The 10 Qualifying Practices sessions officially kick off the first round of the Rotax MAX Challenge Euro Trophy. Over the 1360 meters of Karting Genk: The Home of Champions, the traditional opening round venue of the RMCET, 239 drivers vied for pole position in the 5 classes involved in the event.
Burggraff Shocks Everyone!
AJ Burggraaff (Privateer) sets the fastest time in Mini MAX, beating Zdenek Babicek (TEPZ Racing), 2nd in Group 2 and 3rd overall, and Harry Taylor (Dan Holland Racing), pole-sitter in Group 1 and 2nd overall. 5th place in Group 1, therefore 10th overall, for the winner and dominant force in Campillos, Albert Friend on the Strawberry Racing Tony Kart. 9th in Group 2 Nikita Ljubimov (Bouvin Power).
Ashcroft Reigns Again in Junior!
It's once again the British driver Jacob Ashcroft who is the one to beat in Junior MAX. The Dan Holland Racing driver, winner here 7 days ago in the BNL Karting Series round and a month ago in the RMC Winter Cup, made the difference in the first qualifying group, beating Austrian Dragos Avasilcutei of MKC Motorsport, the fastest in the 2nd round. 3rd overall for Boaz Maximov of the home team Bouvin Power, then Cameron Nelson and Toms Strele (Dan Holland Racing).
Bishop Beats the Home Hero Stevens
54.012 is the time that allows Macauley Bishop (Dan Holland Racing) to secure the overall pole position in the fiercely contested Senior MAX. The "top" category, at least in terms of participants, was uncertain until the last moment. Home driver Vic Stevens (Bouvin Power), pole-sitter in his group, tried until the last moment to take the lead from Bishop. 3rd overall, and pole in Group 2, for RMC Winter Cup winner Jayden Thien (Dan Holland Racing). Worth noting is the 6th place in Group 1 of UAE driver Omar Ghannoum (Xcel Motorsport). Only 38th Ethan Jeff-Hall (Sam Politt Racing).
Fourquemin Gives DAEMS the Pole at the Home Circuit
Frenchman Paul Fourquemin sets the fastest time in the 2nd qualifying session, allowing him to celebrate the overall pole position in DD2. Fourquemin beats David Aulejtner (Schepers Racing), first in Group 1. 3rd Enzo Bol (SP Motorsport), 4th Antoine Barbaroux (GKart 53).
Picot Goes Back to Back
The track changes, but the protagonist remains the same: it's Nicolas Picot (Privateer) who sets the fastest time among the Masters. The Frenchman beats Latvian Haralds Garkaklis (Privateer) and Frenchman from RM Concept Christophe Capitaine. 6th Martynas Tankevicius (Privateer).
Now it's time for the exciting battles of the heats, which will continue tomorrow.