Already around 180 drivers at Wackersdorf
Already around 180 drivers at Wackersdorf

Already around 180 drivers at...

Already around 180 drivers at Wackersdorf

Already around 180 drivers at Wackersdorf

Roughly 180 drivers representing 20 nations already entered the opening round of the 2025 Rotax MAX Challenge Euro Trophy.
RMC Euro Trophy Entries open for Wackersdorf
RMC Euro Trophy Entries open for Wackersdorf

RMC Euro Trophy Entries open for...

RMC Euro Trophy Entries open for Wackersdorf

RMC Euro Trophy Entries open for Wackersdorf

Registration is now open for the opening round of the 2025 Rotax MAX Challenge Euro Trophy. The four-round championship will kick off in Germany at the Prokart Raceland circuit in Wackersdorf.
RMC Winter Series: Viterbo crowns the Champions of the Winter Series
RMC Winter Series: Viterbo crowns the Champions of the Winter Series

RMC Winter Series: Viterbo crowns the...

RMC Winter Series: Viterbo crowns the Champions of the Winter Series

RMC Winter Series: Viterbo crowns the Champions of the Winter Series

A sunny and mild Sunday marked the conclusion of the Rotax MAX Challenge Winter Series, celebrating new round winners and overall champions. Victories on the day went to Oliver Spencer (KR Sport),...
Livestream: Round 2 of the 2025 Rotax MAX Challenge Winter Series at the Leopard Circuit in Viterbo
Livestream: Round 2 of the 2025 Rotax MAX Challenge Winter Series at the Leopard Circuit in Viterbo

Livestream: Round 2 of the 2025 Rotax...

Livestream: Round 2 of the 2025 Rotax MAX Challenge Winter Series at the Leopard Circuit in Viterbo

Livestream: Round 2 of the 2025 Rotax MAX Challenge Winter Series at the Leopard Circuit in Viterbo

The first champions of the 2025 season will be crowned this weekend at the brand-new Leopard Circuit in Viterbo. Located one hour from Italy’s capital, Rome, the circuit will host the final act...
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RMC Winter Series: Viterbo, the leaders after heats

RMC Winter Series: Viterbo, the leaders...

RMC Winter Series: Viterbo, the leaders after heats

RMC Winter Series: Viterbo, the leaders after heats

The long day of heats at Round 2 of the Rotax MAX Challenge Winter Series has just concluded at the Leopard Circuit in Viterbo. A damp track pushed the drivers to their limits, delivering plenty of...
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RMC Winter Series: Read, Kobakhidze, Mentier, Kristensen and Picot shine in the rainy qualifying at...

RMC Winter Series: Read, Kobakhidze,...

RMC Winter Series: Read, Kobakhidze, Mentier, Kristensen and Picot shine in the rainy qualifying at...

RMC Winter Series: Read, Kobakhidze, Mentier, Kristensen and Picot shine in the rainy qualifying at...

The qualifying day and first heats have just concluded at the Leopard Circuit in Viterbo, which for the first time is hosting a round of the RMC Winter Series.
Results: Round 2 of the 2025 Rotax MAX Challenge Winter Series at the Leopard Circuit in Viterbo
Results: Round 2 of the 2025 Rotax MAX Challenge Winter Series at the Leopard Circuit in Viterbo

Results: Round 2 of the 2025 Rotax MAX...

Results: Round 2 of the 2025 Rotax MAX Challenge Winter Series at the Leopard Circuit in Viterbo

Results: Round 2 of the 2025 Rotax MAX Challenge Winter Series at the Leopard Circuit in Viterbo

The first champions of the 2025 season will be crowned this weekend at the brand-new Leopard Circuit in Viterbo. Located one hour from Italy’s capital, Rome, the circuit will host the final act...
Live timing: Round 2 of the 2025 Rotax MAX Challenge Winter Series at the Leopard Circuit in Viterbo
Live timing: Round 2 of the 2025 Rotax MAX Challenge Winter Series at the Leopard Circuit in Viterbo

Live timing: Round 2 of the 2025 Rotax...

Live timing: Round 2 of the 2025 Rotax MAX Challenge Winter Series at the Leopard Circuit in Viterbo

Live timing: Round 2 of the 2025 Rotax MAX Challenge Winter Series at the Leopard Circuit in Viterbo

The first champions of the 2025 season will be crowned this weekend at the brand-new Leopard Circuit in Viterbo. Located one hour from Italy’s capital, Rome, the circuit will host the final act...
Winter Series Champions to be crowned in Viterbo
Winter Series Champions to be crowned in Viterbo

Winter Series Champions to be crowned in...

Winter Series Champions to be crowned in Viterbo

Winter Series Champions to be crowned in Viterbo

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RMC Grand Finals 2025 the ultimate showdown returns to Bahrain
RMC Grand Finals 2025 the ultimate showdown returns to Bahrain

RMC Grand Finals 2025 the ultimate...

RMC Grand Finals 2025 the ultimate showdown returns to Bahrain

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Sunday live streaming coverage: 2025 Rotax Max BNL Karting Series - Round 1 at Karting Genk
Sunday live streaming coverage: 2025 Rotax Max BNL Karting Series - Round 1 at Karting Genk

Sunday live streaming coverage: 2025...

Sunday live streaming coverage: 2025 Rotax Max BNL Karting Series - Round 1 at Karting Genk

Sunday live streaming coverage: 2025 Rotax Max BNL Karting Series - Round 1 at Karting Genk

Live-timing 2025 Rotax Max BNL Karting Series - Round 1 at Karting Genk
Live-timing 2025 Rotax Max BNL Karting Series - Round 1 at Karting Genk

Live-timing 2025 Rotax Max BNL Karting...

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Live-timing 2025 Rotax Max BNL Karting Series - Round 1 at Karting Genk

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2025 Rotax National Cup heads to Albury Wodonga

2025 Rotax National Cup heads to Albury...

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2025 Rotax National Cup heads to Albury Wodonga

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RMC Winter Series: Championship standings update
RMC Winter Series: Championship standings update

RMC Winter Series: Championship...

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RMC Winter Series: Championship standings update

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RMC Winter Series: Spencer, Sejersen, Bishop, Bezel and Picot win in Cremona

RMC Winter Series: Spencer, Sejersen,...

RMC Winter Series: Spencer, Sejersen, Bishop, Bezel and Picot win in Cremona

RMC Winter Series: Spencer, Sejersen, Bishop, Bezel and Picot win in Cremona

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Livestream: Round 1 of the 2025 Rotax MAX Challenge Winter Series at the Cremona Circuit

Livestream: Round 1 of the 2025 Rotax...

Livestream: Round 1 of the 2025 Rotax MAX Challenge Winter Series at the Cremona Circuit

Livestream: Round 1 of the 2025 Rotax MAX Challenge Winter Series at the Cremona Circuit

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RMC Winter Series: Sun and exciting battles in Cremona
RMC Winter Series: Sun and exciting battles in Cremona

RMC Winter Series: Sun and exciting...

RMC Winter Series: Sun and exciting battles in Cremona

RMC Winter Series: Sun and exciting battles in Cremona

A sunny day set the stage for the race heats of Round 1 of the Rotax MAX Challenge Winter Series at Cremona Circuit.
Relentless rain at Cremona Circuit as first heats conclude
Relentless rain at Cremona Circuit as first heats conclude

Relentless rain at Cremona Circuit as...

Relentless rain at Cremona Circuit as first heats conclude

Relentless rain at Cremona Circuit as first heats conclude

The Rotax MAX Challenge Winter Series opening round is well underway at Cremona Circuit, where the rain shows no signs of stopping. The first heats have been completed, setting the stage for an...
First polemen of the year in a rainy Cremona
First polemen of the year in a rainy Cremona

First polemen of the year in a rainy...

First polemen of the year in a rainy Cremona

First polemen of the year in a rainy Cremona

The 2025 season is officially underway, and a rainy Friday has crowned the first polemen of the year.
Results: Round 1 of the 2025 Rotax MAX Challenge Winter Series at the Cremona Circuit
Results: Round 1 of the 2025 Rotax MAX Challenge Winter Series at the Cremona Circuit

Results: Round 1 of the 2025 Rotax MAX...

Results: Round 1 of the 2025 Rotax MAX Challenge Winter Series at the Cremona Circuit

Results: Round 1 of the 2025 Rotax MAX Challenge Winter Series at the Cremona Circuit

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Rotax Max Euro Trophy Open at Genk: Competitive racing and Grand Finals tickets awarded

Published on Friday, April 26, 2019

Rotax Max Euro Trophy Open at Genk: Competitive racing and Grand Finals tickets awarded

Genk, Belgium – Karting Genk once again lived up to its slogan of being "The Home of Champions" where the winners of the first Rotax MAX Challenge Euro Trophy Open were crowned on the 1,360-metre long track in Belgium from April 19th to 21st, 2019. Almost summerlike conditions made for perfect racing throughout the Easter weekend, welcomed by the 127 drivers from over 20 countries around the world who joined the international competition. The positive interest from afar was not by chance, as the RMC Euro Trophy Open provided an early season way to qualify for the Rotax MAX Challenge Grand Finals in Sarno (ITA) in October this year. The winners of the Junior-, Senior- and DD2-classes could win one of the coveted invitational tickets. The best DD2 Masters driver was rewarded with free entry for the series in the RMC Euro Trophy 2019. So, it was no surprise that the three-day competition was thrilling until the chequered flag!

Juniors: Mike van Vugt prevails

Reigning Euro Trophy Junior Champion Mike van Vugt (JJ Racing) set the tone at the beginning of the weekend. The Dutchman drove the fastest time in qualifying by a time of 55.109 seconds and a lead of almost two-tenths of a second. The youngster repeated this pace in the following two heats, which he won convincingly to start on pole position for the first final on Sunday. Meanwhile, his compatriot Kris Haanen (Bouvin Power) obtained enough points to line up alongside the pole-sitter.

In the first final, the tide turned for Mike van Vugt. In the beginning of the race, the Dutchman dropped back a few positions, putting him in a chaser role. By the end, he made his way up to second place again, but could ultimately not prevent the victory of Kris Haanen. However, the Exprit pilot struck back in the second final. At an early stage, he made it to the front and managed a safe victory over the 13-lap race distance, despite the lasting challenge from Thom Reinaerdt (GKS Lemmens Power) in P2. Mike van Vugt secured both the day's victory and an entry at the Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals 2019. Kris Haanen came in second on the podium overall, while Thom Reinaerdt (GKS Lemmens Power) completed the Dutch triple success in Junior MAX.

Seniors: Double victory for Ilian Bruynseels

A very close competition was shown in the big grid of seniors. At the end of the qualifying session, not less than 43 of the 47 drivers were separated by just one second. First and foremost, it was local hero Ilian Bruynseels (Bouvin Power) who set the quickest lap of 53.797 seconds, thus having the best chances for the qualifying heats in the afternoon. And indeed the Belgian seized his advantage by taking both race wins, which boosted him to first place in the rankings.

Even on the final day the local hero was unbeatable. Although he had to fight hard in the finals, he claimed both victories in the end. Behind the winner it was the Swedish racing lady Mathilda Olsson (Strawberry Racing) and the Brit Bradley Barrett (Dan Holland Racing), who took the prizes for best supporting roles in second and third place in both races. This order corresponded to the results of the overall classification, so Bruynseels was awarded with the Rotax MAX Challenge Grand Finals ticket.

DD2: Niklas Graenz dominates Finals

In the gearbox category, Xen de Ruwe (SSC - Sportstil) – one of the most experienced and successful RMC Euro pilots – underlined his skills in qualifying and set the bar for the weekend with a time of 53,530 seconds. But during the heats, his opponents caught up, preventing a walkover of the Belgian driver, who is racing under a Slovenian license. After Xen de Ruwe won the first heat, German Niklas Graenz (42 Competition) won the second race, while Polish driver Piotr Wisnicki (Wyrzykowski Motorsport) was successful in the last heat. However, in the general points ranking, it was Xen de Ruwe still leading. He secured pole position by only one point for the first final on Sunday from Niklas Graenz. Austria’s Daniel Machacek (Daems Racing Team) moved up to third place with consistent top results.

On Sunday, Niklas Gränz had his magic moment. The German was in the best shape and celebrated a controlled double victory in both finals, which he was never in great danger of losing. This gave the reigning German RMC champion the win in the overall classification and the much-sort-after ticket to the Rotax Grand Finals in Italy. Behind the KR-pilot, Daniel Machacek took second place in both races and on the podium. In third, the Finn Ville Viiliaeinen (Pentti Viiliaeinen) made it onto the podium, although he ended on equal points with Xen de Ruwe, but the best result from Final 2 determines the order. 

DD2 Masters: Roberto Pesevski takes the victory

Slawomir Muranski (46 team) lived up to his reputation as the reigning Rotax Euro Trophy champion from the very beginning of the weekend. The Pole set the fastest lap in qualifying and was unbeatable in the heats. With two wins, he defended the first place in the intermediate ranking ahead of the Austrian Roberto Pesevski (KSCA Sodi Austria Team) and the German Michael Becker (RS Competition).

In the first final on Sunday, Slawomir Muranski was in a class of his own. He clearly won the first major race, therefore heading into the decisive second final as the favourite. But, here the Pole had to leave the way to his opponents. He dropped back several positions, watching Roberto Pesevski taking both, the race win and day`s victory. Slawomir Muranski had to be satisfied with second place on the podium. Third place went to the German Sebastian Rumpelhardt (RS Competition) with two solid final results.

After the successful Open event, the European Rotax racing series now looks forward to the first round of the championship which takes place from May 31st to June 2nd, 2019. The Rotax MAX Challenge Euro Trophy will officially kick off its season on the modern Adria Karting Raceway (IT) close to Venice. Throughout the year the year, the series visits the top karting tracks of Kristianstad in Sweden and Wackersdorf in Germany. The grids are already filling and promise a highly competitive season, at the end of which the best-placed drivers will be rewarded by a total of 7 tickets for the RMC Grand Finals.

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