Ashcroft stuns with 2nd at Rotax International Trophy
Image © Laser Tools Racing
With the 2020 edition of the Rotax Max Challenge Grand finals pushed back to January 2021, the Rotax Max International Trophy was set as the biggest event of the 2020 Rotax calendar.
Drivers from all over the world descended on Portugal’s Portimao circuit to do battle for the coveted Grand Finals tickets on offer. The first class to take to the circuit was the Micro Max category, which has began to gather momentum in the UK. That didn’t stop British Team Dan Holland Racing dominating Thursday’s qualifying session with 3 of their drivers in the top 5. Lebanon’s Christopher Feghali scored pole of Britian’s Jacob Ashcroft, the 9 year old making his International debut. Poland’s Juliusz Ociepa shared the 2nd row with DHR driver Georges Nassar.
Friday saw a pair of heats with Feghali taking a pair of lights to flag wins. The opening heats saw him pushed hard by Ociepa, with the pair working together, crossing the line just a tenth apart. Martim Marques came home 3rd, but almost 6 seconds behind when the flag fell. Max Sadurski and Nassar were in a drag race to the line for 5th, while Ashcroft would loose out at the start but battled back to finish his first heat 6th on the road.
Heat 2 wouldn’t go any better for Ashcroft, as he would end up just missing out on the grid closing along with 3 other drivers after a mad dash to adjust the kart to changing weather conditions. Meanwhile, Feghali would take his second win, this time by almost 8 seconds. The fight for 2nd was much closer, with Matej Semec, Toms Strele, Max Sadurski and Mees Houben covered by less than a second at the flag. .
Saturday’s final heat would see Feghali make it 3 wins from 3 heats. This time Ashcroft would have a much better run, chasing home his team mate in 2nd after a 5 second penalty for Ociepa to 4th behind Sadurski. Those results gave Feghali pole for the pre-final alongside Sadurski while Ociepe and Strele held the 2nd row. Nassar would end up 5th on the grid with Ashcroft having a lot of work to do from 11th.
And work he did, within the first 2 laps, he had managed to get himself into 3rd and set about hunting down Feghali and Sadurski in front. With 2 laps to go, Ashcroft was trying to make his move for 2nd, despite his best efforts, Sadurski and being bolted to the Dutch driver’s bumper he would cross the line in 3rd while Feghali would take yet another win on route to a perfect weekend. All that stood between him and victory was the 11 lap final.
This time, he would have to work hard for the win. Feghali would hold the high ground early on, but was chased hard by Houben, Ashcroft and Sandurski. The top 4 were inseparable, as Aschroft and Houben squabbled over 2nd position. Then came their chance, the chasers saw their chance and deposed Feghali of the lead just passed half way, the first time that the Lebonese driver had lost the lead all weekend. Ashcroft would take the lead with just a couple of laps to go, but it was short lived as Feghali found his feet and was able to take the lead back with 4 laps to run.
Aschroft and Sandurski reignited their battle for 2nd, the duo being nose to tail for much of the final tour, but all that did was allow Feghali to get clear at the front, allowing him to win the Rotax International Trophy in Micro max. Ashcroft would come home an impressive 2nd on his international debut, with Sandurski following him home in 3rd. Houben would finish the day 4th just over 10 seconds clear of Ociepa who completed the top 5.
