The second and final day of non-qualifying practice at the 2026 Rotax MAX Challenge Grand Finals brought changing weather conditions, fresh names at the top of the timesheets and an unexpected turn in the event schedule. Rain made driving conditions increasingly challenging at the Kartódromo Internacional do Algarve, giving the 424 registered competitors across nine categories an opportunity to demonstrate their adaptability before the decisive racing days.
With severe weather forecast for Wednesday, the organisers have cancelled all activities scheduled for November 11 and revised the remaining programme. Following an official weather warning predicting wind speeds of up to 140 km/h, Portuguese authorities announced restrictions on outdoor activities. As a result, all on-track and off-track activities scheduled for Wednesday have been cancelled. The safety of drivers, teams, officials, partners and everyone involved remains the highest priority.
Tuesday's practice programme was consequently shortened, bringing preparations to an earlier conclusion than originally planned. The revised timetable will see qualifying and the opening heats take place on Thursday, November 12, followed by the remaining heats on Friday. The Finals and Prize Giving Ceremony remain scheduled for Saturday, November 14, while the originally planned Pre-Finals have been cancelled.
The unexpected break adds another dimension to the sporting challenge. With no further practice before qualifying, drivers and mechanics must make the most of the information collected during the opening two days. The Grand Finals' unique equal-equipment philosophy makes this challenge particularly interesting. Competitors race on standardised chassis packages within their respective categories, with brand-new karts randomly allocated before the event. Finding the right setup and adapting quickly to changing conditions therefore becomes crucial. Tuesday's sessions, conducted on drying and wet surfaces, provided valuable insights into who might be ready to challenge for Grand Finals honours.
Micro MAX
The youngest competitors faced very different conditions during their remaining practice sessions, with the changing weather providing another test of their adaptability. Nico Thomasen (New Zealand) set the pace in the fourth session with a 1:08.531 on a drying track. The 11-year-old finished 0.247 seconds ahead of Harry Thai Le (Ireland), while Thannthajj Yuvasakunkrai (Thailand) completed the top three.
Thomasen had already demonstrated competitive speed on Monday, regularly featuring near the front of the classification. His latest performance strengthened his position among the early contenders. The final session took place in wet conditions and brought another familiar name to the top. Vladislav Richa Chekulaev (Russia), who had led the opening practice on Monday, set the benchmark with a 1:25.390. Just 0.079 seconds separated the ten-year-old from Thomasen, with Luis Toifl (Austria) following in third.
With Amesio Zani (Netherlands) having topped Monday's third practice, several competitors have already demonstrated front-running potential. Thomasen and Chekulaev, however, emerge from the final sessions as particularly interesting names to watch.
Mini MAX
The 72-driver Mini MAX field experienced challenging wet conditions, producing new leaders in both practice groups. In the ODD group, Robin Raikkonen (Italy), the 11-year-old son of 2007 Formula 1 World Champion Kimi Räikkönen, delivered a strong performance. He set a 1:20.901 to finish 0.377 seconds ahead of Logan Rolfe (United Kingdom). Maximilian Abrahart (United Kingdom) secured third place, followed by Charlie Page (United Kingdom) and Teddy Murphy (United Kingdom).
With his impressive performance in difficult conditions, Raikkonen established himself among the drivers to watch ahead of qualifying. The EVEN group produced a much closer battle. Jan Wozniak (Poland) topped the classification with a 1:21.366, edging Albi-Jay Stubbs (United Arab Emirates) by just 0.045 seconds. Lorenzo Kuhn (Brazil) completed the top three.
Wozniak had already shown promising speed on Monday, when he missed the fastest time in his second practice group by only 0.003 seconds. His wet-weather performance underlined his potential ahead of qualifying.
However, the earlier practice sessions also highlighted strong performances from Austin Oman (United Kingdom) and Oscar Kenney (United Kingdom), who topped their respective groups on Monday. Both arrive with impressive international credentials, leaving Mini MAX with several potential contenders as the competitive action approaches.
E10 Mini
The new E10 Mini category continued to deliver an exciting mix of young international talents, with changing track conditions producing different leaders throughout the day. Bulut Tirink (Turkey) set the pace in the fourth practice session, recording a 1:05.107 on a drying circuit. Claudio Zacca (Lebanon) followed just 0.074 seconds behind, while Martim Gomes (Portugal) completed the top three.
The final session brought considerably wetter conditions and another close battle. Kir Ivanov (United Arab Emirates) emerged at the front with a 1:22.201, beating Gomes by only 0.062 seconds. Nicolaj Pietras (Norway) finished third.
Gomes remains one of the most interesting contenders in the category. The 12-year-old, who won the Portuguese E10 Mini competition and secured his place at the Grand Finals, had already topped two practice sessions on Monday. His latest performance in wet conditions provided another indication of his versatility. However, with Tirink, Zacca and Ivanov also demonstrating competitive pace, the battle for honours in the new electric category remains wide open.
Junior MAX
An impressive collection of international title winners and experienced young racers is beginning to emerge at the front of the 72-driver Junior MAX field. Zdenek Babicek (Czech Republic), the reigning Euro Trophy Junior MAX champion, topped the third practice session in the ODD group with a 1:13.890 on a drying track. The 14-year-old finished ahead of defending Grand Finals Junior MAX winner Majus Mazinas (Lithuania), while Kristoffer Melhus (Norway) secured third place.
As conditions became wetter, another international winner moved to the front. Albert Friend (United Kingdom), who earned his Grand Finals ticket by winning the Junior MAX category at the RMC International Trophy in Le Mans, posted a 1:14.752. The margin was remarkably small. Just 0.033 seconds separated Friend from Babicek, with Tommy Hart (New Zealand) only another 0.013 seconds behind.
The EVEN group also produced two different leaders. Martin Soltys (Slovakia), runner-up in the 2026 Junior MAX Euro Trophy, topped the third practice session with a 1:14.018. Finlay Lines (United Kingdom) and Duarte Alves (Portugal) followed in second and third. In the subsequent wet session, Antoine Bazinet (Canada) moved to the front, recording a 1:14.769. Harry Taylor (United Kingdom) finished second, 0.152 seconds behind, followed by Niklas Pasi (Finland).
Babicek's ability to remain among the leaders in different conditions makes him an obvious early contender, while Friend demonstrated his potential on a wet circuit. With Mazinas, Soltys and Bazinet also showing strong form, Junior MAX promises an intense qualifying battle.
Senior MAX
Experience, consistency and adaptability played an important role in Senior MAX, where several drivers further strengthened their credentials during Tuesday's sessions. Ewan Charman (United Kingdom) was particularly impressive in the ODD group. The HUNTER MOTORSPORT entrant led both remaining practice sessions, initially setting a 1:12.744 before topping the fourth session with a 1:14.246 on a drying track.
Martin Wahlstroem (Finland) finished second in the latter session, 0.112 seconds behind, while Dovydas Gudelevicius (Lithuania) completed the top three. Charman's two consecutive group-leading performances make him one of the most notable names heading into qualifying.
In the EVEN group, defending Grand Finals Senior MAX winner Macauley Bishop (United Kingdom) demonstrated his potential. The 18-year-old, who also secured the 2026 RMC Winter Trophy Senior title, topped the third practice session with a 1:09.953. The wet fourth session brought a new leader in Freddie Lloyd (United Kingdom). The 17-year-old, who finished third overall in the 2026 Senior MAX Euro Trophy, recorded a 1:14.355 to lead Charlie Woolfitt (United Kingdom) by 0.306 seconds. Reuben Kernohan (United Kingdom) followed in third, while Bishop completed the top five.
The first two days have also highlighted the pace of Portuguese Senior MAX champion Martim Meneses (Portugal), who topped his group on Monday. With Charman showing consistency, Bishop bringing valuable Grand Finals experience and Lloyd demonstrating strong wet-weather pace, Senior MAX has several convincing contenders ahead of Thursday.
E20 Senior
The E20 Senior category produced another closely contested day as the electric karts faced changing track conditions. Akos Madaras (Hungary) led the fourth practice session with a 1:01.101, finishing 0.118 seconds ahead of fellow Hungarian Adam Szabo (Hungary). Rayn Kayrouz (United Arab Emirates) secured third place.
The final session took place on a wet circuit and brought Antoni Kugacz (Poland) to the front. The 16-year-old recorded a 1:04.601 to beat Madaras by 0.132 seconds, while Kayrouz again finished third. Both Madaras and Kugacz already have valuable Grand Finals experience. Madaras finished fifth in E20 Senior in 2025, while Kugacz secured seventh place.
Their performances across different conditions underline their potential for the upcoming competitive sessions. However, Szabo must also be considered among the early favourites. The 19-year-old, who qualified for the Grand Finals with victory at the Euro Trophy event in Trinec, topped Monday's final practice and remained competitive on Tuesday. With several drivers showing comparable pace, E20 Senior remains an open contest.
E20 Masters
The experienced E20 Masters competitors also faced wet conditions during their final practice session, resulting in a particularly impressive performance from an Argentine driver. Carl Cleirbaut (Belgium) continued his strong form by topping the fourth session with a 1:01.942. The 55-year-old, who qualified for the Grand Finals by winning the E20 Masters competition in Genk, finished 0.136 seconds ahead of Michele Burzese (Switzerland). Michel Aboissa (Brazil) completed the top three, while Tommy Kvakkesta Nordvang (Norway) and Roman Jager (Germany) followed.
The final wet session, however, belonged to Leandro Iglesias (Argentina). The 45-year-old delivered one of the most convincing performances of the afternoon, setting a 1:06.368 to lead Aboissa by an impressive 0.979 seconds. Cleirbaut finished third, followed by Gaston Di Bella (Argentina) and Jorge Matos (Ecuador). Iglesias' considerable advantage in the wet classification makes him an interesting contender if difficult conditions return during the competitive sessions. Nevertheless, Cleirbaut remains among the strongest early candidates after topping the final practice on Monday and again leading the fourth session on Tuesday.
MAX DD2
The highly competitive MAX DD2 category continued to deliver some of the most interesting storylines of the Grand Finals, with established champions and emerging talents demonstrating their speed. Three-time Grand Finals winner Mark Kimber (United Kingdom) maintained his impressive form in the ODD group. The 24-year-old, who has claimed titles in Junior MAX, Senior MAX and MAX DD2, topped the third practice session with a 59.371 on a drying circuit. Leonardo Baccaglini (Italy) followed only 0.056 seconds behind, while Mats Johan Overhoff (Germany) completed the top three.
Kimber, who secured his 2026 Grand Finals ticket with victory at the RMC International Trophy in Le Mans, also demonstrated competitive pace when conditions became wetter. In the fourth session, Julian Closmann (Netherlands) emerged at the front with a 1:12.439. Kimber followed just 0.074 seconds behind, with David Aulejtner (Poland) securing third.
The EVEN group also saw two strong performances from different drivers. Kian Burnard (United Kingdom) topped the third session with a 59.295, ahead of Axel Saarniala (Finland) and Steven Servant (France). The subsequent wet session belonged to Lenn Nijs (Belgium). The 17-year-old, who finished fifth at the 2025 Grand Finals in MAX DD2, recorded a 1:11.585 to lead Tai Siler (Slovenia) by 0.219 seconds. Burnard followed in third.
Kimber's consistency across the opening two days, including strong performances in different conditions, makes him one of the most convincing early favourites. However, Burnard, Nijs and Closmann have all demonstrated that the battle for MAX DD2 honours will be anything but straightforward.
MAX DD2 Masters
The final practice sessions in MAX DD2 Masters produced new challengers after Matias Rodriguez (Argentina) had dominated Monday's opening programme. Jannik Nielsen (Denmark) topped the third practice session with a 1:00.620, edging Jack Dex (United Kingdom) by just 0.028 seconds. Gabriel Eduardo Zughella (Argentina) completed the top three.
As the track became wetter, another driver emerged at the front. Yan Vonzanok (Kazakhstan) delivered an impressive performance in the fourth session, recording a 1:13.818 to finish 0.414 seconds ahead of Dex. Martynas Tankevicius (Lithuania) secured third place, followed by Nicolas Picot (France) and Zughella.
The changing conditions have made the competitive picture particularly interesting. Rodriguez, who finished third at the Grand Finals in 2023 and runner-up in 2024, remains a serious contender after leading both sessions on Monday. However, Nielsen's pace on a drying circuit and Vonzanok's convincing wet-weather performance suggest that the Argentine will face strong opposition. Dex also demonstrated his potential by finishing second in both of Tuesday's practice classifications.
All Eyes on Thursday as Qualifying Approaches
With the shortened free-practice programme now concluded, attention turns to the decisive phase of the 2026 Rotax MAX Challenge Grand Finals. The first two days have highlighted an exciting combination of experienced Grand Finals champions, established international title winners and emerging talents. While some drivers have demonstrated consistent speed across several sessions, others have impressed particularly in wet conditions.
The varying track states make direct comparisons difficult, but they have also revealed an important quality: the ability to adapt quickly. That versatility could prove especially valuable as the event enters an intensified competitive schedule. Due to the severe weather warning, Wednesday, November 11, will remain completely free of on-track and off-track activities. Racing is scheduled to resume on Thursday with Qualifying Practice and Heat 1, followed by Heats 2 and 3 on Friday.
The removal of the Pre-Finals places even greater importance on every qualifying lap and heat result. With fewer opportunities to recover from setbacks, consistency will become crucial. The event will conclude on Saturday, November 14, with the Finals and Prize Giving Ceremony, when the next generation of RMC Grand Finals winners will be crowned.