Rivaan Dev Preetham makes a stunning debut, takes pole

Rotax Max Meco fmsci National Karting Championship 2023

David Bodapati August 12, 2023

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Nikhilesh Raju takes pole on Saturday in Junior Rotax Max at Meco Kartopia. Exclusive Photo by Rahul Reghu

Bengaluru, 12 August 2023: Rivaan Dev Preetham of Chennai qualified on pole for the Micro Max class in the first round of the Meco fmsci National Karting Championship for Rotax Max 2023 at Meco Kartopia on Saturday.

He is the son of Preetham Dev Moses, a six-time National champion and a celebrated rider in the early years after the turn of the century. He now let the junior debut in karting. His son Rivaan began the 2023 National Championship well and took the pole position beating a strong field of 16 drivers. He also won both the heats on Saturday. He clocked 10:14.687 for 9 laps in the first heat beating Yatharth Gaur of Faridabad, while he timed 10:45.940 for the second heat over 6 laps defeating Gaur again to second place. Darsh Nawalgaria of Bengaluru came third. In heat 1, Rishik Rohit Reddy of Bengaluru came third.

In the Senior Max class experienced drivers like Akshat Mishra and Abhay M, the defending champion lost to Adithya Patnaik from Mumbai. However, Akshat Mishra won both the heats.

Rivaan Dev Preetham of Chennai qualified on pole for the Senior Max class. All photos Rahul Reghu, exclusively commissioned by INDIAinF1.com

Reigning champion Nikhilesh Raju of Peregrine Racing, Bengaluru, kept his cool and bagged the pole position in the Junior Max category.

In the Senior class, Adithya Patnaik of Mumbai defeated Akshat Mishra of Bengaluru by hundredths of a second while another experienced Mumbai karter Raaj Bhakru took the third place.

The Pre-finals and Finals of the first round will be held on Sunday. A record number of over 50 drivers including a huge grid of 27 drivers in the Senior Class were seen competing in the 2023 opener, a record in the last 10 years.

Provisional Results: Qualifying sessions:

Junior Max:

1. #36 Nikhilesh Raju (Peregrine Racing, Bengaluru) (54.747);

2.#55 Ishaan Madesh (Peregrine Racing, Bengaluru) (54.837);

3. #44 Arafath Sheikh (Pune) (54.998).

Micro Max:

1. #12 Rivaan Dev Preetham (Chennai) (1:00.158);

2. #06 Darsh Nawalgaria (Bengaluru) (1:00.227);

3. #08 Hamza Balasinorwala (Mumbai) (1:00.44).

Senior Max:

1. #76 Adithya Patnaik (Mumbai) (00:54.706);

2. #69 Akshat Mishra (Bengaluru) (00:54.720);