After familiarising themselves with the Le Mans International Circuit during Free Practice, the 343 participants in the 2025 Rotax Max Challenge International Trophy competed with great energy during Qualifying on Thursday morning on a dry track under partly cloudy skies. Ava Lawrence (UAE) in Micro Max, Emerson Macandrew-Uren (GBR) in Mini Max, Eva Morris (GBR) in Junior Max, Simon Périgny (FRA) in Senior Max, Sem Knopjes (NLD) in DD2 Max and Gabriel Zughella (ARG) in DD2 Max Masters took pole positions in this 7th edition.
Conditions were perfect for competing against the clock on a dry track with temperatures close to 20°C for the six categories on the programme on the 1,368-metre track alongside the legendary 24-hour circuit. Mojo is the official tyre supplier for the event.
Micro Max: Pole position for Ava Lawrence
Ava Lawrence (UAE - Tony Kart/Rotax) set a time of 59.687 on her fourth lap to take pole position in Micro Max, 17 thousandths ahead of Guido Ebergenyi (UAE - Kosmic/Rotax). In 3rd place, Charlie Page (GBR - KR/Rotax) was 55 thousandths behind, followed by Jaimy Septier (FRA - Praga/Vortex) and Albi-Jay Stubbs (GBR - KR/Rotax) less than a tenth behind.
Macandrew-Uren sets the fastest time in Mini Max
Emerson Macandrew-Uren (GBR - LN/Rotax) quickly secured pole position in Mini Max with a time of 57.160, 0.130 seconds ahead of Riley Murro (GBR - KR/Rotax), his closest rival. Alfie Ward (UAE - Gillard/Rotax) was 3rd ahead of Leo Livings (GBR - Kosmic/Rotax) and Alfie Mair (GBR - Gillard/Rotax), both two tenths behind.
Junior Max: Eva Morris on pole position
The two Qualifying sessions produced very similar performances. The top nine finished within the same tenth of a second. In the end, Eva Morris (GBR - Kosmic/Rotax) was the fastest with a time of 53.678 in Session 2, while Dragos Avasilcutei (AUT - Tony Kart/Rotax) clocked a time of 53.742 in Session 1. Kai Clark (GBR - KR/Rotax) finished 3rd ahead of Jacob Ashcroft (GBR - LN/Rotax) and Rayan Ghandour (GEO - Kosmic/Rotax).
Périgny takes the lead in Senior Max
Simon Périgny (FRA - KR/Rotax) set the fastest time in the third timed session with a lap of 53.218 seconds. Matthew Higgins (GBR - LN/Rotax) was credited with the fastest time in the second session with 53.268 seconds, while Tom Streles (LAT - Tony Kart/Rotax) was the fastest in the first session with 53.332 seconds. Tino Sidler (SUI - LN/Rotax) took 4th place ahead of Lorenzo Giovanni Giaquinto (ITA - Tony Kart/Rotax) and Lloyd Hare (GBR - LN/Rotax). It should be noted that many drivers in the first session were disqualified for entering the track after the three-minute time limit.
Knopjes dominates the DD2 Max timesheets
Sem Knopjes (NLD - LN/Rotax) was significantly faster in the second session than Jakub Bezel (CZE - Tony Kart/Rotax) in the first, posting a lead of more than 1.4 tenths with his time of 52.460. Hugo Dupont (FRA - Birel ART/Rotax) stood out in 3rd position ahead of Knud Nielsen (DEN - Tony Kart/Rotax) and Christian Baumgartner (AUT - Birel ART/Rotax).
Pole position in DD2 Max Masters for Zughella
Gabriel Zughella (ARG - Birel ART/Rotax) took pole position in DD2 Masters with a third lap of 52.783. Charles Seguin (FRA - Tony Kart/Rotax) took 2nd place by 95 thousandths of a second, followed by Vivien Cussac Picot (FRA - Tony Kart/Rotax), then Xen De Ruwe (SLO - Tony Kart/Rotax) and Jack Dex (GBR - MSKart/Rotax).
Thursday afternoon continued with the first Qualifying Heats, which will continue on Friday.
Provisional schedule
Friday 18th July
08.06 - 09.23: Warm-up
09.38 - 17.37: Qualifying Heats
17.45: Drivers' parade, cocktail party and DJ set
Saturday 19th July
07:45 - 08:54: Warm-up
09:17 - 12:23: Super Heats
14:00 - 17:00: Finals
18:00: Prize draw and podium ceremony