Sodi and the Rotax Grand Finals: 15th year of successful collaboration
Sodi and the Rotax Grand Finals: 15th year of successful collaboration

Sodi and the Rotax Grand Finals: 15th...

Sodi and the Rotax Grand Finals: 15th year of successful collaboration

Sodi and the Rotax Grand Finals: 15th year of successful collaboration

2024 marked the 25th anniversary of the Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals on the prestigious Italian circuit of Sarno. It was also the 15th anniversary of the collaboration between BRP-Rotax and...
Further worldwide recognition for Birel ART
Further worldwide recognition for Birel ART

Further worldwide recognition for Birel...

Further worldwide recognition for Birel ART

Further worldwide recognition for Birel ART

An emblematic player in world karting and an active partner of BRP-Rotax since 2012, Birel ART brilliantly highlighted the quality of its chassis and its know-how at the prestigious Rotax Max...
RMCGF 2024 Daily Report 7: We crowned the new RMCGF Champions tonight
RMCGF 2024 Daily Report 7: We crowned the new RMCGF Champions tonight

RMCGF 2024 Daily Report 7: We crowned...

RMCGF 2024 Daily Report 7: We crowned the new RMCGF Champions tonight

RMCGF 2024 Daily Report 7: We crowned the new RMCGF Champions tonight

It’s Finals Day at the Circuito Internazionale di Napoli in Sarno, Italy. After a week of hard-fought racing, it was time to crown champions at the 2024 RMC Grand Finals. Drivers from around the...
Saturday live streaming coverage: Rotax MAX Challenge Grand Finals 2024 at Circuito Internazionale...
Saturday live streaming coverage: Rotax MAX Challenge Grand Finals 2024 at Circuito Internazionale...

Saturday live streaming coverage: Rotax...

Saturday live streaming coverage: Rotax MAX Challenge Grand Finals 2024 at Circuito Internazionale...

Saturday live streaming coverage: Rotax MAX Challenge Grand Finals 2024 at Circuito Internazionale...

BRP-Rotax will celebrate a quarter of a century since the Rotax MAX Grand Finals began back in 2000 when it returns for the third time to Circuito Internazionale di Napoli in Sarno, Italy from October...
RMCGF 2024 Daily Report 6: What happened in today’s prefinals
RMCGF 2024 Daily Report 6: What happened in today’s prefinals

RMCGF 2024 Daily Report 6: What happened...

RMCGF 2024 Daily Report 6: What happened in today’s prefinals

RMCGF 2024 Daily Report 6: What happened in today’s prefinals

The Circuito Internazionale di Napoli in Sarno, Italy has been a great host for the 2024 RMC Grand Finals, as competitors worldwide will compete for Rotax glory tomorrow. The trials and tribulations...
Friday live streaming coverage: Rotax MAX Challenge Grand Finals 2024 at Circuito Internazionale di...
Friday live streaming coverage: Rotax MAX Challenge Grand Finals 2024 at Circuito Internazionale di...

Friday live streaming coverage: Rotax...

Friday live streaming coverage: Rotax MAX Challenge Grand Finals 2024 at Circuito Internazionale di...

Friday live streaming coverage: Rotax MAX Challenge Grand Finals 2024 at Circuito Internazionale di...

BRP-Rotax will celebrate a quarter of a century since the Rotax MAX Grand Finals began back in 2000 when it returns for the third time to Circuito Internazionale di Napoli in Sarno, Italy from October...
RMCGF 2024 Daily Report 5: The Grids are Set for Prefinals in Sarno
RMCGF 2024 Daily Report 5: The Grids are Set for Prefinals in Sarno

RMCGF 2024 Daily Report 5: The Grids are...

RMCGF 2024 Daily Report 5: The Grids are Set for Prefinals in Sarno

RMCGF 2024 Daily Report 5: The Grids are Set for Prefinals in Sarno

The wheel-to-wheel action continued today at the Circuito Internazionale di Napoli in Sarno, Italy. With one heat race for most classes yesterday, all classes saw race action today, and the results...
Thursday live streaming coverage: Rotax MAX Challenge Grand Finals 2024 at Circuito Internazionale...
Thursday live streaming coverage: Rotax MAX Challenge Grand Finals 2024 at Circuito Internazionale...

Thursday live streaming coverage: Rotax...

Thursday live streaming coverage: Rotax MAX Challenge Grand Finals 2024 at Circuito Internazionale...

Thursday live streaming coverage: Rotax MAX Challenge Grand Finals 2024 at Circuito Internazionale...

BRP-Rotax will celebrate a quarter of a century since the Rotax MAX Grand Finals began back in 2000 when it returns for the third time to Circuito Internazionale di Napoli in Sarno, Italy from October...
RMCGF 2024 Daily Report 4: It was time to go racing in Sarno, as the 2024 RMC Grand Final heat races...
RMCGF 2024 Daily Report 4: It was time to go racing in Sarno, as the 2024 RMC Grand Final heat races...

RMCGF 2024 Daily Report 4: It was time...

RMCGF 2024 Daily Report 4: It was time to go racing in Sarno, as the 2024 RMC Grand Final heat races...

RMCGF 2024 Daily Report 4: It was time to go racing in Sarno, as the 2024 RMC Grand Final heat races...

It was time to go racing at the Circuito Internazionale di Napoli in Sarno, Italy, as the 2024 RMC Grand Final heat races began today. After some rain on Tuesday, Micro MAX, Mini MAX, and MAX DD2...
RMC Grand Finals Gasette: History, Insights, and Thrills Await!
RMC Grand Finals Gasette: History, Insights, and Thrills Await!

RMC Grand Finals Gasette: History,...

RMC Grand Finals Gasette: History, Insights, and Thrills Await!

RMC Grand Finals Gasette: History, Insights, and Thrills Await!

RMC Grand Finals is excited to present the latest edition of Gasette, your ultimate guide to this year's thrilling race! Packed with exclusive insights, Gasette offers detailed information about...
Wednesday live streaming coverage: Rotax MAX Challenge Grand Finals 2024 at Circuito Internazionale...
Wednesday live streaming coverage: Rotax MAX Challenge Grand Finals 2024 at Circuito Internazionale...

Wednesday live streaming coverage: Rotax...

Wednesday live streaming coverage: Rotax MAX Challenge Grand Finals 2024 at Circuito Internazionale...

Wednesday live streaming coverage: Rotax MAX Challenge Grand Finals 2024 at Circuito Internazionale...

BRP-Rotax will celebrate a quarter of a century since the Rotax MAX Grand Finals began back in 2000 when it returns for the third time to Circuito Internazionale di Napoli in Sarno, Italy from October...
RMCGF 2024 Daily Report 3: Pole Positions Awarded in Micro MAX, Mini MAX and MAX DD2 Masters
RMCGF 2024 Daily Report 3: Pole Positions Awarded in Micro MAX, Mini MAX and MAX DD2 Masters

RMCGF 2024 Daily Report 3: Pole...

RMCGF 2024 Daily Report 3: Pole Positions Awarded in Micro MAX, Mini MAX and MAX DD2 Masters

RMCGF 2024 Daily Report 3: Pole Positions Awarded in Micro MAX, Mini MAX and MAX DD2 Masters

The day started under cool and calm conditions at the Circuito Internazionale di Napoli in Sarno, Italy, but the track action heated up throughout the day, concluding with three Qualifying Practice...
Rotax Grand Final 2024: A solid partnership between BRP-Rotax and Sodikart
Rotax Grand Final 2024: A solid partnership between BRP-Rotax and Sodikart

Rotax Grand Final 2024: A solid...

Rotax Grand Final 2024: A solid partnership between BRP-Rotax and Sodikart

Rotax Grand Final 2024: A solid partnership between BRP-Rotax and Sodikart

For its 25th year, the Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals returns to Italy and the Sarno circuit, which it visited in 2019. From 19th to 26th October 2024, the Circuito Internazionale Napoli will host...
Tuesday live streaming coverage: Rotax MAX Challenge Grand Finals 2024 at Circuito Internazionale di...
Tuesday live streaming coverage: Rotax MAX Challenge Grand Finals 2024 at Circuito Internazionale di...

Tuesday live streaming coverage: Rotax...

Tuesday live streaming coverage: Rotax MAX Challenge Grand Finals 2024 at Circuito Internazionale di...

Tuesday live streaming coverage: Rotax MAX Challenge Grand Finals 2024 at Circuito Internazionale di...

BRP-Rotax will celebrate a quarter of a century since the Rotax MAX Grand Finals began back in 2000 when it returns for the third time to Circuito Internazionale di Napoli in Sarno, Italy from October...
RMCGF 2024 Daily Report 2: The RMC Grand Finals 2024 roared to life today with the Non-Qualifying...
RMCGF 2024 Daily Report 2: The RMC Grand Finals 2024 roared to life today with the Non-Qualifying...

RMCGF 2024 Daily Report 2: The RMC Grand...

RMCGF 2024 Daily Report 2: The RMC Grand Finals 2024 roared to life today with the Non-Qualifying...

RMCGF 2024 Daily Report 2: The RMC Grand Finals 2024 roared to life today with the Non-Qualifying...

The RMC Grand Finals 2024 roared to life today at 09:00 with the Non-Qualifying Practice Sessions for all categories, held at the legendary Circuito Internazionale di Napoli. Under perfect weather...
Results: Rotax MAX Challenge Grand Finals 2024 at Circuito Internazionale di Napoli in Sarno
Results: Rotax MAX Challenge Grand Finals 2024 at Circuito Internazionale di Napoli in Sarno

Results: Rotax MAX Challenge Grand...

Results: Rotax MAX Challenge Grand Finals 2024 at Circuito Internazionale di Napoli in Sarno

Results: Rotax MAX Challenge Grand Finals 2024 at Circuito Internazionale di Napoli in Sarno

BRP-Rotax will celebrate a quarter of a century since the Rotax MAX Grand Finals began back in 2000 when it returns for the third time to Circuito Internazionale di Napoli in Sarno, Italy from October...
RMCGF 2024: Here are the teams participating in the Rotax MAX Challenge Grand Finals 2024
RMCGF 2024: Here are the teams participating in the Rotax MAX Challenge Grand Finals 2024

RMCGF 2024: Here are the teams...

RMCGF 2024: Here are the teams participating in the Rotax MAX Challenge Grand Finals 2024

RMCGF 2024: Here are the teams participating in the Rotax MAX Challenge Grand Finals 2024

Although the morning began with light showers, the clouds soon gave way to sunshine just in time for the photo session with the stunning Kart Line-up featuring 392 brand-new karts provided by trusted...
Live timing: Rotax MAX Challenge Grand Finals 2024 at Circuito Internazionale di Napoli in Sarno
Live timing: Rotax MAX Challenge Grand Finals 2024 at Circuito Internazionale di Napoli in Sarno

Live timing: Rotax MAX Challenge Grand...

Live timing: Rotax MAX Challenge Grand Finals 2024 at Circuito Internazionale di Napoli in Sarno

Live timing: Rotax MAX Challenge Grand Finals 2024 at Circuito Internazionale di Napoli in Sarno

BRP-Rotax will celebrate a quarter of a century since the Rotax MAX Grand Finals began back in 2000 when it returns for the third time to Circuito Internazionale di Napoli in Sarno, Italy from October...
RMCGF 2024 – Daily Report 1: RMC Grand Finals 2024 is now underway in Sarno
RMCGF 2024 – Daily Report 1: RMC Grand Finals 2024 is now underway in Sarno

RMCGF 2024 – Daily Report 1: RMC Grand...

RMCGF 2024 – Daily Report 1: RMC Grand Finals 2024 is now underway in Sarno

RMCGF 2024 – Daily Report 1: RMC Grand Finals 2024 is now underway in Sarno

The Rotax MAX Challenge (RMC) Grand Finals 2024 are now underway in Sarno, Italy, bringing together the world's best karting talents from October 19-26. With competitors from 58 nations, this week...
2025 Rotax MAX Challenge Euro Trophy Calendar is unveiled
2025 Rotax MAX Challenge Euro Trophy Calendar is unveiled

2025 Rotax MAX Challenge Euro Trophy...

2025 Rotax MAX Challenge Euro Trophy Calendar is unveiled

2025 Rotax MAX Challenge Euro Trophy Calendar is unveiled

Following the success of the first season, WSK Promotion and BRP-Rotax are pleased to announce the 2025 Rotax MAX Challenge Euro Trophy and Rotax MAX Winter Series calendars (pending confirmation by...
BNL returns in style at the Kick-off!

Published on Thursday, March 25, 2021

BNL returns in style at the Kick-off!

After 167 days since the last day of the 2020 season, the BNL Karting Series would return to action in its 14th season for the 2021 Kick-Off, which was hosted by Karting Genk: Home of Champions, the 1,360-metre circuit based in Belgium’s Limburg region, just over an hour away from Brussels.

After a lot of hard work behind the scenes by the organisation, the event was given the green light to go ahead, courtesy of the Belgian Ministry of Sport. However, despite the Kick-Off being classed under elite sporting status following much deliberation and discussion, both the Micro and Mini MAX classes were not allowed to compete.

This meant that almost 100 drivers from over 10 nations headed into battle over a full two-day programme, which saw four classes compete in qualifying practice, heats and finals. A total of 24 races saw plenty of action amidst pretty clear weather, apart from some overnight rainfall on Saturday.

 

Junior MAX: Stolcermanis untouchable all weekend!

Latvia’s Tomass Stolcermanis was the driver to beat in Juniors with 27 racers putting their best foot forward, but the #213 capped off Saturday after not only taking pole position in the two groups during qualifying but also won all three heats. The battling between him and Belgium’s Kaï Rillearts (#274), last year’s Euro Trophy champion, continued all the way through the weekend, with the pair swapping the lead during several races.

Rillearts was also in contention to win the Kick-Off, had a multi-kart incident between Enzo Bol, Olivier Jonckers, Lawrence Herbots and Edgars Vilcans off turns four and five on the first lap not brought out a full-course yellow that would be retracted with just seven and a half minutes to go.

Tommie Van Der Struijs, new signing at Kombikart Racing Team in the #254 entry, would take his first Junior podium of the year, having moved up two classes after the 2019 season, which saw him take the BNL Karting Series Micro Max crown. It also showed that the young Dutchman’s struggles in 2020 were not in vain, and his pace and prowess was rewarded.

Bruno Mulders (NED - #271) would end up battling away within the top three for the majority of the weekend but would edge out SP Motorsport’s Nick Gerhards to secure fourth by a mere 0.085 seconds at the finish line. The top ten were completed by Mikkel Pedersen, Joep Breedveld, Thomas Strauven, Farin Megger and Marius Rose.

 

Senior MAX: Riis rules the roost after epic fightback.

Denmark’s Mads Riis put on a dynamite display during Sunday’s proceedings, to become the winner of the 2021 Kick-Off in the Senior class, as the #379 from DAEMS Racing Team fought his way back after a difficult day in the heats, which saw him suffer two successive non-finishes early on.

The Dane, who will be heading to GT4 competition this season, could not resist the allure of karting again, as he secured a straightforward victory in the Second Chance heat on the Sunday morning, before scything his way through the field to secure a close-fought victory in the final by just 0.131 seconds.

Belgium’s Luca Leistra (#307) ended up as the vice-champion behind Riis, having initially led the intermediate classification, but he would stay within striking distance throughout proceedings before a last-moment mistake by SP Motorsport’s Juho Valtanen on the last turn of the final lap of the race weekend, gave him the welcome assist in taking second.

Belgium were also represented on the final step of the podium, courtesy of GKS Lemmens Power’s Lars Zaenen, as the #397 would cross the line just over a tenth of a second behind Leistra, whilst Valtanen would end up fourth ahead of 2019 BNL Karting Series champion Dylan Lahaye (#328 – Belgium). Lucas Schoenmakers (#396 – JJ Racing – Netherlands) would make an impressive début in Seniors, finishing in sixth, whilst Luca Thiel, Bennet Ahrens, Storm Broer and Jordy Van Der Eijk rounded off the top ten finishers in the exciting 16-lap finale.

 

DD2: Besancenez top of the pile, beating home soil favourites.

KMD’s Paolo Besancenez was able to take a first win of the 2021 season, as the Frenchman used all of his experience to hold onto victory, after what had been a rather interesting weekend for the DD2 class. He would end up winning by only 0.054 seconds ahead of Finland’s Ville Viiliäinen (#422 – RS Competition), who had been in the mix all weekend long and had even taken a victory in the second heat on Saturday.

Mick Nolten (#403 – GKS Lemmens Power), would get another season off to a great start, as the Dutchman also made it count when most needed, having ended up fifth following on from the heats on Saturday. But he would capitalize on dramas for both former two-time BNL champion Xander Przybylak (#402 – SP Motorsport) and defending champion Glenn Van Parijs (#401 – Bouvin Power) during the weekend, to hit the final step of the podium.

Przybylak and Van Parijs would battle away for the victory in heat one on Saturday, with part of the exhaust flying off after drama in the final corner of the race, with a five-second time penalty for the former being rescinded giving him two out of three wins on Saturday. However, Van Parijs would end up taking fourth at the chequered flag, ahead of his former teammate, who still has some learning to do regarding the Kart Republic chassis he now pilots.

Ricards Subeckis from Latvia would take sixth, ahead of the returning Sebastien Degrande, Aymeric Guerin, Hannes Borde and Imke Arts, with the latter being the remainder of the top ten to cross the finish line.

 

DD2 Masters: Desair secures back-to-back Kick-Off crowns in style!

Despite having the lowest grid size of all four classes, the biggest drama happened right at the last dying moments of the race itself, as it had been a clear all-Belgian battle all weekend long between Carl Cleirbaut (#510 – KMD) and countryman Tom Desair (#530 – GKS Lemmens Power). But the latter would provide one of the most dramatic overtakes on the final lap at turn 12, as Desair would make the move up the inside to defend his title as Kick-Off champion from last year.

Cleirbaut, who was at the top of the intermediate classification after the heats on Saturday, would do his best to counter Desair’s move on the final corner of the final lap but would have to settle for second by only 0.114 seconds at the chequered flag.

France’s Bruno Dos Santos completed the top three, and was only 0.563 seconds off the overall victory, having kept consistent pace during the final, whist Estonia’s Priit Sei (#501) and the returning Christophe Adams (#555) completed the top five.

 

After a welcome return to racing, it was a glorious sight for BNL Karting Series organiser Dave Ritzen, who was able to enjoy the racing, after much hard work behind the scenes.

 “Even though we were, unfortunately, unable to run Micro and Mini MAX this weekend, we were pleased to be able to go back racing, thanks to the Belgian Ministry of Sport’s assistance in allowing the event to proceed as planned,” he explained. “Now we are looking forward to the first round in just under two weeks’ time, with Junior and Senior Rotax already fully booked, which means that everyone is exciting about going full throttle in what could be a fantastic season for us!”

The first of three rounds for the BNL Karting Series takes place between April 3rd and 4th, which will see the very best of Rotax racers make their return to the Limburg region, with a lot of drivers making their return to another exciting season.

 

Rate this article:
No rating
Comments (0)Number of views (2968)
Print