AL AIN // It ultimately may not have been the podium finish that he had hoped for going into the competition, but Maurits Knopjes was content with his seventh-place finish in the final of the DD2 Masters at the Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals at Al Ain Raceway on Saturday.
The Dubai-based Dutchman, who was driving for Team UAE, had been forced to take part in a Last Chance race on Friday just to get a spot on the grid after spinning out of his final qualifying heat.
After finishing 16th from 29th on the grid for the pre-final that decided the starting line-up for the final, he charged up the order in the title-deciding race.
"I was hoping for even more [than seventh] but if you had said to me beforehand I would be going from 29th to seventh I would have been very happy," the 39 year old said. "We had a great race and hopefully next year I will be few spots farther up."
Knopjes and Arnaud Bouf, the Frenchman who also made it to the final of the DD2 Masters category, were the only UAE representatives to race Saturday.
It was a frustrating day for Bouf, who had started one place behind Knopjes on the grid, as a first lap collision saw him lose ground.
He finished back in 26th place.
"I got stuck on the kerb with one wheel on the dirt, so I could not rejoin quickly," Bouf said. "I pushed as hard as I could, but I bent my front wheel so the kart was not as fast."
The 39 year old was not downbeat about the disappointing end to the championship, and said he was a better driver as a result of the competition.
"With the level of competition in the UAE we have gained in one week two years of experience, as you have to push so hard to find the 10ths to compete against the top drivers," Bouf said.