The competitive action officially got underway this morning at Karting Genk: The Home of Champions, where the opening qualifying sessions of Round 3 of the 2026 Rotax MAX Challenge Euro Trophy took place under exceptionally hot conditions.
Temperatures exceeding 30°C put both drivers and equipment to the test as eight qualifying sessions crowned the first pole sitters of the Belgian weekend.
The fastest laps of the morning were set by Oscar Kenney (Mini MAX), Finlay Lines (Junior MAX), Jeremy Reuvers (Senior MAX), Patryk Donica (DD2), Nicolas Picot (DD2 Masters), Lucas dos Santos Pinheiro (E20 Senior) and Carl Cleirbaut (E20 Masters).
Mini MAX once again proved to be one of the closest categories of the morning. Oscar Kenney secured overall pole position ahead of the Sam Pollitt Racing pairing of Austin Oman and Sebastian Bearman, with the top three separated by only a handful of tenths heading into the opening heats.
One of the surprises of the day came in Junior MAX, where outsider Finlay Lines emerged as the overall pole sitter after a standout performance. In the second qualifying group, Mik Klinkers (Bouvin Power) set the fastest lap, but it was Lines' time that proved good enough to secure the overall pole position.
With almost one hundred drivers split into three qualifying groups, Senior MAX once again delivered one of the most competitive sessions of the weekend. Championship contender Jeremy Reuvers continued his outstanding qualifying form by claiming another overall pole position. The remaining groups were topped by Tereza Babickova (Dan Holland Racing) and home favourite Lars Lambers (Bouvin Power), both confirming themselves among the leading contenders for the weekend.
In the shifter categories, Patryk Donica (Birelart by KSB Racing) claimed the DD2 Poleman Trophy, edging out another highly competitive field. In DD2 Masters, Nicolas Picot (Privateer) once again proved untouchable, extending his impressive qualifying streak in 2026.
The first qualifying sessions of the season for the full electric categories also took place this morning. Lucas dos Santos Pinheiro (Privateer) secured the inaugural E20 Senior pole position, while Belgian driver Carl Cleirbaut (Bouvin Power) topped E20 Masters, becoming the first pole sitter of the year in the category.
Attention now shifts to the opening Qualifying Heats this afternoon, where the first points of the weekend will be contested and the battle for Sunday's Prefinal grids officially begins.