Queensland’s Hamish Campbell has finished as the best-performing Australian driver, securing an impressive seventh place at the inaugural FIA Arrive & Drive World Cup in Malaysia.
Held at the LYL International Circuit, just outside Kuala Lumpur, the event brought together 107 drivers from 50 nations to compete in both Junior and Senior categories using identical OTK-supplied equipment, a format designed to showcase pure driving ability on completely equal machinery.
A challenging qualifying session, after a set-up change failed to deliver the pace expected, left Campbell 36th on the grid. Despite this, he showed strong determination and speed across his three heats. Starting all three qualifying heats from P18, he delivered finishes of 10th, 13th, and 7th, steadily moving forward each time. Having topped the timing charts during a wet morning warm-up, Campbell had hoped for the afternoon storm to arrive in time for the Final, but dry conditions held.
Even so, he clawed his way into contention and lined up 16th for the 17-lap Final. There, Hamish delivered a composed yet assertive drive, matching the pace of the leaders and working his way methodically through the field to secure seventh overall in the final classification.
This result marks another standout international performance for the young Australian, adding to a season in which he has proudly represented his country across multiple FIA and Rotax events around the world.
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“It was a really special event to be part of,” said Hamish. “The format made it all about the driver, no excuses, just pure competition. To finish inside the top ten against such a strong field at a World Cup is something I’m really proud of. I learned a lot this weekend and I’m grateful for the opportunity to represent Australia once again. I’d also like to take this opportunity to thank my sponsors and supporters back home, they have been amazing all year, along with my mechanic Reif, who made the trip over to spanner my buggy for the weekend.”
The FIA Arrive & Drive World Cup was created to promote equality and accessibility in motorsport, with competitors racing identical OTK equipment powered by Vortex engines, placing the emphasis squarely on skill, adaptability, and consistency.
Campbell now turns his attention to the Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals in Bahrain, taking place in just 12 days, where he will once again represent Australia. The event will mark the final race of his junior karting career, closing out a remarkable year of growth, experience, and world-stage achievement.
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