Following 34 Qualifying Heats contested on Thursday and Friday at Le Mans, the Rotax Max Challenge International Trophy is set to enter its final day on Saturday, with Super Heats and Finals on the programme.
Jayan Prakash (GBR) in Micro Max, Joshua Cooke (GBR) in Mini Max, Finlay Lines (GBR) in Junior Max, Tom Langlois in Senior Max, Mark Kimber (GBR) in DD2 and Jack Dex (GBR) in DD2 Masters are the leaders in the provisional standings on Friday evening.
Less extreme temperatures have allowed a return to a more normal pace for the Qualifying Heats over the last two days. We witnessed some impressive comebacks in some categories, whilst the pecking order based on lap times was more closely followed in Micro Max, Junior Max, Senior Max and DD2 Masters. In any case, the competition has been fierce at every level, and several outstanding performances have marked this decisive phase.
Micro Max: Prakash dominates the heats
Pole-sitter Jayan Prakash (GBR - KR) clearly won all three Qualifying Heats to retain his lead in the Micro Max class. Jules Chech (FRA - DAP) made a strong climb from 7th to 2nd place, ahead of Arthur Bowers (GBR - Kosmic), who moved up eight places. Albert Pharoah (GBR - KR) was in 4th place ahead of Alex Moghabghab (USA - KR). 2nd on the timesheet, Freddie Baker (GBR - RCE) dropped back to 15th place after two difficult heats.
Mini Max: Cooke returns to the top after the heats
Austin Oman (GBR - KR), Charlie Page (GBR - Kosmic) and Robin Raikkonen (ITA - KR) each won a Qualifying Heat at Le Mans. But it was Joshua Cooke (GBR - Kosmic) who took the lead on Friday evening after climbing 14 places. Pole-sitter Paul Plattner-Geramb (AUT - KR) held his own in 2nd place, whilst Page also moved up 14 places to finish 3rd. Kory Lyons (IRL - KR) held on to 4th place ahead of Oman, who made up 11 places. Raikonnen finished in 6th place with a fine victory. In 12th, Alfie Garrett (GBR - Sodi) made the biggest leap up the field, gaining 23 places.
Junior Max: Lines still on top
Pole-sitter Finlay Lines (GBR - Kosmic) left nothing to chance! He simply won all four heats to finish with the maximum points. Well done! Riley Murro (GBR - Kosmic) took 2nd place with one victory, ahead of Majus Mazinas (LTU - Kosmic), who also claimed one win. Zdenek Babicek (CZE - LN) staged a remarkable comeback, climbing to 4th place after starting 24th. Sebastian Clark (GBR - Kosmic) made it into the top five as part of a tightly bunched group: Rares Pascu (CHE - LN) 6th, Albert Friend (GBR - LN) 7th, Tren van Melik (NLD - Tony Kart) 8th, Martin Soltys (SK - Tony Kart) 9th and Louis Radcliffe (GBR - Kosmic) 10th.
After retiring from his second race, Carsten Soer (FRA - Kosmic) had lost ground to 11th place, but nevertheless remained the leading French driver. Téo Policand (FRA - EOS) finished 18th and Charles Ural (FRA - Redspeed) 20th. Bruno Matrullo (FRA - LN), who set the 2nd-fastest lap time, dropped back to 24th.
Langlois continues to lead in Max Senior
Pole-sitter Tom Langlois (FRA - Sodi) managed to retain the lead in the standings at the end of the six heats scheduled for each competitor. The Frenchman claimed three victories, as did his closest rival Sean Butcher (GBR - Kosmic), who has made a remarkable comeback from 38th position: a fine performance! Another Frenchman, Rafaël Moreau (FRA - Kosmic), is in 3rd place after climbing 17 places. Boaz Maximov (NLD - Tony Kart), who was 3rd in Qualifying, sits in 4th place ahead of Elyo Giltaire (FRA - Tony Kart). Leon Hastie (GBR - CS55) occupies 6th place ahead of Macauley Bishop (GBR - LN). Austin Lee (GER - Tony Kart) in 8th and Max Sadurski (NLD - KR) in 9th have both moved up 19 places. Hugo Martiniello (FRA - EOS) rounds off the top ten, having climbed 11 places. In 12th place behind Jeremy Reuvers (ESP - Tony Kart), Simon Périgny (FRA - KR) had been having a very good run before being heavily penalised in his final heat. Meanwhile, Matéo Rivals (FRA - EOS) fought his way back from 35th to 13th place. The biggest climb up the order was achieved by Aaron Garcia Lopez (ESP - KR), who moved up from 104th to 31st place.
DD2: Kimber regains the lead
Two-time winner Mark Kimber (GBR - LN) made a superb charge to the front of the DD2 category, gaining 14 places over the heats. Antoine Barbaroux (FRA - LN) and pole-sitter Stan Pex (NLD - KR) were very consistent in the top three. In 4th place, Matthias Njeim (LBN - Birelart) had made up 13 places ahead of Emils Akmens (LAT - Tony Kart). Patryk Donica (POL - Birelart) suffered a major setback by retiring in his second heat and found himself in 10th place. Disqualified for a technical non-compliance in his second heat and held up in the third, Sem Knopjes (NLD - Birelart) had dropped to 36th position.
Dex still leads in DD2 Masters
Pole-sitter Jack Dex (GBR - MS Kart) held on to 1st place at the end of the Qualifying Heats. Nicolas Claes (BEL - Tony Kart) and Gabriel Zughella (ARG - Birelart), who each won a heat, rounded off a closely contested top three. Alex Fielenbach (GER - CS55) finished 4th ahead of Maxime Gravouille (FRA - Kosmic). He was followed by three other French drivers: Alexandre Gravouille (FRA - Kosmic), Vivien Cussac-Picot (FRA - Tony Kart) and Charles Seguin (FRA - Sodi).
Provisional schedule
Saturday 18 July
07.45 - 08.54: Warm-up
09.17 - 12.23: Super Heats
14.00 - 17.00: Finals
18.00: Prize draw and podium ceremonies