Rotax Max Challenge
Encyclopedia
The Rotax Max Challenge (RMC) is a kart racing
series owned and organized worldwide by BRP-Rotax
and its distributors, approved and in compliance with CIK-FIA
. Competition takes place on a national, international and continental level which culminates in the Grand Finals once a year.
kart engines are allowed. The success in the competition is mainly up to the skills of the driver and that driver's experience in the set up of the engine and the chassis.
Three race classes are recognized for international competition:
Competition at the national level can include additional classes at the discretion of each national RMC. For example, the US RMC includes the following classes:
Authorised distributors of Rotax kart products offer their customers a national RMC programme according to the “Rotax Sporting and Technical Regulations” defined by BRP-Rotax. This results in a fair competition between kart racers that share the same interests.
National Rotax Max Challenge:
International / Continental Rotax Max Challenge competitions:
Out of all national as well as continental and international series, drivers qualify for the annual RMC Grand Finals, which is an invitational race. BRP-Rotax and its partners supply all engines and karts for the event.
event. Drivers can qualify for the RMC Grand Final via the national Challenge of their home country and the international RMC. The season's winners of each class of all national RMCs and of the international RMC participate free of cost.
The basic intention of the RMC Grand Finals is to apply the Olympic spirit to an international semi-professional kart racing series. Every year, competitors from more than 50 countries, from five continents, can qualify for the annual Grand Finals of the Rotax Max Challenge.
with 66 drivers representing 19 countries.
In 2001, finalists were invited to the tropical island of Langkawi
in Malaysia. That year, 68 drivers from 29 countries compete for the RMC "world champion" title.
South Africa
hosted the Grand Finals in 2002, on a track just outside Pretoria
. Drivers from 33 different nations were vying for the gold.
In 2003, the Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals moved to Egypt
. That year, the Junior category was introduced. It was also the company's first time cooperating with a chassis manufacturer in order to supply comparable karts to the competitors. The Junior category raced on a 'single make' chassis supplied by CRG while the seniors raced on their private chassis. This move increased the number of participants to almost 100, representing close to 40 different countries.
The volcanic island of Lanzarote
in Spain
welcomed the 5th Grand Finals in 2004. That event saw for the first time all competitors racing on supplied 'single make' chassis provided by CRG for the Junior category and by BRP-Rotax
for the Senior category. Another milestone was the first use by the senior category of the Rotax RM1 chassis with the new 2-speed shifter engine–the 125 MAX DD2.
The Grand Finals returned to Malaysia in 2005. This time, BRP-Rotax presented an even larger event by running three categories: Junior MAX, Senior MAX and the RM1 shifter (now DD2). The event attracted 140 drivers from 43 nations.
Viana do Castelo in Portugal
was the host of the 2006 edition of the RMC Grand Finals and reached a record 186 participants from about 50 countries.
In 2007, the 8th RMC Grand Finals took place at the Al Ain Raceway, a modern and brand new kart racing facility in Al Ain
, United Arab Emirates
operated by Pro Motorsports / Al Ain Sportplex.
In 2008, the racing event moved to the track of La Conca–Muro Leccese
, Italy
, with 216 drivers. La Conca is one the best karting facilities on earth, located 80 km south of Brindisi
and close to the city of Otranto in the beautiful region of Apulia.
The 2009 edition took place in December on the desert track of Ghibli Raceway Sharm el-Sheikh
, Egypt
. For 2010 the event is heading towards the south of Italy again. At this event the first time 252 drivers will participate as a new category the 125 DD2 MASTERS was added, which is a category for the +32 years old.
Kart racing
Kart racing or karting is a variant of open-wheel motorsport with small, open, four-wheeled vehicles called karts, go-karts, or gearbox/shifter karts depending on the design. They are usually raced on scaled-down circuits...
series owned and organized worldwide by BRP-Rotax
Bombardier Recreational Products
Bombardier Recreational Products or BRP is a Canadian company that traces its roots back to the year 1942 when Joseph-Armand Bombardier founded L'Auto-Neige Bombardier Limitée in Valcourt in the Eastern Townships, Quebec.In 2003, Bombardier Inc...
and its distributors, approved and in compliance with CIK-FIA
Commission Internationale de Karting
The Commission Internationale de Karting is the primary international sanctioning body for Kart racing. It was founded in 1962, and is headquartered in Paris, France. In 2000, it joined with the FIA. Its most important event is the Karting World Championship.CIK's current president, Luigi...
. Competition takes place on a national, international and continental level which culminates in the Grand Finals once a year.
Concept
The RMC follows a "one-make-engine" formula: only Rotax MaxRotax Max
The Rotax Max is a two-stroke engine designed by Rotax, part of Bombardier Recreational Products , to provide cost-effective but high speed kart racing. Built in Austria, the engine is liquid cooled, equipped with a balance shaft, integrated water pump, electric starter and centrifugal clutch...
kart engines are allowed. The success in the competition is mainly up to the skills of the driver and that driver's experience in the set up of the engine and the chassis.
Three race classes are recognized for international competition:
- Junior MAX, with 20.4 hp (13–16 years of age)
- MAX, with 28.5 hp (15 years and older)
- DD2, 2 speed shifter class with 32.6 hp (15 years and older)
Competition at the national level can include additional classes at the discretion of each national RMC. For example, the US RMC includes the following classes:
- Micro MAX, with 6.8 hp (7–10 years of age)
- Mini MAX, with 13.5 hp (9–12 years of age)
- Junior MAX, with 20.4 hp (13–16 years of age)
- Senior MAX, with 28.5 hp (15 years and older)
- Masters MAX, with 28.5 hp (32 years and older)
- DD2 MAX, 2 speed shifter class with 32.6 hp (15 years and older)
Authorised distributors of Rotax kart products offer their customers a national RMC programme according to the “Rotax Sporting and Technical Regulations” defined by BRP-Rotax. This results in a fair competition between kart racers that share the same interests.
National Rotax Max Challenge:
- nearly 7,500 active Rotax MAX drivers in the RMC programme as well as another 7,500 active drivers in race series following the RMC idea.
- competing in over 55 countries on all 5 continents around the globe
International / Continental Rotax Max Challenge competitions:
- Rotax MAX Euro Challenge (over 150 drivers participating)
- Rotax MAX Asia Challenge (Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Japan, China, Singapore)
- Rotax MAX Pan America & Caribbean Challenge
Out of all national as well as continental and international series, drivers qualify for the annual RMC Grand Finals, which is an invitational race. BRP-Rotax and its partners supply all engines and karts for the event.
RMC Grand Finals
The Grand Finals of the RMC is an international CIKCommission Internationale de Karting
The Commission Internationale de Karting is the primary international sanctioning body for Kart racing. It was founded in 1962, and is headquartered in Paris, France. In 2000, it joined with the FIA. Its most important event is the Karting World Championship.CIK's current president, Luigi...
event. Drivers can qualify for the RMC Grand Final via the national Challenge of their home country and the international RMC. The season's winners of each class of all national RMCs and of the international RMC participate free of cost.
The basic intention of the RMC Grand Finals is to apply the Olympic spirit to an international semi-professional kart racing series. Every year, competitors from more than 50 countries, from five continents, can qualify for the annual Grand Finals of the Rotax Max Challenge.
History
The first edition of the Grand Finals took place in 2000 on the island of Puerto RicoPuerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
with 66 drivers representing 19 countries.
In 2001, finalists were invited to the tropical island of Langkawi
Langkawi
Langkawi, officially known as Langkawi, the Jewel of Kedah is an archipelago of 104 islands in the Andaman Sea, some 30 km off the mainland coast of northwestern Malaysia. The islands are a part of the state of Kedah, which is adjacent to the Thai border...
in Malaysia. That year, 68 drivers from 29 countries compete for the RMC "world champion" title.
South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
hosted the Grand Finals in 2002, on a track just outside Pretoria
Pretoria
Pretoria is a city located in the northern part of Gauteng Province, South Africa. It is one of the country's three capital cities, serving as the executive and de facto national capital; the others are Cape Town, the legislative capital, and Bloemfontein, the judicial capital.Pretoria is...
. Drivers from 33 different nations were vying for the gold.
In 2003, the Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals moved to Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
. That year, the Junior category was introduced. It was also the company's first time cooperating with a chassis manufacturer in order to supply comparable karts to the competitors. The Junior category raced on a 'single make' chassis supplied by CRG while the seniors raced on their private chassis. This move increased the number of participants to almost 100, representing close to 40 different countries.
The volcanic island of Lanzarote
Lanzarote
Lanzarote , a Spanish island, is the easternmost of the autonomous Canary Islands, in the Atlantic Ocean, approximately 125 km off the coast of Africa and 1,000 km from the Iberian Peninsula. Covering 845.9 km2, it stands as the fourth largest of the islands...
in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
welcomed the 5th Grand Finals in 2004. That event saw for the first time all competitors racing on supplied 'single make' chassis provided by CRG for the Junior category and by BRP-Rotax
Bombardier Recreational Products
Bombardier Recreational Products or BRP is a Canadian company that traces its roots back to the year 1942 when Joseph-Armand Bombardier founded L'Auto-Neige Bombardier Limitée in Valcourt in the Eastern Townships, Quebec.In 2003, Bombardier Inc...
for the Senior category. Another milestone was the first use by the senior category of the Rotax RM1 chassis with the new 2-speed shifter engine–the 125 MAX DD2.
The Grand Finals returned to Malaysia in 2005. This time, BRP-Rotax presented an even larger event by running three categories: Junior MAX, Senior MAX and the RM1 shifter (now DD2). The event attracted 140 drivers from 43 nations.
Viana do Castelo in Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
was the host of the 2006 edition of the RMC Grand Finals and reached a record 186 participants from about 50 countries.
In 2007, the 8th RMC Grand Finals took place at the Al Ain Raceway, a modern and brand new kart racing facility in Al Ain
Al Ain
Al Ain |Spring]]), also known as the Garden City due to its greenery, is the second largest city in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and the fourth largest city in the United Arab Emirates. With a population of 374,000 , it is located approximately 160 km east of the capital Abu Dhabi and about...
, United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates, abbreviated as the UAE, or shortened to "the Emirates", is a state situated in the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia on the Persian Gulf, bordering Oman, and Saudi Arabia, and sharing sea borders with Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and Iran.The UAE is a...
operated by Pro Motorsports / Al Ain Sportplex.
In 2008, the racing event moved to the track of La Conca–Muro Leccese
Muro Leccese
Muro Leccese is a town and comune in the province of Lecce in the Apulia region of south-east Italy....
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, with 216 drivers. La Conca is one the best karting facilities on earth, located 80 km south of Brindisi
Brindisi
Brindisi is a city in the Apulia region of Italy, the capital of the province of Brindisi, off the coast of the Adriatic Sea.Historically, the city has played an important role in commerce and culture, due to its position on the Italian Peninsula and its natural port on the Adriatic Sea. The city...
and close to the city of Otranto in the beautiful region of Apulia.
The 2009 edition took place in December on the desert track of Ghibli Raceway Sharm el-Sheikh
Sharm el-Sheikh
Sharm el-Sheikh is a city situated on the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula, in South Sinai Governorate, Egypt, on the coastal strip along the Red Sea. Its population is approximately 35,000...
, Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
. For 2010 the event is heading towards the south of Italy again. At this event the first time 252 drivers will participate as a new category the 125 DD2 MASTERS was added, which is a category for the +32 years old.
Winners
| Year | Driver | Class | Event Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 |  Gavin CronjeGavin Cronje Gavin Cronje is a South African racing driver. He has competed in such series as Euroseries 3000 and the Formula Renault 3.5 Series. He won the inaugural Formula Volkswagen South Africa Championship in 2008 with Morgado Racing. He was runner-up in the 2009 Formula Le Mans Cup season to DAMS... |
MAX | Puerto Rico Puerto Rico Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an... |
| 2001 |  Claudio Piazza-Musso |
MAX | Malaysia |
| 2002 | Mark Cronje |
MAX | South Africa South Africa The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans... |
| 2003 | Cristiano Morgado Cristiano Morgado Cristiano Morgado is a South African race car driver of Portuguese descent residing in Durban, South Africa. His racing achievements to date include winning the Rotax Max World Championship in 2004 and the European Championship the following year in the RM1 class... |
MAX | Egypt Egypt Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world... |
 Omar Martin |
Junior | ||
| 2004 | Wesleigh Orr |
RM1 | Spain Spain Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula... |
 Sam Ghalleb |
MAX Masters | ||
| Benjamin Salvatore |
Junior | ||
| 2006 |  Ben George |
DD2 | Portugal Portugal Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the... |
 Ricardo Romkema |
MAX | ||
 Luc Sauriol |
MAX Masters | ||
 Jorrit Pex |
Junior | ||
| United Kingdom | Nations Cup | ||
| 2007 | Pier-Luc Ouellette |
DD2 | UAE United Arab Emirates The United Arab Emirates, abbreviated as the UAE, or shortened to "the Emirates", is a state situated in the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia on the Persian Gulf, bordering Oman, and Saudi Arabia, and sharing sea borders with Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and Iran.The UAE is a... |
| Christophe Adams |
DD2 Masters | ||
 Benjy Russell |
MAX | ||
| Colin Davis |
MAX Masters | ||
 Kevin KorjusKevin Korjus -Karting:Korjus made his pan-European karting début in 2006, competing in the Rotax Max Euro Challenge for the AGS Racing team. He finished sixth overall in the championship standings, 25 points behind the champion Jack Hawksworth. As well as that, he finished thirteenth in the Challenge finals, as... |
Junior | ||
| Canada | Nations Cup | ||
| 2008 | Leeroy Poulter |
DD2 | Italy Italy Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and... |
| Dennis Kroes |
DD2 Masters | ||
| Ben Cooper |
MAX | ||
 Martin Pierce |
MAX Masters | ||
 Facundo Chapur |
Junior | ||
| United Kingdom | Nations Cup | ||
| 2009 | Caleb Williams |
DD2 | Egypt Egypt Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world... |
| Jesus Santander |
DD2 Masters | ||
| Luke Varley |
MAX | ||
| Christophe Adams |
MAX Masters | ||
 Ukyo Sasahara |
Junior | ||
| United Kingdom | Nations Cup |