Mahi Maru’s 2026 National Kart Cup Season Report

Eleven-year-old Mahi Maru has completed her first full season of owner-driver karting, competing nationally in the highly competitive Inter Max class with Nibsport Racing.

The six-round National Kart Cup took Mahi to some of Britain’s most challenging circuits, including Dunkeswell, Rowrah, Whilton Mill, Shenington, Warden Law and Clay Pigeon.

Mahi finished 14th in the 2026 Inter Max Championship, scoring 1,067 points across the season and 910 championship points after dropped scores. The championship standings list 24 drivers who competed during the year. View the official Alpha Timing standings⁠.

Round-by-round report

Mahi’s season began at Dunkeswell, where she faced her first national championship weekend as an owner-driver. She completed all three heats before finishing P19 in the final. Although she completed 12 of the scheduled 15 laps, the weekend provided valuable experience and an important benchmark for the season ahead. Dunkeswell results⁠.

At Rowrah, Mahi delivered one of the standout drives of her season. Starting the final from P17, she gained seven positions to cross the line in P10. It was her first top-ten national result and demonstrated how quickly she was learning to race within a competitive Inter Max field. Rowrah results⁠.

Round Three took place at Whilton Mill alongside the prestigious O Plate. Mahi recorded P18, P18 and P16 across the heats before finishing P16 in the final. A five-second front-fairing penalty affected the final classification, but she completed all 16 laps and gained further experience at one of the country’s leading circuits. Whilton Mill results⁠.

Her progress continued at Shenington. After finishing P15, P15 and P12 in the heats, Mahi started the final from P14 and raced forward to P12. She completed all 17 laps and secured her second-best final result of the championship. Shenington results⁠.

At Warden Law, Mahi worked through a demanding weekend to finish P15 in the final. Starting from P19, she gained four places and completed every lap, showing resilience and determination when the weekend did not begin as planned. Warden Law results⁠.

The championship concluded at Clay Pigeon, where Mahi achieved her best individual race result of the season with P9 in Heat Three. She then started the 21-lap final from P17 and brought the kart home in P15, gaining two positions and completing the full race distance. Clay Pigeon results⁠.

Season summary

Across six rounds, Mahi reached every final, recorded a top-ten final finish and improved from results outside the top 20 at the opening round to regularly competing around the middle of the field.

Her strongest achievements included:

• 14th overall in the championship
• Six finals reached from six rounds
• Best final result: P10 at Rowrah
• Best individual race result: P9 at Clay Pigeon
• Five consecutive full-distance final finishes
• Seven positions gained in the Rowrah final
• No missed championship rounds

NKC rules require every driver to drop their three lowest heat or super-heat scores and their lowest final score, explaining the difference between Mahi’s total points and her official championship tally. View the 2026 NKC regulations⁠.

For Mahi, this season was about far more than the final championship position. It marked her first complete year learning the technical, physical and mental demands of owner-driver karting. She has developed her racecraft, confidence, consistency and understanding of the kart while competing against experienced national drivers.

Finishing 14th in her debut national season gives Mahi a strong foundation to build upon as she continues working towards her ultimate ambition of reaching F1 Academy and, one day, Formula 1.

Mahi Maru’s 2026 Jamie Chadwick Series Race Report

Alongside her first national owner-driver season in Inter Max, eleven-year-old Mahi Maru has continued competing in the female-only Jamie Chadwick Series.

Due to clashes with Mahi’s national racing calendar and F1 Kids commentating commitments, she was unable to attend every round. However, she has achieved a podium at every meeting she has entered, including three victories.

After seven rounds, Mahi sits sixth in the Cadet Championship with 232 points, despite competing in only four meetings. View the official Speedhive standings⁠.

Round Two – Sandown Park

Mahi began her championship campaign at Round Two and immediately made an impact.

She delivered a strong performance across the two heats and final to finish second overall in the Cadet class, earning 51 championship points and securing her first podium of the season.

Round Three – Tamworth

Mahi produced a dominant performance during her first visit to Daytona Tamworth.

She secured pole position with a lap time of 1:07.010 before controlling the race from the front. Mahi also recorded the fastest lap of 1:05.011 and took victory by approximately seven seconds.

Pole position, the fastest lap and race victory earned her a maximum 61-point score.

Round Four – Milton Keynes

Mahi was unable to attend Round Four because it took place on the same weekend as the National Kart Cup and O Plate at Whilton Mill.

Balancing two championships alongside her media work meant some unavoidable date clashes throughout the season.

Round Five – Sandown Park

Mahi returned to Sandown Park and delivered another winning performance.

She finished first in the Cadet class, completing 22 laps and adding another 60 points to her championship total.

This was her second consecutive victory from the rounds she attended and her third podium from three appearances.

Round Six – Tamworth

Round Six became Mahi’s most commanding Jamie Chadwick Series performance of the season.

She won Heat One before extending her advantage and winning Heat Two by approximately five seconds.

Mahi then completed a clean sweep by taking victory in the Cadet Final following a close battle to the chequered flag.

Three victories from three races earned her another 60 championship points and completed a perfect weekend.

Season summary

Across four championship appearances, Mahi has achieved:

• Four podiums from four rounds
• Three round victories
• One second-place finish
• One pole position
• A clean sweep of three race wins at Round Six
• 232 championship points
• Sixth in the provisional Cadet standings
• An average of 58 points per meeting
• A 75% round-winning record

Although national racing and Formula 1 commentating commitments have limited the number of rounds Mahi could attend, she has made every appearance count.

Finishing on the podium at every meeting and winning three of the four rounds she entered demonstrates her pace, consistency and adaptability across different circuits and race formats.

With two rounds remaining, Mahi’s 2026 Jamie Chadwick Series campaign is not yet complete. However, four podiums and three victories from four appearances already represent an outstanding season.