Rotax MAX Challenge Grand Finals - Day 2
| Official RMCGF report | 26 November 2014 |
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Welcome to the first official practice day of the Rotax MAX Challenge Grand Finals!
Competitors participated Tuesday in three of five total non-qualifying practice sessions, allowing drivers to become familiar with the track, the chassis and engine, and their competitors. This is one of the essential days of the Grand Finals race week because it provides drivers with an opportunity to optimize chassis set-ups without the pressure of qualifying or racing for position.
Practice No. 1 is reserved for breaking in the new Rotax engines. During engine break-in sessions competitors gradually accelerate and warm up engines, driving beneath the engine’s potential speed and power. If not warmed up and broken-in properly, engines may face potential damage.
Transponders were provided to all drivers following the close of practice No. 1. Live timing will now be available on the RMCGF homepage, at http://www.rotax-kart.com/en/Max-Challenge/Grand-Finals/Grand-Finals-2014/Livestream.
Practice No. 2 and No. 3 gave drivers the chance to take advantage of their equipment, driving to the full potential of the engine.
The Junior MAX field saw the Lithuanian Rokas Baciuska jump to the top of the time sheets with a 58.861 for practice No. 2. However, the tables turned in practice No. 3, when the Austrian Mick Wishofer jumped to the top of the time sheets with a 58.796, one-tenth ahead of Baciuska.
The 125 MAX field proved to be extremely competitive. French pilot Nicolas Picot took the top spot during practice No. 2 with a 57.721, one-hundredth faster than the Canadian Zachary Claman-Demelo. In practice No. 3 Roope Markkanen of Finland jumped to the top of time sheets, with a fast time of 57.473 only three-hundredths faster than the Estonian Kairo Kivi.
Practice No. 2 saw the DD2 Masters driver Cristiano Morgado of South Africa at the top of the time sheets of the DD2 Masters class. Morgado’s fastest time was a 56.120 – one tenth faster than second place. During practice 3, however, Antti Ollikainen of Finland jumped to the top of the time sheets with a 56.238.
The DD2 field saw Ferenc Kancsar storm to the top of the time sheets in practice No. 2 with a fastest time of 55.526. The DD2 field proved to be very competitive as the second fastest, UK’s Sean Babington, was only 3 thousandths off of Kancsar. Like in the Junior MAX field, in practice No. 2 the tables turned on Kancsar, who was fourteen-thousandths slower than Babington who posted a 55.482, which was ultimately the fastest lap of the day.
As the day wraps up with a driver briefing for tomorrow’s practice and qualifying, remember to stay alert for our next updates, extending the intense action of the Rotax MAX Challenge Grand Finals to you.
The Rotax MAX Challenge (RMC) is a professional kart racing series established, owned and organized by BRP and its Rotax kart engine distributors. Approved by and in compliance with CIK / FIA, the RMC is a "one-make-engine" formula: only Rotax kart engines that are checked and sealed (for equal performance) are allowed. The success in the competition is mainly up to the skills of the driver.
