BRP-Rotax and Karting Australia (KA) are pleased to announce the signing of a multi-year agreement to ensure Rotax competitors have even more opportunities to compete. The new arrangement with the national karting federation includes several racing initiatives. It also aims to re-establish the success of the Rotax MAX Challenge as a national event towards the qualification process for the RMC Grand Finals. Ultimately, this means Team Australia members will be there to take on the world in Bahrain at the season highlight from December 2nd to 9th, 2023.
The re-homologation and approval of the Rotax 125 MAX engines for use in Karting Australia sanctioned competition was announced, with immediate effect. In accordance with KA rules, this enables participation in standalone 125 Mini MAX, 125 Junior MAX, 125 Senior MAX and 125 MAX DD2 classes at Karting Australia events. This remains in place for the current TaG 125, TaG 125 Restricted, Junior Performance, Open Performance and Gearbox classes. Full details and documents will be published soon on the official KA website.
A Rotax MAX Challenge event at National Cup level will be organised under this agreement, with the date and location yet to be confirmed for 2023. The race program will include: 125 Mini MAX, 125 Junior MAX, 125 Senior MAX Light, 125 Senior MAX Heavy, 125 MAX DD2 and 125 MAX DD2 Masters. The results from this event will form part of the overall selection criteria for the RMCGF tickets. All information on how to qualify and tickets to be awarded will be set out in the Sporting Regulations. In addition, BRP-Rotax has been invited to support several Rotax categories in a new National Series being developed by Karting Australia, set to begin the last quarter of this year.
The ongoing development of electric powertrains continues at BRP-Rotax for new generation karting. The recent launch of the Rotax E10 for younger drivers has attracted considerable interest; significantly from KA. With full commercial production expected within two to three years, Rotax has agreed to co-operate by offering Australia a Cadet category powered by the Rotax E10 electric powertrain.
“We are pleased and excited to welcome Rotax back to the Karting Australia family. This is important to Karting Australia and is very good news for Australian karting at all levels,” explains Kelvin O’Reilly, Karting Australia Chief Executive Officer. “There is still a lot to be done. In the short term it is all about 2023 and 2024 competition structures and events, but at the same time, we are looking well into the future with the Rotax E10 program that should complement our current engines in the years to come.”
“It is important for us to have a strong relationship with the FIA and the ASN in each country. We work hard to bring world karting together each year at the Rotax MAX Challenge Grand Finals under FIA sanction and with the support of each country’s ASN”, says Peter Oelsinger, General Manager BRP-Rotax / Member of the Management Board, Vice President Sales, Marketing RPS-Business & Communications. “The Australian karting community has been part of our worldwide RMC since the beginning and overcoming the challenges of distance allows us to look forward to getting our competitors racing again in a stable karting environment. It is exciting as well to be able to offer Karting Australia the next generation of racing with the Rotax E10 electronic powertrains, alongside the already well-established classes.”
Info & Photo BRP-Rotax