The collaboration between Sodikart, the world's leading kart manufacturer, and BRP Rotax, the world's leading manufacturer of kart engines, started very early in the history of the French brand from 1988 onwards. From 1999, Sodi started to organise the Rotax Challenge France with undeniable success. 2012 saw the creation of the NSK, which gives pride of place to the Austrian engines.
Since 2010, Sodi has been an Official Partner of the Rotax World Final as a chassis supplier. The 19th edition of the Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals will take place in Brazil, at the Circuito Internacional Paladino, from 24th November to 1st December 2018, with 360 drivers from more than 50 countries. Sodikart will supply the Max and DD2 Masters chassis.
Bertrand Pignolet, Managing Director of Sodikart, shares his enthusiasm for this new challenge: "Sodikart is proud to participate in the most important karting event of the year, the Rotax Grand Final, for the 9th consecutive year. Since 2015, BRP-Rotax has chosen us as the chassis supplier of two categories at once, 125 Max and 125 DD2 Master. As past successes have shown, Sodikart has the resources, both human and technical, to carry out such a mission. This year, the situation was slightly different because of the time required to ship the material across the Atlantic, but our schedule was adapted accordingly. We are all looking forward to this momentous event on the South American continent."
Preparing the complete karts of the Rotax Max Grand Finals Challenge is always a long-term adventure, but Sodikart has the score at its fingertips. The fact remains that the assembly of 76 Max and 76 DD2 Masters requires rigorous organisation. The DD2s began to be constructed in early June and the RS3s in the Max category followed in mid-July. In total, more than three tons of technical steel were used, including 500m of tubes and 250m of welding seams.
Six high capacity containers were needed for the shipment of all equipment across the Atlantic, including one specifically for spare parts. The journey took more than seven weeks to reach the Circuito Internacional Paladino, in Conde, 100 km north of Recife, in northeastern Brazil.
Leaving the Sodikart factory on 18th September, the karts have just arrived in Brazil and are due to arrive at the Circuito Internacional Paladino today. The technical staff will be on site from 18th November so that everything is in place the following week for the start of the Rotax world meeting on the 25th. A staff of a dozen people will provide logistics support in addition to Sodi. Bas Lammers will share his experience and knowledge of Sodi products with the participants of the Grand Final along with Sodi Racing Team technicians.
Everything is in place so that a maximum of drivers can discover and appreciate the quality of the Sodi chassis during a high level competition. The KZ2 European Champion in 2018, Sodikart has strong attributes to convince new customers with its knowledge and professionalism.