Kush Maini

Kush Maini (born September 22, 2000)[1] is an Indian Formula 4 racing driver. He got his first taste of winning in 2010 when he took part in a Yamaha race in Malaysia. The following year, he returned to India to compete in the National Karting Championship, where he swept the Micro Max category, dominating all six races en route to the title. The big breakthrough came when he jumped to World Series Karting in 2013. Maini immediately impressed, finishing second overall in the Euro Series category and third in the Masters category, including a win at La Conca International Circuit. Further, he finished fourth in the WSK’s Gold Cup, and won the Trofeo Margutti, becoming the first Asian driver to get his hands on the prestigious title.[2]

Early life

Kush comes from a family of racers, with brother Arjun Maini, an established Formula 3 racing driver and father Gautam, who raced at the Formula India Single Seater Maruti Engine (FISSME) at the National Racing Championship in the late 90s.[3] Kush started karting in the 2007 when he was 7 years old. His first experience at the Kart was at the tender age of 5 yrs. He took part in the Asia Max Challenge 2008 held in Malaysia & Indonesia and was also on the podium. He also participated in the J.K. Tyre Rotax Mojo Max Challenge 2008 & 2009 and had two podium finishes.[4] The Indian got his first taste of winning in 2010 when he took part in a Yamaha race in Malaysia. The following year, he returned to India to compete in the National Karting Championship, where he swept the Micro Max category, dominating all six races en route to the title. He followed this triumph by finishing runners-up in the Junior Max category of the championship in 2012. This feat was made to look all the more impressive by the fact that he was the youngest driver in the category.[2]

Apart from his karting duties, Maini has also been in action in other parts of the world. Some of the highlights from the year include victories in Trofeo G. Pagliuca and Indonesia Kart Prix, and a couple of second place finishes in Trofeo D' Estate and Trofeo del Garda in Italy.[2]

Kush, still a teenager has other passions apart from racing such as Athletics,swimming,cycling,soccer and skating. It is also known that Kush idolises legendary Formula 1 driver, Ayrton Senna.[1]

Career

2007

Kush started karting in 2007, at the age of 7.[4]

2008

He took part in the Asia Max Challenge 2008 held in Malaysia & Indonesia and was also on the podium. Later that year Kush also participated in the J.K. Tyre Rotax Mojo Max Challenge 2008, where he gained a podium finish.[4]

2009

Kush once again participated in the J.K. Tyre Rotax Mojo Max Challenge 2008, where he gained a podium finish.[4]

2010

The Indian got his first taste of winning in 2010 when he took part in a Yamaha race in Malaysia.[2]

2011

Kush returned to India to compete in the National Karting Championship, where he swept the Micro Max category, dominating all six races en route to the title.[2]

2012

Kush finished runners-up in the Junior Max category of the championship in 2012. This feat was made to look all the more impressive by the fact that he was the youngest driver in the category.[2]

2013

The big breakthrough came when he jumped to World Series Karting in 2013. Maini immediately impressed, finishing second overall in the Euro Series category and third in the Masters category, including a win at La Conca International Circuit.[2] He also managed an overall second place in the World Series Karting( WSK )Euro Championship for 60 mini for 2013, as this is the regarded as the highest Level of Karting in the World.[5]

2014

In 2014, the talented youngster blazed his way to 4th overall in the CIK-FIA World Karting Championship,with this he became the youngest ever Indian to finish in the top 5 of a world championship. Kush also became the Vice-Champion of the Gold Cup and also became the first Asian to win the Trofeo Andrea Margutti, which was conducted earlier in the year. Kush also managed the most number of fastest laps and pole positions at the 2014 J.K.Tyre Rotax Junior Max National Karting Championship.[6]

2015

In 2015, the 15-year-old had a successful final year in karting as he claimed the Trofeo Andrea Margutti KFJ title as well as a fourth place in WSK Champions Cup.[7] He also won the prestigious Trofeo Margutti Trophy, in Italy. This win made him the first Asian to win this competition after 26 years.[8]

2016

Kush will compete in the SMP Formula 4 championship along with a full campaign in the newly launched Spanish Formula 4 championship.[9]

References

  1. 1 2 "Kush Maini | JK Racing India Series". www.jktyremotorsport.com. Retrieved 2016-02-17.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Kush Maini: Following in his brother's footsteps". Motorsport.com. Retrieved 2016-02-17.
  3. ↑ "Maini siblings on fast track". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 2016-02-17.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "Red Rooster Racing - India's leading professional motorsports company". www.redroosterracing.com. Retrieved 2016-02-17.
  5. ↑ "Vrooming to the finish". The Hindu. 2015-12-12. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2016-02-17.
  6. ↑ "KUSH MAINI". kushmaini.com. Retrieved 2016-02-17.
  7. ↑ "Kush Maini to take on double programme in SMP F4 and Spanish F4 | PaddockScout". www.paddockscout.com. Retrieved 2016-02-17.
  8. ↑ "Kush Maini lifts title in Italy". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 2016-02-17.
  9. ↑ Ragav, S. Dipak. "Kush Maini embarks on a new journey". Sportstarlive. Retrieved 2016-02-17.
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