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Champions Crowned At Rotax MAX Euro Challenge Final

press release

The fourth and final round of the ROTAX MAX EURO CHALLENGE a week ago turned out to be a real game of strategy over the weekend at the Sologne Karting circuit in France. It’s the 7th time the ‘Euro’ has been hosted by the Salbris venue, where all the 2012 champions were only decided by Sunday’s finals. With every point gained being so crucial to the outcome, tactics played an obvious role in every one of the four classes.

rotax euro max challegnge final salbris
Above: The newly crowned Rotax MAX Euro Challenge champions
pic - RGMMC Media/Bas Kaligis

SENIOR MAX – Sean Babington made it a double victory to take the win in both finals, giving the British driver success at a total of three rounds this season and be crowned the 2012 Euro Challenge champion. Locked into a three-way battle with his closest rivals, points leaders Edward Brand and Harrison Scott, the 19-year old from Dan Holland Racing who finished 5th in 2011, ranked 3rd in the qualifying before winning all four of his heat races Saturday to start on pole for the pre-final.

“It’s not been easy with the competition so close, but today I needed to finish well to have enough points to win. We had a good qualifying to be third quickest and in a position to get a good result in the heats. After winning the pre-final, I knew that Harrison Scott was behind me and Ed Brand beside him for the start of the final, so I would have to get away. I managed to get a break and just focused on driving my best to take the win. It’s been a great weekend and I’m really happy! I’ve had all the DHR team supporting me, so I have to thank them for all their work to give me a great race package with Ogden engines and Race Data, my father as my mechanic and all my sponsors for their support; including Freem and The Helmet Company.”

rotax euro max challegnge final salbris
Above: Sean Babington was unbeaten in the racing at the Salbris round of the Rotax Euro Challenge in France in all four qualifying heats and both finals Sunday
pic - RGMMC Media/Bas Kaligis

Keeping up his good form from the previous round in Sweden, James Singleton clocked the best lap to take pole position ahead of the recently crowned Australian national champion Pierce Lehane. The English driver was also fastest on track using his new set of MOJO D2s in the final, taking a well-earned 2nd place in front of Harrison Scott who was then 3rd overall in the series. Ed Brand sealed his third vice champion’s trophy at the Rotax Euro Challenge by finishing 6th in the final race. 4th in the series was secured by Singleton ahead of Barrie Pullinger, with just 4 points finally separating 5th to 10th position.

1. Sean Babington (GBR)             - Alonso/Dan Holland Racing
2. James Singleton (GBR)           - Tonykart/Coles Racing
3. Harrison Scott (GBR)               - Tonykart/Strawberry Racing    

rotax euro max challegnge final salbris
Above: British rivals Sean Babington and James Singleton share the front row at the start of the 16 lap final
pic - RGMMC Media/Bas Kaligis

rotax euro max challegnge final salbris
Above: Senior MAX podium for rond four - 1. Sean Babington, 2. James Singleton, 3. Harrison Scott
pic - RGMMC Media/Bas Kaligis

JUNIOR MAX – In his rookie season in Junior Max, Harry Webb from Great Britain left no chance of losing his shot at the 2012 European title when he crossed the line with a gap of more than 3 seconds to take the chequered flag in Sunday’s pre-final. It was another ‘Euro’ dual that looked certain to be won by either Webb or Janneau Esmeijer, who dominated round 2 in Germany last May. Unfortunately for the young Dutch driver, he suffered a poor qualifying that gave the championship leader some breathing space, thereafter going on to take the honours in all three heats. Following his win in the first final, Webb gave Strawberry Racing another junior title to add to their Euro collection.

rotax euro max challegnge final salbris
Above: Harry Webb leads the Junior Max Final followed by Strawberry Racing team-mate Guan [Joe] Yu Zhou, who eventually took the win for the round 4 victory
pic - RGMMC Media/Bas Kaligis

Harry Webb seemed relieved, but couldn’t hide the big grin on his face, “I’m not really sure what to say… only that it’s good to have won and I’m kind of glad it’s over now. It was a perfect qualifying and Janneau Esmeijer didn’t have such a good one, so this made it a little easier. The first final was hard, but we got away at the start; even though most drivers around me on the grid had used their new tyres. It’s my first year in juniors so it’s an excellent achievement for us to have such a good result. Thanks go to all the team at Strawberry Racing, Cream Engines, and my mum and dad.”

However, it was Webb’s team-mate Guan Yu Zhou who eventually won the day at the Sologne Karting circuit. The British-based driver only 13 years of age and originally from Shanghai, passed the 15-year old in the late stages of the final to become the first Chinese competitor to win a round of the championship in the 9-year history of this international event.

rotax euro max challegnge final salbris
Above: Guan Yu Zhou ensured the Strawberry Racing Team a double win in Salbris when the 13-year old passed the new Euro Challenge champion to take the round 4 honours
pic - RGMMC Media/Bas Kaligis

With his sights firmly set on becoming a Formula 1 race driver in the future, Joe [Guan] was ecstatic! “Today, it’s a very good day for me. In the pre-final, we stayed on our used tyres from yesterday’s heat racing and it was still a top 5 result. Then, in the final I just followed Harry [Webb] and didn’t make any mistakes then I was able to pass him for a good race to the finish. Thank you to Warwick and the Strawberry Racing team, my mechanic Mark, all the sponsors and my parents for their support. Next year, I want to win the Rotax Euro Challenge in Junior Max!”

In 3rd after 13 laps was Esmeijer who ranked 16th following the heat races, posting best lap of the final and grabbing the 2012 runner-up trophy in a concentrated effort to achieve his best possible result after getting off to a disappointing start. Ryan Anderton fought for 3rd overall in the points, going into battle with Max Aitken when the pair started the final from grid 2 and 3. Aitken was forced to retire on the opening lap leaving the door open for Josh White to take 4th overall.

1. Guan Yu Zhou (GBR)                 - Tonykart/Strawberry Racing 
2. Harry Webb (GBR)                    - Tonykart/Strawberry Racing 
3. Janneau Esmeijer (NED)        - Intrepid/Team TKP

rotax euro max challegnge final salbris
Above: Guan Yu Zhou originally from Shanghai, who now resides in Great Britain, was the first Chinese driver to win a round of the championship in the 9 year history of the Rotax Euro Challenge
pic - RGMMC Media/Bas Kaligis

rotax euro max challegnge final salbris
Above: Janneau Esmeijer came home strong in the final to secure his runner-up position in the championship
pic - RGMMC Media/Bas Kaligis

ROTAX DD2 – In the 2-speed category, Belgian Mathias Detige came away from the French meeting with his mission accomplished well and truly in 2012. The 22-year old led the points table and went into the last round head-to-head with Miika Laiho of Finland for the Rotax DD2 title. Each had taken the honours at one round of the series during the season, as did Xen De Ruwe sitting 3rd after the Kristianstad round in July; yet only Detige and Laiho could claim the winner’s trophy.

rotax euro max challegnge final salbris
Above: Xen De Ruwe (BEL) was on pole position following Saturday’s qualifying heats, finishing 3rd in the final and 3rd in the 2012 championship overall
pic - RGMMC Media/Bas Kaligis

Laiho was quickest in Friday’s qualifying to be 0.070 seconds ahead of Detige and in his first European race in the class, the current Euro and World Max champ, Ben Cooper. The racing was close in the heats Saturday, but it was De Ruwe by just a point’s advantage and one race win, who secured pole for the pre-final. Laiho was victim to a starting accident the day before that saw Cooper penalized 10 seconds, so he was off grid 6, while Detige shared the front row with his fellow-countryman. In a fantastic race won by a very determined Cooper, Detige finished 3rd behind Laiho to give him sufficient points to take the 2012 Euro Challenge victory and his personal ticket to the Rotax Grand Finals in Portugal this November.

“I can’t find the words right now… but I’m happy! It’s been a pretty stressful week for me and my mechanic because we knew with the points so close that things can still go wrong and we didn’t have the speed we wanted early in the week. It’s really the best result in my career and today, this means everything to me. We’ve been working all year for this so I want to say thanks to my mechanic of more than four years, Kobe, who has done a very good job for me. Also, thanks to the team at Bouvin Power for the engines and support, to MS Kart for this great chassis that suits me really well and for what they have done in the last weeks to achieve this, and of course, to my father for making it possible for me to race at this level.”

rotax euro max challegnge final salbris
Above: Ben Cooper & Miika Laiho line-up on row 1 of the final in the ROTAX DD2 class Sunday afternoon in France
pic - RGMMC Media/Bas Kaligis

In the 16-lap final, it was Cooper who was quickest and virtually unstoppable that crossed the line in first, 3.6 seconds ahead of the series runner-up Laiho and De Ruwe making up the round 4 podium under the hot afternoon sun in Salbris. Following a red flag stoppage on lap 8, Detige and his team Bouvin Power made the decision to retire from the race, while a technical problem ruined Lucas Orrock’s chances soon after, as he closed in on Laiho in P2. De Ruwe and front-runner Patrick Pearce diced for a top three, until Pearce dropped to the back of the field, leaving only 5 points between him and his Belgian rival for 3rd overall in the championship. Thomas Smith was 4th in the final and 5th in the series behind Pearce.

Having recently won the Canadian Nationals and Eastern Regional championships, Ben Cooper’s shift to the Rotax DD2 class continues to gain momentum with his fourth round win at the Euro. “I’ve enjoyed the racing as I always do in Europe; it’s hard and it’s competitive. Since I started racing in the DD2 after winning the Florida Winter Tour in Max, I honestly think it’s the best thing I’ve done. The driving is more physical so I’ve had to work quite a lot on my fitness, it’s exciting with the 2-speed gearbox and there’s more grip. It’s been a great weekend and I want to say a huge thank you to Peter Kalman and Kalman MotorSport, Nigel at HRS Engines, Birel for the chassis and help with the development this year, SRA Karting and Jim Russell Académie de Karting. It’s been good preparation for the Grand Finals, where I hope to win my third world title this year.”

1. Ben Cooper (CAN)                     - Birel/Kalman MotorSport   
2. Miika Laiho (FIN)                        - Tonykart/MPT Racing
3. Xen De Ruwe (BEL)                 - Formula K/Formula K Europe

rotax euro max challegnge final salbris
Above: DD2 round four podium - 1. Ben Cooper (CAN) - Birel/Kalman MotorSport, 2. Miika Laiho (FIN) - Tonykart/MPT Racing, 3. Xen De Ruwe (BEL) - Formula K/Formula K Europe
pic - RGMMC Media/Bas Kaligis

rotax euro max challegnge final salbris
Above: Belgium’s Mathias Detige sealed the DD2 series win in the pre-final when he finished 3rd behind his closest rival Miika Laiho of Finland, who was the only one in France with the chance of taking the title
pic - RGMMC Media/Bas Kaligis

ROTAX DD2 Masters – Running within the DD2 class, the Rotax DD2 Masters was an even closer battle for the title between a small group of drivers who could all claim the victory at the deciding event. At the flag, it was the defending champ Christophe Adams who worked his strategy well to win the last round of the series and engrave yet another title with his name. Lady driver Tamsin German had won two rounds this year and was leading the points’ race prior to last weekend. Germain was one of two sisters from Great Britain competing in the DD2 category, where she finished runner-up to Adams after taking 3rd place in the final.

rotax euro max challegnge final salbris
Above: Christophe Adams retained his European title in the championship by winning the deciding round in Salbris
pic - RGMMC Media/Bas Kaligis

It was a victory for France and its local chassis manufacturer by the accomplished Master who actually comes from Belgium, giving the Sodikart NL team something to celebrate. “I’m very happy to win again in 2012. The qualifying set-up was ideal for a warm day so it helped us in the finals. Unfortunately, I went out in the first corner in heat 1, but had a good result in the two heats after. Seeing I wasn’t in Wackersdorf, I had no chance to drop the points from this round so I took no risk in the pre-final and stayed behind Tamsin [Germain]. In the final, I drove to get the best points and saved my new tyres for the last race. I want to say thanks to my mechanic and team, and will dedicate this to my sick father who always followed my racing.”

Not having the luck at all, championship hopes disappeared for round 3 winner Florent Lambert when he was forced to retire following an incident in the final that stopped the race. Although he was then on equal points with title-hopeful Dennis Kroes, he had the better result to be awarded 3rd overall. Taking 2nd place on the Masters podium at Salbris was a rather elated Chris Groen, who came from last to P14 in the final, failing to complete any laps in the pre-final beforehand.

1. Christophe Adams (FRA)         - Sodikart /Sodikart NL
2. Chris Groen (NED)                     - Kosmic/Team Kroes
3. Tamsin Germain (GBR)            - Gillard/DG Racing

rotax euro max challegnge final salbris
Above: DD2 Masters series placings - 1. Christophe Adams (FRA) - Sodikart /Sodikart NL, 2. Tamsin Germain (GBR) - Gillard/DG Racing, 3. Florent Lambert (GBR) - Tonykart/Tatum Racing
pic - RGMMC Media/Bas Kaligis

Together with their titles and trophies, the first three place-getters in all three classes including the Rotax DD2 Masters champion received an invitation from ROTAX engine manufacturer BRP Powertrain to compete at the Rotax Grand Finals in Portugal this coming November. The Euro qualifiers are renowned for being amongst some of the likely favourites!

All results from the ROTAX MAX EURO CHALLENGE can be found at www.rotaxmaxeurochallenge.com

RGMMC events in 2012 are being broadcast on Sky Sports with video highlights on RGMMC Media on the official homepage and on Facebook.

Entries are now open for the 2012 ROTAX INTERNATIONAL OPEN to be held at Zuera, Spain from October 24th – 28th with 7 last chance places at the Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals to race for - in addition to great prizes worth up to €30.000.

rotax euro max challegnge final salbris
Above: 2012 Senior MAX champions - 1. Sean Babington (GBR)  Alonso/Dan Holland Racing, 2. Edward Brand (GBR) Formula K/Formula K Europe, 3. Harrison Scott (GBR) Tonykart/Strawberry Racing 
pic - RGMMC Media/Bas Kaligis

RESULTS       2012 ROTAX MAX EURO CHALLENGE – Champions

ROTAX SENIOR MAX
1. Sean Babington (GBR)             - Alonso/Dan Holland Racing
2. Edward Brand (GBR)               - Formula K/Formula K Europe
3. Harrison Scott (GBR)               - Tonykart/Strawberry Racing       
   
ROTAX JUNIOR MAX
1. Harry Webb (GBR)                     - Tonykart/Strawberry Racing
2. Janneau Esmeijer (NED)        - Intrepid/Team TKP
3. Ryan Anderton (GBR)              - Tonykart/Coles Racing

ROTAX DD2
1. Mathias Detige (BEL)               - MS Kart/Bouvin Power   
2. Miika Laiho (FIN)                        - Tonykart/MPT Racing
3. Xen De Ruwe (BEL)                 - Formula K/Formula K Europe

ROTAX DD2 MASTERS
1. Christophe Adams (FRA)         - Sodikart /Sodikart NL
2. Tamsin Germain (GBR)             - Gillard/DG Racing
3. Florent Lambert (GBR)            - Tonykart/Tatum Racing        

rotax euro max challegnge final salbris
Above: 2012 Junior Max Champions 1. Guan Yu Zhou (GBR) - Tonykart/Strawberry Racing, 2. Harry Webb (GBR) - Tonykart/Strawberry Racing, 3. Janneau Esmeijer (NED) - Intrepid/Team TKP
pic - RGMMC Media/Bas Kaligis

rotax euro max challegnge final salbris
Above: 15-year old Harry Webb won 3 rounds of the four round series to claim the 2012 title ahead of Dutch driver Janneau Esmeijer
pic - RGMMC Media/Bas Kaligis

rotax euro max challegnge final salbris
Above: DD2 series placings - 1. Mathias Detige (BEL) - MS Kart/Bouvin Power, 2. Miika Laiho (FIN) - Tonykart/MPT Racing, 3. Xen De Ruwe (BEL) - Formula K/Formula K Europe
pic - RGMMC Media/Bas Kaligis

rotax euro max challegnge final salbris
Above: DD2 Masters round 4 podium - 1. Christophe Adams (FRA) - Sodikart /Sodikart NL, 2. Chris Groen (NED) - Kosmic/Team Kroes, 3. Tamsin Germain (GBR) - Gillard/DG Racing
pic - RGMMC Media/Bas Kaligis

rotax euro max challegnge final salbris
Above: Group photo at Salbris
pic - RGMMC Media/Bas Kaligis

rotax euro max challegnge final salbris
Above: Euro Challenge trophies
pic - RGMMC Media/Bas Kaligis

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