Preview: Rotax Euro Challenge Final

press release

The famous Angerville circuit in France plays host this weekend to the fourth and final round of the Rotax Max Euro Challenge, where several classes remain undecided for the championship title. The fast 1250 metre Circuit Gabriel Thirouin has been the venue for many high profile karting events in the past, including the 2006 CIK-FIA World Championships and numerous European level meetings.


Above: Circuit Gabriel Thirouin, Angerville France
pic - RKO Angerville

This season has produced some amazing racing throughout the three rounds to-date in this, the eighth year of the Rotax Max Euro Challenge, with nothing short of spectacular competition expected over this weekend in France. The anticipation has been building as the unofficial practice got underway Wednesday, but now the stage is set for final showdown at a location synonymous to international events where countless Motorsport champions have competed over the past years.

Winner of the first round in Genk, Ben Cooper leads Senior Max by a mere four points to Denmark’s Kasper Jensen, who won the most recent two rounds to be a major threat in denying the British former Rotax World and Euro winner from already stamping his name on the champion’s trophy. Another of the Euro Challenge prior champions Mats van den Brand sits 3rd in the points, but has the 2010 Senior Max vice champ Edward Brand right behind him in 4th, with the possibility of also taking the victory ahead of Cooper and Jensen. There’s also a shortlist of some of the best drivers on track in the class that can reach the overall 2011 winners’ podium Sunday afternoon.


Above: Senior Max round 3 winner Kasper Jensen (Denmark) in unofficial practice at Angerville
pic - Bas Kaligis / RGMMC Media

Round 3 winner in the Rotax Max Masters, Mikko Laine, is basically guaranteed to take the 2011 title from defending champion Christophe Adams with a 6 point lead as the last round gets underway. His dream to win the European series and represent Finland at the Rotax Max Grand Finals later this year has become a reality. Dutch team mates Jan Vos and Jos Sleegers ranked 3rd and 4th respectively, will undoubtedly face the challenge from 5th placed Jean-Louis Capliuk who came into the championship and made the podium in the second round at his local circuit in Wackersdorf.

Ukyo Sasahara’s faultless record over the initial three rounds leaves him virtually unbeatable for the Euro Challenge Junior Max title. The battle for the remaining places at the prize-giving ceremony to crown the 2011 champions will see Nathan Harrison currently in 2nd, Dave Blom and Philip Morin who are positioned 3rd and 4th respectively, all fighting it out for a top 3 finish behind the Japanese former junior World number 1. The racing itself is expected to be as close as ever at the Angerville round, with an impressive line-up of young drivers making the competition extremely close in 2011.

Four drivers in the Rotax DD2 class can still claim the champion’s title this weekend, although Lithuanian Simas Juodvirsis holds the lead by 13 points following round 3 in Denmark after making a clean sweep of both finals as he did at the first round in Belgium. Jules Szymkowiak has failed to take a Euro win in 2011, but he’s lying 2nd ahead of last year’s runner-up in DD2 Patrick Pearce and round 2 winner from Wackersdorf, Mathias Detige. Minor placings depend on what happens as the 18-lap final unfolds and based on each event so far, it’s going to be a 2-speed showdown to the wire.

The Rotax DD2 Masters is presently headed by multiple World and Euro title holder Christophe Adams on 158 points trailed by Rotax Winter Cup champ Florent Lambert and another Masters World number 1 Dennis Kroes, with the pair separated by only one point. The winner will join ten other Euro Challenge winners from the various classes to compete by invitation at the Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals to be held near Abu Dhabi at the magnificent Al Ain Raceway in the United Arab Emirates this coming November for a shot at becoming the 2010 World number 1.

Following official timed practice Friday, the racing kicks off at round 4 of the Rotax Max Euro Challenge with Saturday’s race program consisting of 18 qualifying heats after the morning warm-up. The finals to decide the 2011 Rotax Max Euro Challenge winner all take place this Sunday.

Follow the action online…
Go to www.rgmmc.com and take the direct link to RGMMC Live Timing to stay in the picture with the track action from France together with live commentary by RGMMC series speaker Ken Walker.

Catch the highlights on YouTube
Highlights and interviews across this weekend will be posted on You Tube at KartworldTV – so check out ROTAX EURO CHALLENGE 2011 Angerville France

Home

© kartsportnews.com