WORLD KF Championship leader Max Verstappen believes that he is in optimum position to seal the coveted title today when the second and final round of the season wraps up at Bahrain International Karting Circuit in Sakhir.

The Dutch CRG racer secured a spot in the front row for today’s Pre-Final after finishing second in yesterday’s Qualifying Heats behind French ace Dorian Boccolacci.

Verstappen holds a considerable lead in the championship standings over Boccolacci, who is currently ninth; while each of the four drivers positioned right behind him in the top five are all starting further back on the grid.

Second-ranked Nicklas Nielsen of Denmark qualified in seventh position, third-ranked Ben Hanley of Great Britain is set to start 19th, fourth-ranked Egor Stupenkov of Russia will begin the Pre-Final in 26th, while fifth-ranked Lance Stroll of Canada must start in 10th place.

“I think I’m in good position to take the championship,” Verstappen told the GDN last night.

“Nielsen had a crash in the last heat; he’s currently second so for sure he has to start in the middle now.

“Hanley is a bit of the same; he had a bad qualifying and then in the heats had to fight so he may start from the middle as well.

“Also, the guys who are fourth and fifth in the championship are both starting in the middle, so I think it’s looking good for me.

“I just have to keep my focus and do my best.”

Verstappen was pleased with how things turned out in yesterday’s three Qualifying Heats, which, after putting the results together, determined the start grid for today’s Pre-Final.

The results of the Pre-Final will in turn determine the start grid for the Final, which will decide the 2013 season’s champion.

“I had a little problems with the balance of the chassis to begin with, but we figured it out,” Verstappen explained.

“In the first heat, I had a bad first lap as I was fighting for position and went off the track and took to the dirt. I needed two or three laps to clean it and by then the first four drivers were already gone. But it wasn’t too bad as the speed was there.

“In the second heat, I had a good start and I was immediately in fourth and then third. I later caught the first two and I got the lead in the end. We tried something with the chassis so it wasn’t like before, but still, winning the heat was very good.

“Then in the last heat again, a good start, same like the second heat and I was able to win it.

“So, overall very good and I am happy to start second.”

The title in the World KF-Junior Championship will also be determined today in Bahrain.