Muizz shifts focus on European and World championships

PETALING JAYA: Muizzuddin Musyaffa Abdul Gafar has given up hope of winning this year’s Italian Karting overall championship.

He is now shifting his attention to next season, targeting success at the prestigious CIK European Karting Championship and the CIK World Championship.

Muizzuddin, who will turn 13 next February, will no longer be eligible for the 60 Mini category for karters between 10 and 13 years old – a category the young Malaysian has made his mark, including winning the overall title for the World Karting Series (WSK) Champions Cup and finishing runner-up in the WSK Masters Series this year.

After garnering 34 points in the opening round at La Conca, his quest for glory in Rounds 2 (Sarno) and 3 (Siena) was marred by racing incidents, which put him out of the races. He was even rushed to hospital in Round 2 after his kart was hit from behind, sending him flying into the air as he was trapped in the machine.

“It is unfortunate that Muizz’s fight for the overall title in this year’s Italian championship is over early,” said his father, Abdul Gafar Abdul Rahiman.

“We’ve decided to skip Round 4 next month. We are taking a break to allow Muizz to focus on his UPSR examination.”

Muizzuddin, who stays in a rented apartment in Sicily with his mother whenever he races, is scheduled to take the UPSR examinations from Sept 9-11.

“After the UPSR, we will return to Italy and start working on building his fitness and physique. We aim to do well in all the remaining races before we start testing with Gamoto Racing on the new, higher-powered KFJ karts,” said Abdul Gafar.

Moving into the KFJ class for juniors between 13-16 next year, he said that Muizzuddin will compete in more races apart from the CIK European Championship, which will be contested over four rounds.

“We are also looking at three rounds of the WSK Champions Cup and three rounds of the WSK Masters Championship,” he said.

“We are also looking at the Rotax Max Euro Challenge, which will run for four rounds as well as five rounds of the CSAI Italian Karting Championship.

“Then, there is the CIK World Championship at the end of the season.”