Batelco claim Endurance Challenge crown as Fernando Alonso’s Puntonas finish 11th

Sport360 staff 09:41 30/11/2014
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  • Reason to cheer: Batelco celebrate their win.

    Bahrain’s Batelco won the 2014 Endurance Challenge driven by Mini title after the much anticipated contest for top honours in the final round with CG Racing Pro lived up to expectations.

    It was a bittersweet result for CG Racing Pro, who despite winning the final race of the four round series, had to settle for second in the championship behind Batelco.

    But victories on the day in both the Corporate Category and Nations Cup ensured that CG Racing won those titles.

    At noon yesterday after 24 hours, CG Racing Pro had run 1,131 laps, which was two more than Batelco and nine up on third placed CG Racing 1.

    Forza Union Russia were fourth, ahead of GP Racing, Dubai-5, Timeless Events Racing, Dubai Falcon Racing Team, ENOC Racers Team and Mach1 Blacklist rounding out the top ten.

    Winning team owner Choueiri Group chairman and CEO Pierre Choueri said: “We came here with the target to win all three races this weekend. It was tough but we did it against a very strong field of drivers and teams.”

    For Batelco, second place in the season finale was enough to wrap up their fourth endurance title at the Kartdrome, making them the most successful team in the history of the event along with Nivea For Men Professionals.

    Meanwhile, Formula One driver Fernando Alonso’s Puntonas team, which included McLaren F1 test driver Stoffel Vandoorne and Ferrari race engineer Andrea Stella, were at one stage in fifth place, but had to settle for 11th place which earned them the Best New Team Award for their efforts.

    Alonso, who drove a number of sessions during the night and also the final stint for his team, said afterwards: “It is a good event and very well organised, with some very good teams. I decided to enter the race and invited some of my friends, and we had a good time.”

    Stella added: “We learnt a lot not only about the driving style for these karts but also about strategy.”

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