Maltese-Italian driver Nicolo’ Cacciatore enjoyed a highly successful racing weekend in the UAE, securing two podium finishes across two different Rotax categories at Al Ain International Raceway.
Competing on 25–26 September 2026 in the Rotax Max Challenge UAE Invitational – DD2 Class, Nicolo’ fought back from a difficult start to the weekend to claim an impressive third place on the podium, finishing behind two experienced DD2 Masters, Tony Hogg and Mauritz Knopjes.
During the DD2 weekend, Nicolo’ had the technical support of Mumbai Falcons Racing UAE, whose assistance contributed to his race weekend programme.
The result was particularly significant considering the experience of the two drivers ahead of him. During last year’s RMC DD2 Masters competition, Mauritz Knopjes won the DD2 Masters competition, while Tony Hogg finished runner-up.
A Difficult Start – Followed by a Strong Recovery
The racing weekend at Al Ain International Raceway did not begin as Nicolo’ had hoped.
During Friday’s sessions, the driver struggled to find the right pace and experienced significant instability entering the corners. Problems with the front-to-rear brake bias affected the kart’s balance, making it difficult for Nicolo’ to attack the corners with the confidence and consistency required.
Despite these difficulties, Nicolo’ managed to recover during qualifying and secured P4, giving himself a solid starting position for the heats.
The Heat, however, brought another setback.
A poor start, combined with being caught behind a very slow Mauritz Knopjes, dropped Nicolo’ down to P6, a position he also carried through the Pre-Final.
14 Laps – 19 Kilometres – One Final Fight
The Final again started badly for Nicolo’.
Another difficult launch saw him drop to P7, putting him in a challenging position with 14 laps and approximately 19 kilometres of racing ahead.
But Nicolo’ remained focused.
Lap after lap, he continued to fight, maintaining his concentration and looking for every opportunity to move forward. His persistence eventually paid off dramatically.
With only four laps remaining, Hashisho Hamza, who was running in third position, was forced to retire after losing his throttle cable and having to park his DD2 at the side of the circuit.
Nicolo’ inherited the position and crossed the finish line in an unexpected but hard-earned P3.
After starting the Final in seventh position, the result represented a remarkable recovery and gave Nicolo’ his first podium of the 2026–2027 Rotax Max Challenge season.
SECOND PODIUM OF THE WEEKEND
The Rotax racing action continued on Sunday, 27 September 2026, with the Rotax Racing Club 2026–2027 Championship.
For the first time, Nicolo’ competed in the Senior Heavy category, facing a completely different challenge.
Once again, the weekend did not begin smoothly.
Mechanical issues appeared immediately during Practice 1, forcing the team to work quickly to identify and resolve the problem before qualifying.
The issues were successfully addressed, allowing Nicolo’ to continue with the race programme.
Nicolo’ then delivered a consistent performance across all three races:
- Race 1 – P4
- Race 2 – P3
- Race 3 – P3
The consistent results were enough to secure another P3 overall podium, with Mohammed Al Hammadi and Greg Watt taking the positions ahead.
TWO PODIUMS – TWO DIFFERENT CHALLENGES
With two podiums achieved during the weekend, Nicolo’ demonstrated his ability to recover from difficult situations and remain competitive even when the racing conditions and machinery are not perfect.
The DD2 result was particularly notable, with Nicolo’ recovering from P7 in the Final to P3, while Sunday’s Senior Heavy competition saw him adapt to a new category and immediately establish himself among the front runners.
The weekend therefore closes with two podiums for Nicolo’ Cacciatore, providing an encouraging start to his 2026–2027 Rotax racing season in the UAE.
