The Rotax MAX Challenge International Trophy Le Mans has delivered another exciting week of highly competitive racing in France from July 13-18. The European edition of the RMCIT now leads in attendance on the Rotax Racing calendar, where competitors use their own or team-supplied equipment. Surpassed only by the RMC Grand Finals in entries, the worldwide interest still grows after eight years.
This time, it brought together 47 nationalities, where many of the 370 drivers competed for the first time under lights. Six new champions were crowned in an event that truly challenged the participants and their supporters, influenced by the extreme weather at the Circuit International Karting du Le Mans. In the spirit of great competition that’s fun, developing our future champions, this legend lives on.
In the history-making results, every winner in the six Rotax classes was British, thereby adding to Team UK’s strong line-up for the RMCGF taking place at Kartódromo Internacional do Algarve, Portugal on November 7-14. Celebrating their success on the top step of the podium were Jayan Prakash (Micro MAX), Austin Oman (Mini MAX), Albert Friend (Junior MAX), Sean Butcher (Senior MAX), Mark Kimber (DD2) and Jack Dex (DD2 Masters). The champions were taken on a lap of honour around the Le Mans circuit in the latest Porsche 911 Carrera GTS Cabriolet (992.2) courtesy of Centre Porsche Nantes, in collaboration with BRP-Rotax and Porsche Motorsport.
In addition to the RMCGF 2026 big tickets to the Rotax season highlight, the impressive awards included Rotax 125 MAX Evo engines for the vice champions plus Rotax vouchers worth €1.000 to the third-placed drivers. There were great incentives offered by the valued RMCIT partners, which saw ITAKAshop Pole Position trophies and special Finalists medals, as well as a Can-Am Ryker, Bell Helmets, Freem custom-made T-shirts, topped off with freshly-baked pastries for breakfast and a refreshments party following the colourful drivers’ parade.
The RMCIT was livestreamed on YouTube by WFR across three entire days in an extended broadcast, ensuring all races on the program could be followed by the global viewers tuning in. The organisation team at 3MK Events aimed to keep everyone comfortable as temperatures rose, adjusting the schedule into the evening as requested by local authorities. With the support of the Autodrome Club de l’Ouest (ACO), officials and technical staff from the French FFSA and Belgian RACB, the continuation of the event was possible.
The adjusted timetable split the day into morning and evening sessions, allowing numerous drivers the experience of running under lights, adding the true 24-hour feeling of racing at iconic Le Mans. Wednesday night’s official timed practice was the closing stage of training mid-week to determine the start grids for the 34 qualifying heats. Super Heats and Finals were on Saturday.
Micro Max: Prakash dominates
Starting from pole position in Qualifying and winning all three of his heats, Jayan Prakash (GBR) undeniably dominated the category at the RMCIT. He faced a challenge in the Super Heat from Jules Chech (FRA) – who was penalised – and Arthur Bowers (GBR), but this did not prevent him from starting from pole position in the Final. Leading from the start, he was briefly challenged by Samar Chopra (ARE), but reacted very quickly and controlled the race right up to the chequered flag. Albert Pharoah (GBR) finished 3 tenths behind him, with Chopra finishing two seconds further back.
Micro Max Final Results
1- Jayan Prakash (GBR – KR/Rotax/Mojo – Sam Pollitt Racing)
2- Albert Pharoah (GBR – KR/Rotax/Mojo – Sam Pollitt Racing)
3- Samar Chopra (UAE – LN/Rotax/Mojo)
4- Arthur Bowers (GBR – Kosmic/Rotax/Mojo – KR Sport)
5- Jules Chech (FRA – DAP/Rotax/Mojo – Kart Pro Racing)
Mini Max: Oman’s winning comeback
Austin Oman (GBR) started from a distant 16th place in Qualifying. He initially moved up to 5th at the end of the Qualifying Heats before making a big impression by winning the Super Heat following Joshua Cooke’s (GBR) problems at the start. Starting from pole position in the Final, Oman immediately pulled away from Cooke and Sebastian Bearman (GBR). Oman maintained a very strong pace, managed his race well and secured a comfortable victory by a margin of a second.
Mini Max Final Results
1- Austin Oman (GBR – KR/Rotax/Mojo)
2- Joshua Cooke (GBR – Kosmic/Rotax/Mojo – KR Sport)
3- Sebastian Bearman (GBR – KR/Rotax/Mojo – Sam Pollitt Racing)
4- Charlie Page (GBR – Kosmic/Rotax/Mojo)
5- Alfie Garrett (GBR – Sodi/Rotax/Mojo – Sodi)
Friend takes victory in the Junior Max Final
Finlay Lines (GBR) had dominated the Qualifying sessions right up to his victory in Super Heat A ahead of Albert Friend (GBR). Leading the Final until the seventh lap, he was forced to concede to Friend, who took the lead. Zdenek Babicek (CZE) launched a fierce attack on Friend on the final lap, but was subsequently penalised for his aggressive driving. Friend duly reclaimed 1st place, finishing 6 tenths ahead of Rares Pascu (CHE) and Majus Mazinas (LTU).
Junior Max Final Results
1- Albert Friend (GBR – LN/Rotax/Mojo – Dan Holland Racing)
2- Rares Pascu (CHE – LN/Rotax/Mojo – Dan Holland Racing)
3- Majus Mazinas (LTU – Kosmic/Rotax/Mojo – KR Sport)
4- Sebastian Clark (GBR – Kosmic/Rotax/Mojo – KR Sport)
5- Finlay Lines (GBR – Kosmic/Rotax/Mojo – KR Sport)
Butcher beats Langlois in the Senior Max class
Sean Butcher (GBR) first had to fight his way back from 38th place in the Qualifying session. He had done just that by the end of the heats, finishing 2nd behind Tom Langlois (FRA). A duel developed between the two men, who had shared the Super Heats between them. Langlois started the Final in the lead, but Butcher took over at the front of the race from the fifth lap onwards. The gap between the top two remained narrow for a long time, keeping Langlois’s hopes alive. But Butcher stepped up the pace a few laps from the finish and won by a second ahead of his rival. Behind them, the order had been set since the fifth lap, with Leon Hastie (GBR) in 3rd, Max Sadurski (NLD) in 4th and Matéo Rivals (FRA) in 5th.
Senior Max Final Results
1- Sean Butcher (GBR – Kosmic/Rotax/Mojo – KR Sport)
2- Tom Langlois (FRA – Sodi/Rotax/Mojo – GKart53)
3- Leon Hastie (GBR – CS55/Rotax/Mojo – Potenza Racing)
4- Max Sadurski (NLD – KR/Rotax/Mojo – SP Motorsport)
5- Matéo Rivals (FRA – EOS/Rotax/Mojo – Dream Racing)
Kimber wins the DD2 Max Final
After setting the 15th fastest time, Mark Kimber (GBR) took the lead in the Qualifying heats, before conceding 2nd place to Enzo Bol (NLD) in Super Heat A. Kimber nevertheless started from pole position in the Final. After a strong start ahead of Jakub Bezel (CZE), the Briton quickly pulled away and calmly managed his lead as the laps went by, whilst battles raged behind him. Kimber won the race 1.4 seconds ahead of Bezel and Bol. He had previously won the DD2 class at the 2022 RMCGF, as well as the Senior Max in 2021 and the Junior Max in 2016.
DD2 Max Final Results
1- Mark Kimber (GBR – LN/Rotax/Mojo – Daems Racing Team)
2- Jakub Bezel (CZE – Tony Kart/Rotax/Mojo – Kraft Motorsport)
3- Enzo Bol (NLD – KR/Rotax/Mojo – SP Motorsport)
4- Leon Mandl (AUT – Birelart/Rotax/Mojo – Birelart by KSB)
5- Emils Akmens (LAT – Tony Kart/Rotax/Mojo – MKC Motorsport)
Dex finally rewarded in DD2 Max Masters
Jack Dex (GBR) had secured pole position straight away in Qualifying ahead of Gabriel Zughella (ARG). He confirmed his form after the heats by leading ahead of Nicolas Claes (BEL). He then won the Super Heat ahead of Alex Fielenbach (GER). Leading in the opening laps of the Final, he was briefly threatened by Claes before coming under pressure from Maxime Gravouille (FRA) towards the end of the race. In a rather chaotic final lap, Claes attacked Gravouille whilst Dex secured victory by 6 hundredths of a second. Claes was subsequently penalised, and Vivien Cussac-Picot (FRA) took 2nd place.
DD2 Max Masters Final Results
1- Jack Dex (GBR – MSKart/Rotax/Mojo – JDR)
2- Vivien Cussac-Picot (FRA – Tony Kart/Rotax/Mojo – NPS)
3- Gustavo Michelsen (PER – Tony Kart/Rotax/Mojo)
4- Maxime Gravouille (FRA – Kosmic/Rotax/Mojo)
5- Harold Watson (PER – Sodi/Rotax/Mojo)