Portimao:Team Bahrain is gearing up to compete in the prestigious 2026 Rotax MAX Challenge Grand Finals (RMCGF) in Portugal, with five champion karters representing the nation. The event, a key fixture in the grassroots motorsports calendar, will take place from November 7 to 14 at the Kartodromo Internacional do Algarve in Portimao.
According to Bahrain News Agency, Team Bahrain's lineup includes Enzo Younes in the Micro MAX class, Faisal Alnajjar in the Mini MAX, Shaikh Ahmed bin Saqer Al Khalifa in the Junior MAX, Demir Abali in the Senior MAX, and Rakan Alfayez in the DD2 MAX. These karters are supported by the Bahrain International Circuit and the Bahrain Motor Federation.
Each member of the team has achieved significant success in the Bahrain Rotax MAX Challenge. Enzo, Shaikh Ahmed, Abali, and Alfayez secured titles in their respective categories during the 2025-26 season, while Faisal Alnajjar was a vice-champion. The Bahraini team is part of a competitive field of over 400 karters from more than 60 countries.
In addition to the categories Bahrain's karters will compete in, the RMCGF will feature races in the DD2 Masters and three electric classes, including E10 Mini, E20 Senior, and E20 Masters. A Welcome Party and drivers' presentation will kick off the event on November 7, followed by a raffle of karts on November 8, and the commencement of racing on November 9.
The competition format includes Non-Qualifying Practice sessions, Qualifying Practices on November 11, and Qualifying Heats on November 12 and 13, culminating in the Pre-Finals. The Finals are scheduled for November 14, concluding the event.
This year's RMCGF follows the successful 2025 edition held at Bahrain International Karting Circuit, marking Bahrain's third time hosting the event in recent years, after 2021 and 2023.