2027. With the initial round concluded, participants now prepare for the subsequent stages of the multi-event series, aiming to maintain their momentum throughout the upcoming rounds scheduled at the Bahrain International Karting Circuit. Each event is designed to test the endurance and technical precision of the drivers across the various MAX categories.
