Tuesday January 22, 2013
Muizzuddin uses his experience to win Macro Max race with ease
By LIM TEIK HUAT
Muizzuddin Musyaffa Abdul Gafar (centre) celebrates on the podium with the other competitors after the prize presentation of the Macro Max category in the Rotax Max Asia Invitational at the Sepang International Circuit on sunday. KUALA LUMPUR: Using his international experience to great effect, Malaysia’s teenage go-karting sensation Muizzuddin Musyaffa Abdul Gafar swept aside his rivals to take victory in the Rotax Max Asia Invitational at the Sepang International Circuit on Sunday.
Starting from pole position, the CRG factory team driver led from start to finish in the 15-lap race around the 1,247m track to win the Macro Max category. A number of top young go-karters around Asia competed in the event.
Muizzuddin, who turns 11 on Feb 23, was delighted to made a perfect comeback to competitive karting after fracturing his right leg in a racing incident in Italy last October.
“I am so happy to win. Hopefully, I can also win in Italy,” said Muizzuddin, who will start his season in Italy with the opening round of the WSK Series in La Conca next month.
“It had been a long time since I raced in Sepang. My team suggested I took part as a warm-up event to prepare myself for the races in Italy. It was not easy as it looked. I had to be at my best,” said Muizzuddin, who will be competing under the CRG Gamoto Racing Team at various competitions in Italy in the 60 Mini category for those aged below 13.
The Rotax Max Asia Invitational hosted four categories of competitions but it was the Macro Max category that attracted the most attention with the team officials and fans eager to see Muizzuddin’s capabilities.
Apart from the WSK Series, Muizzuddin, who was recently roped in to be a factory driver for the famous CRG chassis, will also compete in the CSAI Italian Championship, Italy ROK Series and the various regional competitions.
Competing in the Mini 60 category, Muizzuddin, who started to compete full time in Italy last year, was victorious in two regional meets at the Puglia Regional Championship and Sicily Champion Cup in June. He was the first Malaysian to win go-kart races in Europe.
He caught the Malaysian media attention when he was named as the Rookie Cup champion after finishing third overall at the ROK Italian Cup in September last year.
“I am really looking forward to the races in Italy. They are much, much more competitive,” said Muizzuddin, who lives in Sicily with his mother.
“My father is giving me three years to fully concentrate on my dream to be a racing driver. He is serious about my involvement in the sport and that I should compete in Europe where the competition is stiffer and more challenging,” he added.
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