Mumbai’s rising karting talent Kiaan Shah delivered a commanding performance at Round 1 of the prestigious Meco Meritus Cup in Bengaluru, clinching the Rotax Senior category lead after an impressive weekend at the Madras International Karting Arena.
Fresh from his podium success at the RMC Asia Trophy in Thailand, the 15-year-old continued his strong run of form by winning Race 1 and securing second place in Race 2, earning maximum consistency points to top the Senior standings.
Representing Rayo Racing, Kiaan showcased exceptional pace, racecraft, and composure throughout the weekend against a highly competitive field.
Starting third in Race 1, Kiaan wasted no time moving into contention. By the fourth corner of the opening lap, he executed a decisive overtake to snatch the lead and quickly built a comfortable gap over the chasing pack. Chennai’s Eshanth Vengatesan moved into second early on, but Kiaan remained untouchable to seal a dominant victory.
Race 2 saw another strong start from the Mumbai driver as he climbed from third to second in the opening moments. However, contact from behind at Turn 2 pushed him back and cost valuable ground. Despite the setback, Kiaan fought back strongly to finish second and secure overall honours for the round.
The stellar performance ensured Kiaan finished at the top of the Rotax Senior leaderboard with 32 points, narrowly ahead of Bengaluru’s Akshat Misra.
The result also marked a memorable weekend for Rayo Racing, which celebrated a double success with Atharva Hemani winning the Rotax Micro category.
Speaking after the race weekend, National Champion Aditya Patnaik praised Kiaan’s performance and growth as a racer.
“Kiaan raced really well and we are very impressed with how he is developing,” said Patnaik.
Saurav Bandopadhyay, CEO of Rayo Racing, highlighted the team’s focus on mental preparation and performance development.
“We have been spending a lot of time working on the psychology and mindset of our racers. That has started to show results,” he said.
With momentum firmly on his side, Kiaan Shah now looks ahead to the upcoming rounds of the championship as one of the standout contenders in India’s senior motorsport scene.
