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.

When the FIA announced earlier this year that the first-ever Karting Arrive and Drive World Cup would come to the Asia-Pacific region, accessibility, affordability and inclusion were set at the heart of what has been a landmark event on the International Sporting Calendar. 
 

Welcome to the exhilarating world of racing as we dive into the pulsating atmosphere of the first day on the track with the eagerly awaited new karts that were raffled just yesterday. The air was charged with anticipation, and happy, smiling faces were present everywhere as the drivers of the various categories made their way from the drivers' tent to the pre-grid for their inaugural Non-Qualifying Practice sessions.