Qualifying and first heats complete as Round 3 begins under clear skies at Genk
The third round of the 2025 Rotax MAX Challenge Euro Trophy is underway at the legendary Karting Genk – The Home of Champions, where the action resumed today under mild conditions after a rainy practice day on Thursday.
The Belgian circuit, known for its demanding layout and overtaking opportunities, provided a competitive stage as drivers tackled qualifying and the first heats across all categories.
Top Performers: Friday Results Recap
Mini MAX – Mair leads the charge
After showing speed throughout practice, Alfie Mair (SFR Motorsport) delivered in qualifying by taking overall pole. Behind him, Lucien Smith (KR Sport) and Oliver Spencer, now racing under the SP Motorsport banner, completed the top three.
The same three drivers stood out in the heats, with Mair and Smith each securing 1-2 in the first Heat, while Spencer won the second one.
Junior MAX – Ashcroft continues to set the standard
It’s now three poles out of three for Jacob Ashcroft (Dan Holland Racing), who kept his form and added another qualifying P1 to his resume. He was followed by Dragos Avasilcutei (MKC Motorsport) and Vince Vanderhallen (Bouvin Power) in the overall ranking.
Ashcroft added a heat win to his tally, while Juste Mulder (JGG Mulder) broke the DHR streak by taking the second race of the day.
Senior MAX – Bishop and Butcher remain neck and neck
The title battle between Macauley Bishop (Dan Holland Racing) and Sean Butcher (KR Sport) reignited at Genk. Bishop grabbed overall pole with the fastest lap across all groups, while Butcher took pole in Group 3, placing second overall. Third was Omar Ghannoum (KR Sport), representing the UAE.
In the heats, Ghannoum was the standout with two wins from two starts. Bishop and Butcher each added a heat win of their own, keeping the pressure high heading into Saturday.
DD2 / DD2 Masters – Bol back in form, Picot stays on top
Enzo Bol (SP Motorsport) showed he remains a specialist at Genk, grabbing pole position in DD2 ahead of a deep field. Current championship leader Jakub Bezel (Kraft Motorsport) struggled in qualifying and lined up 16th, but recovered well in his heat to finish seventh with nine places gained.
In DD2 Masters, Nicolas Picot (Privateer) once again led the way, topping the timing sheets and going on to win his heat with a P3 overall, confirming his place among the front-runners.
The competition resumes tomorrow with a full schedule of heat races across all classes. Stay tuned for more updates from Genk as Round 3 continues.