In light of his 3rd place in 2020 at the prestigious FIA KARTING ACADEMY TROPHY Championship, which aims to uncover the best motorsport talents of tomorrow, Maxime Furon-Castelain has decided to take on a new challenge in 2021 in his continuing pursuit of becoming a high-level professional driver.
He will be taking part in the DEKM 2021, the International E-karting Championship approved by FIA.
The youngest driver of this championship to face competitors of many different nationalities - some of whom will be 5 to 10 years older than him -, Maxime will be driving a competition electric kart of the latest generation in the 4 events of this international championship.
« I want to prepare for motorsports of tomorrow. After Formula E and Extreme E, the FIA just launched a new “zero-emission” class named Electric GT with GT3 type cars, and confirmed that Formula 1 engines will be leaning more towards hybrid power from 2025. »
Organized, with the support of Porsche Motorsport, by the German DMSB and IKmedia, this championship is a monotype series that Maxime is so keen on: all the drivers are competing with the same PROJECT E20 kart, powered by ROTAX and with a SODIKART chassis. It is the driving that will have to make the difference.
For Maxime, it is firstly a new level of expectations, both physically and mentally: taking control of a kart that weighs more than 220kg with a phenomenal acceleration from 0 to 100km/h in 3.5s (that of the mythic Ferrari F40 and not so far a Formula 3), with a top speed of 135 km/h at ground level with no damper and no electronic driving assistance.
It is also the discovery of the power the front brakes hold, in addition to the back ones which he is used to, and the management of an electronic boost of 5 seconds per lap, similar to Formula 1's DRS. Finally, it is the adrenaline of standing starts, after 8 years of rolling starts
Maxime's first laps with his Project E20 kart took place last weekend, on the Wackersdorf track in Germany.
The BRP ROTAX team, lead by ROTAX test driver Darrell SMITH, noticed the young driver for his adaptability driver and his lap times which were immediately amongst the best. Because of the changing weather and with the support of his ROTAX mechanic Dorijan ČARGONIA, Maxime got to demonstrate some extensive driving on both a wet and dry track.
« I would never have imagined the impressive performance of the Project E20 kart! Very demanding physically, it forces me to review my driving while pushing my own limits in every aspect: standing starts, management of the power of both acceleration and brakes, modification of trajectories, use of the boost... I can't wait to measure myself against competitors. »
All will be revealed at the Wackersdorf track on the 2nd and 3rd of June 2021 for the official pre-season practice, ahead of the first DEKM 2021 event from the 4th to the 6th of June 2021.