EKN: 2023 Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals – Preview – Team USA

In a few days’ time, one of the most prestigious events in karting will be underway. The 2023 Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals is scheduled for December 2-9 at the Bahrain International Karting Circuit. Roughly 386 drivers from over 50 countries around the world will converge in Sakhir, Bahrain to compete in eight categories for the event’s 23rd edition.

The 2023 edition of the Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals is the second visit to Bahrain, having made its first trip in 2021. One of the unique aspects of the facility is night racing, welcoming that for the first time two years ago. Racing under the lights will be a focal point once again, as the on-track schedule shifts to later in the day during the week.

The facility opens on December 1 to competitors and continues with sporting checks and registration on Saturday, December 2. Sunday is picture day, as all the karts set to compete will be staged on the front straight for the most popular photo of the season before each are handed out to their respective driver in the kart raffle. Once handed out, the competitors and their teams will prepare their machines for five days of action. On-track sessions begin on Monday with two full rounds with half the classes getting a third session. The remaining receive their third round on Tuesday, which begins at 2pm locally. Rounds four and five are held later into the afternoon and evening. The sixth and final round of practice on Wednesday gears the drivers up for qualifying before the first round of heat races are contested into the night. Racing resumes on Thursday with the second and third round of heat races. A later start again on Friday with the Prefinal races contested to set the grids for the main events, slated for Saturday, December 9.

Six of the eight divisions include the standard Rotax Max Challenge categories – Senior MAX, Junior MAX, DD2, DD2 Masters, Mini MAX, and Micro MAX. The E20 Senior electric division returns for a third straight year, with the E20 Masters class replacing the Junior category for 2023. A special E10 E-Kart Cup will be held on Saturday, featuring selected drivers from the Mini MAX class who did not qualify for the Final. A total of four chassis partners will help field each division with spec chassis – including Birel ART, Charles Leclerc, Praga, and Sodi Kart.

A total of nine drivers will represent Team USA in Bahrain for the 2023 Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals. The lineup has changed from the final tickets handed out at the US Trophy Final in September. Junior MAX winner Wesley Gundler will not compete in Bahrain, along with Senior MAX runner-up Dalton Hanes. Gundler’s spot was filled, however, Hanes spot was not.

The roster is a mix of veterans and first-time competitors, all with the focus of reaching the main event to perform their best with the Red, White and Blue colors. EKN will publish daily reports from the RMCGF each day, along with a breakdown of the results for each of the drivers on Team USA. Be sure to follow CanadianKartingNews.com to follow the action of Team Canada.

See the Driver Profiles and read the full article at eKartingNews.com.