The 2026 Rotax MAX Challenge Winter Cup continued today at KartCenter Campillos with the completion of the Qualifying Practices and the first Qualifying Heats, providing the first clear competitive indications across all categories.

In Mini MAX, pole position was secured by English outsider Joshua Cooke (KR Sport), who topped the session by just 14 thousandths of a second over Mik Klinkers (Bouvin Power). Third fastest was Oscar Kenney (Hunter Motorsport). Cooke then confirmed his pace by winning the opening heat.

In Junior MAX, Swiss driver Luan Seidl (KR Sport) claimed pole position. The first heat, however, saw a significant reshuffle, with victory going to Zdenek Babicek (Dan Holland Racing), ahead of Britain’s Jenson Chalk (MLC Motorsport) and Japanese driver Kaito Lloyd (Dan Holland Racing). Seidl crossed the line in fourth place.

In Senior MAX, Macauley Bishop (Dan Holland Racing) confirmed his status as the driver to beat. His lap of 1:02.609 earned him both group and overall pole position. In the second group, the fastest time went to Jeremy Reuvers (Karting Club Campillos), with rookie Rayan Ghandour (KR Sport) third overall. Bishop and Reuvers finished first and second in the opening heat, while the second heat victory went to Lewis Gilbert (Potenza Racing Engines).

In DD2, Wout Kurstjens (Dames Racing) edged Ragnar Veerus (MKC Motorsport) in qualifying, but was then forced to concede victory in the first heat to Antoine Barbaroux (Privateer). In DD2 Masters, Nicolas Picot (Privateer) once again emerged as the reference driver.

The focus now turns to tomorrow, when the decisive qualifying heats will take place, setting the stage for the final phases of the 2026 Winter Cup weekend.