Gunskirchen, Austria – The 2026 Rotax MAX Challenge Winter Cup marked the official start of the European Rotax Karting season at KartCenter Campillos. The CIK/FIA-homologated circuit once again proved to be a true benchmark, with a demanding layout combining long straights, technical sections and a wide racing surface that rewarded precision, consistency and racecraft.
The event unfolded under mixed and rapidly changing weather conditions. While stable conditions defined the early phases, Friday brought wind, cold temperatures and rain, dramatically reshuffling the competitive order and making results highly unpredictable across all categories. Sunny conditions returned for Finals Day, setting the stage for decisive and spectacular races.
Confirming its international stature, the Winter Cup featured drivers from over 30 nations, including a strong presence from outside Europe, underlining the global appeal of the Rotax Karting platform and the strategic importance of the Winter Cup within the season.
Thursday – qualifying defines the first hierarchies
The opening competitive day featured stable conditions, allowing drivers to push from the very first sessions.
In Mini MAX, British outsider Joshua Cooke (KR Sport) claimed pole position by just 0.014 seconds over Mik Klinkers (Bouvin Power), with Oscar Kenney (Hunter Motorsport) third. Cooke immediately confirmed his pace by winning the opening heat.
Junior MAX saw Swiss driver Luan Seidl (KR Sport) secure pole position, but the first heat reshuffled the order, with Zdenek Babicek (Dan Holland Racing) taking victory ahead of Jenson Chalk (MLC Motorsport) and Japanese driver Kaito Lloyd (Dan Holland Racing).
In Senior MAX, Macauley Bishop (Dan Holland Racing) set the benchmark with the fastest lap overall. Jeremy Reuvers (Karting Club Campillos) topped the second group, while rookie Rayan Ghandour (KR Sport) impressed in third overall.
In DD2, Wout Kurstjens (Daems Racing) edged out Ragnar Veerus (MKC Motorsport) in qualifying, while DD2 Masters once again saw Nicolas Picot (Privateer) emerge as the early reference.
Friday – heats turn conditions and standings upside down
Friday brought a dramatic change in conditions, as wind, cold temperatures and rain mixed up the competitive order and rewarded adaptability.
In Mini MAX, Cooke maintained control with a perfect heat record. Behind him, a strong recovery saw Austin Oman (Sam Pollitt Racing) climb into second overall, ahead of Logan Rolfe (KR Sport) and Klinkers.
Junior MAX proved challenging for pole sitter Seidl, who slipped down the order. Leadership changed hands, with Babicek taking control ahead of Lithuanian driver Majus Mazinas (KR Sport), while Chalk remained firmly in podium contention.
In Senior MAX, Bishop delivered one of the most consistent heat performances of the weekend. One victory and two second places allowed the 2025 RMC Grand Finals winner to retain the lead ahead of Reuvers and Scott Marsh(Strawberry Racing).
The DD2 category was defined by a fierce duel between Antoine Barbaroux (Privateer) and Kurstjens. After qualifying third, Barbaroux took control of the standings, while in DD2 Masters, Picot remained the driver to beat.
Saturday – Prefinals and Finals under the sun
Finals day saw the sun return to Campillos, providing ideal conditions for the decisive races and the crowning of the first Rotax champions of 2026. Earlier in the day, the Prefinals proved decisive in shaping the grids.
In Mini MAX, Austin Oman won the Prefinal and started the Final from pole position. However, a post-race penalty reshuffled the outcome, handing victory to Logan Rolfe, who claimed the Winter Cup title ahead of Mik Klinkers and Sebastian Bearman (Strawberry Racing). Rolfe also secured a full free entry to the Rotax MAX Challenge Euro Trophy.
Junior MAX saw Babicek confirm his momentum by winning the Prefinal and converting pole position into a controlled Final victory. The Dan Holland Racing driver secured the Winter Cup crown ahead of Chalk and Mazinas.
In Senior MAX, Bishop and Reuvers shared the Prefinal wins, with Bishop earning pole position for the Final. The Dan Holland Racing driver capitalised on his starting spot, delivering a dominant performance to win the Final by over four seconds and secure the Winter Cup title. Marsh and Bran Vanderveken (Bouvin Power) completed the podium.
In DD2, Barbaroux claimed victory in the Prefinal and completed a flawless Sunday by winning the combined DD2/DD2 Masters Final. Picot followed him across the line to secure the DD2 Masters title, confirming his status as the benchmark in the category.
Final Podiums – Rotax Max Challenge Winter Cup 2026
Mini MAX
1. Logan Rolfe
2. Mik Klinkers
3. Sebastian Bearman
Junior MAX
1. Zdenek Babicek
2. Jenson Chalk
3. Majus Mazinas
Senior MAX
1. Macauley Bishop
2. Scott Marsh
3. Bran Vanderveken
DD2
1. Antoine Barbaroux
2. Lenn Nijs
3. Vicente Marquez
DD2 Masters
1. Nicolas Picot
2. Vivien Cussac-Picot
3. Ricard Kalnciems
A sunny Campillos thus closed the Rotax MAX Challenge Winter Cup, the opening event of the 2026 Rotax Karting season promoted by WSK Promotion. The focus now shifts to mid-March, when the Rotax MAX Challenge Euro Trophy gets underway at the Cremona Circuit, opening the next chapter of the 2026 season.