The 2026 Rotax MAX Challenge Winter Cup has officially taken shape at KartCenter Campillos, with 135 drivers successfully verified for the opening event of the new season.
The Senior MAX category stands out as the most competitive, counting 61 drivers on the entry list. It is followed by Junior MAX with 34 competitors, Mini MAX with 21 drivers, while DD2 and DD2 Masters together total 19 entries.
The two official test days, which marked the first on-track action of the 2026 Winter Cup, have now been completed. Early indications suggest closely matched performances across all categories, supported by stable and consistent weather conditions that have allowed teams and drivers to work under comparable circumstances.
Several category changes have also drawn attention ahead of the competitive sessions. Among them, former Mini MAX protagonists Alfie Ward (MLC Motorsport) and Riley Murro (Sam Pollitt Racing) step up to Junior MAX. Multiple moves have also strengthened the Senior MAX field, including those of 2025 Winter Series champion Harry Freeman (KR Sport), Japanese driver Shun Sekiguchi (Dan Holland Racing) and Rayan Ghandour (KR Sport).
The event will move into its decisive phase tomorrow, with Qualifying Practices scheduled for 12:20, followed by the first Qualifying Heats starting at 14:20.
Beyond race results, competitors will be battling for key season-opening rewards, including free entries to the Rotax MAX Challenge Euro Trophy and the RMC International Trophy, underlining once again the strategic value of the Winter Cup within the overall Rotax calendar.