The Rotax® MAX Challenge TM (RMC) began in 1999 as a "playground" for ambitious leisure kart drivers. Today, it has become the most prestigious event in the world of professional karting. The GRAND FINALS are the absolute highlight of the race season where drivers from different nations and continents gather to crown the best amongst them. As part of the Rotax MAX Challenge, the GRAND FINALS have grown every year since its debut. Let us go back in history.
The first edition of the GRAND FINALS took place in 2000 on the wonderful island of Puerto Rico with 66 drivers in the "125 MAX" class representing 19 countries. In 2001 the 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 (class "125 MAX"). 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 "125 Junior MAX" 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 volcano 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 "125 Junior MAX" category and by BRP-Rotax for the "125 MAX" category. The GRAND FINALS returned to Malaysia in 2005. This time, BRP-Rotax presented an even larger event by running three categories: "125 Junior MAX"; "125 MAX" and the "125 MAX DD2". The event attracted 140 drivers from 43 nations, a new sponsor, Swiss Hutless from Switzerland who supplied 55 raceready chassis for the "125 Junior MAX" category, while the "125 MAX" used the CRG chassis.
BRP-Rotax also introduced the newly designed MOJO® tyres on this international platform. Viana do Castelo in Portugal was the host of the 2006 edition of the RMC GRAND FINALS and reached a record 186 participants from close to 50 countries. In 2007, we arrived at
another great event in Al Ain in the United Arab Emirates: 216 drivers from more than 50 countries from all five continents went looking for victory in the "125 Junior MAX", "125 MAX" and "125 MAX DD2" categories using chassis signed by CRG and INTREPID, two of the most prestigious European chassis manufacturers.
This year the 2008GRAND FINALS will again be hosted on European ground. This time Italy, unquestionably the home of karting - will host the "Karting Olympics" of the world's top race series.
GRAND FINALS - HALL OF FAME
2000 Puerto Rico MAX category:
1. Gavin Cronje
2. Leeroy Poulter
3. William Yarwood
2001 Malaysia MAX category:
1. Claudio P-Musso
2. Scott Auld
3. Martin Pierce
2002 South Africa MAX category:
1. Mark Cronje (ZA),
2. Ian Parsons (UK),
3. Claudio Piazza-Musso (ZA)
2003 Egypt MAX category:
1. Christiano Morgado (RSA),
2. Riccardo Van der Ende (NL),
3. Adrian Estasy (AUS)
JUNIOR category:
1. Omar Martin (ESP),
2. Bruno Serra (POR),
3. Wiann Swart (RSA)
2004 Lanzarote/Spain RM1 category (following years DD2):
1. Wesleigh ORR (RSA)
2. Cristiano MORGADO (RSA)
3. Tristram OMAN (UK)
MAX Masters category:
1. Sam Ghalleb (France)
2. Jan Andreasen (Denmark)
3. Manolis Tzamariadakis (Greece)
JUNIOR category:
1. Benjamin SALVATORE (F)
2. Adam CHRISTODOULOU (UK)
3. Earl BAMBER (NZ)
2005 Malaysia DD2 category:
1. Wesleigh ORR (RSA)
2.. Cristiano MORGADO (RSA)
3. Alexandre ENGELS (Belgium)
MAX category:
1. Luuk GLANSDORP (NL)
2. Rama Danindro (Indonesia)
3. Martin PIERCE (Great Britain)
MAX Master Class:
1. SATYA RASA (Indonesia)
2. MANOLIS TZAMARIADAKIS (Greece)
3. PEDRO LOURES (Portugal)
JUNIOR category:
1. Kenneth HILDEBRAND (Estonia)
2. Daniel SCHELLNEGGER (Austria)
3. Kazuki HIRAMINE (Japan)
2006 Portugal DD2 category:
1. Ben George (Austria)
2. Michael Simpson (United Kingdom)
3. Marwan Al Tayer (UAE)
MAX category:
1. Ricardo Romkema (Netherlands)
2. Mike Joossens (Netherlands)
3. Mikhail Mitrokhin (Russia)
MAX Master Class:
1. Luc Sauriol (Canada)
2. Euripides Hatzistefanis (Greece)
3. Esa Pekkanen (Finland)
JUNIOR category:
1. Jorrit Pex (Belgium)
2. Jack Hawksworth (United Kingdom)
3. Daniel Schellnegger (Austria)
2007 UAE DD2 category:
1. Ouellette, Pier-Luc (Canada)
2. Riche, Morgan (France)
3. Kubo, Makoto (Japan)
DD2 Masters category:
1. Adams, Christophe (Belgium)
2. Fiorucci, Olivier (France)
3. Pansart, Guy (France)
MAX category:
1. Russell, Benjy (United Kingdom)
2. Romkema, Ricardo (Netherlands)
3. Simpson, Mike (United Kingdom)
MAX Master category:
1. Davis, Colin (United Kingdom)
2. Bourquard, Jerome (France)
3. Sauriol, Luc (Canada)
JUNIOR category:
1. Korjus, Kevin (Estonia)
2. Fujie, Ryuya (Japan)
3. Williams, Caleb (South Africa)
NATIONS CUP:
1. Canada
2. South Africa
3. Australia |
