After familiarising themselves with the Circuit International du Mans during a day of free practice, the 318 participants in the Rotax Max Challenge International Trophy battled it out with great energy in Qualifying on Thursday morning on a dry track with partly overcast skies. Austin Oman (GBR) in Micro Max, Albert Friend (GBR) in Mini Max, Luka Scelles (FRA) in Junior Max, Knud Nielsen (DNK) in Senior Max, Leonardo Baccaglini (ITA) in DD2 Max and Denis Thum (CYP) in DD2 Max Masters took pole positions in the sixth running of the event.
Conditions were perfect for competing under the clock on a dry track with a temperature close to 20°C in the six categories on the programme over the 1,368-metre track on the edge of the legendary 24 Hours circuit. Tyre manufacturer Mojo is the official tyre supplier for this event.
Micro Max: British pole position for Oman
Austin Oman (GBR - Exprit/Rotax) set a time of 59.295 on his fourth lap to take Micro Max pole position, 38 thousandths ahead of Joshua Cooke (GBR - Kosmic/Rotax). In 3rd place, Dominik Rozsa (HUN - Croc Promotion/Rotax) was 3 tenths off the pace. Charlie Page (GBR - Synergy/Rotax) and Achilleas Peruzzi (ARE - LN/Rotax) completed the top five.
Friend sets the fastest time in Mini Max
Albert Friend (GBR - Tony Kart/Rotax) monopolised 1st position for several laps before claiming pole position on his fourth lap of 56''711, a comfortable two-tenths clear of Emerson Macandrew-Uren (GBR - LN/Rotax). Zdenek Babicek (CZE - MSKart/Rotax) came in 3rd at the end of the session ahead of Tom Read (GBR - Tony Kart/Rotax) and Michal Zajac (POL - LN/Rotax), both 5-tenths off the pace.
Junior Max: Scelles on pole
The two Qualifying sessions produced very similar performances. In the end, it was Luka Scelles (FRA - EOS/Rotax) who was fastest in 53''738 at the end of Session 1, while Theo Palmer (ARE - Energy/Rotax) set a time of 53''908 in Session 2. Matthéo Dauvergne (FRA - Kosmic/Rotax) was 3rd ahead of Jacob Ashcroft (GBR - LN/Rotax) and Dragos Avasilcutei (AUT - Tony Kart/Rotax).
Nielsen takes the lead in Senior Max
Knud Nielsen (DNK - Tony Kart/Rotax) set the fastest time of the first session in 52''941. Nolan Lemeray (FRA - EOS/Rotax) set the fastest time in Session 2 in 52''952, while Lewis Gilbert (GBR - Tony Kart/Rotax) was fastest in Session 3 in 53''042. Ethan Jeff-Hall (GBR - Exprit/Rotax) took 4th place ahead of Arthur Robin (FRA - Gillard/Rotax) and Mateja Radenkovic (BEL - Tony Kart/Rotax).
Baccaglini fastest in DD2 Max
Leonardo Baccaglini (ITA - KR/Rotax) secured pole position with a third lap time of 52'484. Lenn Nijs (BEL - KR/Rotax) finished 2nd, more than a tenth behind Imke Arts (NLD - KR/Rotax). Xen De Ruwe (SVN - Tony Kart/Rotax) took 4th place, 2 tenths behind Antoine Barbaroux (FRA - EOS/Rotax).
DD2 Max Masters pole for Thum
Denis Thum (CYP - Tony Kart/Rotax) took pole position in the DD2 Masters with a third-lap time of 53'058. Robert Schlunssen (DNK - Tony Kart/Rotax) followed at 5 hundredths and Vivien Cussac-Picot (FRA - Tony Kart/Rotax) was 3rd at 86 thousandths. Jack Dex (GBR - MSKart/Rotax) finished 4th at 0.141'' and Fabian Bock (DEU - Tony Kart/Rotax) 5th.
Thursday continued with the first Qualifying Heats, which will also take place on Friday.
Provisional programme
Friday 19th July
08.09 - 09.26: Warm-up
09.28 - 17.13: Qualifying Heats
17.45: Drivers' parade, 3MK Events cocktail reception and DJ set
Saturday 20th July
08.00 - 09.17: Warm-up
09.32 - 12.56: Super Heats
13.55 - 17.07: Finals
18.00: Prize draw and podium ceremonies