The 21^st edition of the Rotax MAX Challenge Grand Finals took place at the Bahrain International Karting Circuit in Sakhir in the Kingdom of Bahrain from December 11^th to 18^th, 2021. After a long wait since the last RMCGF in Sarno, Italy, BRP-Rotax had several premieres, which excited not only the drivers but also all the participants and followers of the Live Stream.

The welcoming morning breeze in Sakhir not only provided a cooling sensation to the already hot temperatures around the 1.414-km circuit but also brought along the air of heightened anticipation for what was to transpire today, amidst the sands of the Persian Gulf.

The 2021 Rotax MAX Challenge Grand Finals moved into the Pre-Final stages of the event here in Bahrain, as further excitement lay in store for all the drivers around the challenging and fast-flowing 1.414-km circuit. Not only was the surrounding temperature courtesy of the sunshine beating down from up above just as intense as it has been all week, but the action out on track would again welcome the aura of nighttime and floodlight-covered racing. 

On this 5th Day of the RMC Grand Finals in Bahrain we saw a lot of exciting action on the track and very motivated racers throughout the whole event area. Yesterday’s racing was very crucial to see where drivers would place for today’s Pre-Finals, as the combination from the intense 27-degree heat at its highest, the general atmosphere and the sheer racing action and thrilling fights would heighten both, the emotions of everyone at the circuit and those watching on from the official Live Stream. 

Following on from two days of Non-Qualifying Practice at the circuit, it was time to get the racing action underway amidst the sandy surroundings, with an increase in the air temperature at the track providing a perfect backdrop to the excitement of Qualifying Practice and the first set of Qualifying Heats for all competitors.

After a very windy day yesterday, today the track greeted us with bright sunshine with no real breeze apparent. We take a short look back to yesterday, where Non-Qualifying practice started, and the first action took place under the floodlights and the night sky.

Let’s take a look back to the Welcome GetTogether which took place yesterday evening at the spacious Formula 1 paddock and let’s review this second day on which the motivated racers had their first time on track with their brand new karts for the non-qualifying practices. The beginning of these NQ-practices have been scheduled very late so that the racers had the opportunity to drive in the floodlight for the first time in this week.

For its 2021 season opener, the Rotax MAX Challenge Euro Trophy welcomed a full house from April 9th to 11th at Karting Genk, Belgium. A remarkable field of participants, representing drivers from more than 20 different nations, turned the first of four championship rounds into a truly international battle, which offered three days of exciting action on the 1,360-metre long circuit in Flanders – even if there were some restrictions due to the pandemic situation.

The last day of the 2020 Rotax MAX Challenge International Trophy was rich in spectacle and twists on the Kartódromo Internacional do Algarve. Fought at 100% intensity on a dry track and in mixed conditions, the Finals showed the extraordinary competitiveness of the Rotax categories with top level participants coming from all over the world, despite a not particularly favourable health situation, before rewarding the big winners.

The weather improved greatly during the Prefinals of the Rotax MAX Challenge International Trophy in Portimão and the variations in grip seen since the Qualifying Heats resulted in races as exciting as they were selective in all categories.

Four weeks after the kick-off of the Rotax MAX Challenge Euro Trophy in Belgium, the European Rotax racers headed for Germany where the second round of the season was held from September 4th to 6th, 2020. Venue was the Prokart Raceland in Wackersdorf which equally hosted the halfway event of the elite RMC racing format. Although the Micro and Mini MAX categories were not part of program this time, over 100 drivers from more than 20 nations entered the second meeting of the year, providing the opening round winners and overall leaders a competitive mid-season event.

Conde, Brazil – Welcome to Finals Day of the 19th Edition of the Rotax MAX Challenge Grand Finals 2018 at the Circuit International Paladino. Saturday saw the drivers and teams arrive to light winds but satin sun and temperatures of 32 at its highest. You could feel the atmosphere had changed to both excitement but also apprehension to what would be a crucial days racing. Only half of the competitors in four of the classes (Junior, Senior, DD2 and DD2Masters) would be competing today but everyone still turned up to experience the atmosphere of Finals Day.

GENK – A glimpse at the podium after the Golden Trophy races in Genk was enough to confirm that Strawberry Racing remains a force to be reckoned with in Rotax Max. The very successful karting squad from Sheffield scored a one-two-three in the Senior category on Sunday. With Steve Armstrong as the new team manager, things are looking very good for next season.