Rotax Grand Finals - Day 6


  15 November 2015

The 2015 Rotax MAX Challenge Grand Finals are done. Day six, finals day, was a tough one for the Aussies.

Reece Sidebottom ended up the best placed Australian, taking a fine 10th in the Junior Final. Jason Hryniuk and Adam Hunter were next best (12th and 13th, DD2 Masters) while Brad Jenner was 17th in Senior MAX, having been running inside the top 5 early in the race. More was posted early this morning HERE.

The Rotax 'Worlds' continue to become more competitive and more important every year. This was the 16th consecutive running of the event and there is now quite a list of drivers with vast experience of racing in it.

The fast Portimao layout, with a massive time at full throttle (far more than just the distance of the start/finish straight) meant slipstreaming and race strategy (ie: patience!) was required for a driver to have a clean race and decent result.

Most of the drivers raced like this, but from my limited observation on the live stream, it appeared that drivers heavily defending their line quickly backed up the pack. Invariably, this resulted in drivers tripping over each when the leader of the queue braked early down the inside, causing all sorts of bother for those behind. Certainly, this was how Aaron Cameron came to grief in the Junior pre-final.

Anyway, well done to all who competed and did their best at this famous event! Also, a big congrats to the Kiwis, getting all their drivers through to Finals Day and to Ryan Urban (and mechanic Tony Chambers) for earning the status of Rotax DD2 Masters World Number 1.

Who will be racing at this event next year? Roll on Pro Tour 2016...

MW

 

Nations Cup

  • 1 USA (1184)
  • 2 South Africa (1013)
  • 3 Natherlands (1013)
  • 4 Brazil (1005)
  • 5 Australia (985)
  • 6 Germany (982)
  • 7 New Zealand (919)
  • 8 France (903)
  • 9 Finalnd (838)
  • 10 Hungary (833)

Cody Gillis flips out of a Senior MAX heat race. Cody started the Second Chance race from 28th and made it all the way to 8th, just two places off the transfer point.
Above: Cody Gillis flips out of a Senior MAX heat race. Cody started the Second Chance race from 28th and made it all the way to 8th, just two places off the transfer point.
pic - Gillis/Facebook

Masters podium, NZ's Ryan Urban World #1, flanked by Jim Ringleberh (NED - promoted to 2nd after USA's Luis Schiavo was DQd) and Gabriel Zughella (Argentina) 3rd
Above: Masters podium, NZ's Ryan Urban World #1, flanked by Jim Ringelberg (Netherlands - promoted to 2nd after USA's Luis Schiavo was DQd) and Gabriel Zughella (Argentina) 3rd
pic - Rotax

 

  • Full results HERE.
  • Photos on Coopers Photography Facebook page HERE
  • More photos on the official Rotax Facebook HERE

 

ANZACS
Above: Proud ANZACS
pic - Coopers Photography

 

official race report from Rotax

GRAND FINAL DAY 6
Portimão, Portugal – Saturday, November 14, 2015

Good morning and welcome to the final day of the Rotax MAX Challenge Grand Finals 2015! Saturday’s weather forecast called for 22° C and sun.

Saturday’s race schedule consisted of one morning warm-up session, a pre-final and a final, as well as a driver’s party at the restaurant the Centro De Congressos Do Arade.

125 Junior MAX Final

The Junior final proved to be one of the most exciting races. Roope Ropanen of Finland lead the field into turn 1, however several drivers soon passed Ropanen and a three-way battle for the lead ensued.

Florian Venturi of France and Mathias Ramirez-Barrero from the United States of America pulled away from the pack early on, creating a large gap to the driver in position No. 3. However, as Venturi and Ramirez-Barrero passed each other for position in the closing laps, they provided an opportunity for third place to catch up, creating a three-way battle for the lead. Ultimately, it was Venturi who won by a close five-hundredths of a second over Ramirez-Barrero, who finished in second, and Caio Collet from Brazil rounded out the top 3. The fastest lap time was driven by Scott Symons of the United Kingdom.

125 MAX Final

As the 125 MAX final race progressed after an exciting start, the Italian ALEX and the American Lucas Selliken battled for the top position. Ultimately, it was ALEX who won by just over seventenths of a second, Selliken finished in second, and the South African, Jordan Sherratt rounded out the top 3. Berkay Besler of Turkey, the former pole sitter who finished in 8th position, posted the fastest lap time.

125 MAX DD2 Masters Final

Ryan Urban of New Zealand was crowned as the new DD2 Masters Grand Finals Champion after a fantastic race! Jim Ringelberg of the Netherlands finished in second, and the Argentinian Gabriel Zughella rounded out the top 3. The fastest lap time was posted by Robert Schluenssen of Germany.

Ryan Urban crosses the line to win DD2 Masters
Above: Ryan Urban crosses the line to win DD2 Masters
pic - Rotax


125 MAX DD2 Final Race

The DD2 race saw many passes as the top drivers from every country battled for position. Ferenc Kancsar of Hungary impressed spectators, as he lead every lap of the race and was crowned the new 2015 DD2 Grand Finals Champion. Andreas Backman from Sweden emerged in second place. Mads Thomsen of Denmark rounded out the top 3. Some of the best passing maneuvers were seen as Rubens Barrichello made his way from place 20 up to 4th position by the end of the finals! Congratulations! Kancsar also posted the fastest lap time.

Micro & Mini MAX Finals

The battle for first lay between Juan Martinez and Santi Vallve, who fought for the win the majority of the race. Ultimately, it was Martinez who won the 2015 Micro MAX Grand Festival over Vallve by just seven-tenths of a second. Nico Lavery finished in third place, with more than two seconds back to the leaders. The top three finishers all were Spaniards. Meanwhile, Daniel Nogales won the Mini MAX Grand Festival race, Quique Bordas finished in second place, and Lucas Martin rounded out the top three. Again, the top 3 finishers were all from Spain.

Nation’s Cup

Congratulations to Team USA for winning the Nation’s Cup!

The past week’s on-track action has seen phenomenal drivers battle for the position. With four Rotax MAX Challenge Grand Finals Champions crowned and the 2015 racing season coming to an end, teams and drivers will be given a fresh opportunity to work toward a successful 2016 year in the prestigious Rotax MAX Challenge.

BRP would like to thank everyone again for a making this such a spectacular week and for coming together and celebrating the 16th anniversary of the RMCGF. We hope to see you soon again at the 2016 RMCGF!

 

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