The Australian team celebrating their win in the Nations Cup at the 2011 event
Twelve Australian kart racers are preparing to take on the world next week in the 14thAnnual Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals being held at the NOLA Motorsports Park in New Orleans, USA.
It is the first time the event has been held in America with 356 drivers from more than 60 countries set to compete in identical equipment powered by 125cc Rotax engines. Competitors on the junior ranks will be competing aboard the Energy Corse chassis while competitors in the 125 Max category will line up in the Sodi kart chassis, CRG is the chassis chosen for the DD2 category while Praga chassis will be supplied to competitors in the DD2 Masters category. There will also be two national categories – Mini Max and Micro Max – where American, Canadian and Mexican drivers will compete aboard Haase and OK1 karts.
Australia is a former winner of the Nations Cup, having won the prestigious title at the corresponding event at Al Ain (UAE) in 2011 and finished on the podium for the title for the past three years. Tasmanian-born Ben George is the only Australian to have won an individual class when he was victorious in the DD2 category in 2006.
Over the past few years, Australia has enjoyed several podium finishes at the event with the likes of Pierce Lehane, Joseph Mawson, David Sera and Jason Pringle finishing inside the top three.
Lehane, who finished third in the Junior Max category in Italy at the 2010 event, has competed against the best European drivers in the Euro Challenge throughout 2013 and will start as one of the favourites for the 2013 title. The Sydneysider will be joined in the 125 Max class by fellow Australians Daniel Rochford and Tyler Greenbury.
Jason Pringle will be making his fifth appearance at the event (Pic: AF Images/Budd)
For Pringle, this year marks his fifth appearance at the Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals, and after finishing runner-up in 2011 he’s got his eyes focused on the top step next week aboard a chassis he is already very familiar with. Queenslanders Lucas Ward and Brendan Nelson have also earned the right to compete in the DD2 category at the event through the Rotax Pro Tour rankings.
Australia’s representatives in the Junior Max category include a pair of National Champions – James Abela and Liam McLellan – and rising star Joseph Burton-Harris who competed in the corresponding event in Portugal last year.
Victorian Hamish Leighton will be making his second appearance at the event in the DD2 Masters category where Adam Hunter and Daniel Richert will join him on the grid.
The Australian contingent has already started arriving in America ahead of the distribution of karts on Monday and practice on Tuesday.
To view the full timetable (including a conversion to Australian time) in a pdf format please click here.
To view the official website for the event, which includes links to live video from November 28 and live timing throughout the event, please click here.
The local time in New Orleans is -17 AEDT.
2013 Rotax Max Challenge Grand Final
Event Timetable
| TUESDAY NOVEMBER 12 (Wednesday November 13 AEDT) | |||
| Local Time | AEDT | Non Qualifying Practice 1 – 15 minutes | |
| 8:50 AM | 1:50 AM | Junior Max – Odd numbers | |
| 9:07 AM | 2:07 AM | Junior Max – Even numbers | |
| 9:24 AM | 2:24 AM | Senior Max – Odd numbers | |
| 9:41 AM | 2:41 AM | Senior Max – Even numbers | |
| 9:58 AM | 2:58 AM | DD2 Masters – Odd numbers | |
| 10:15 AM | 3:15 AM | DD2 Masters – Even numbers | |
| 10:32 AM | 3:32 AM | DD2 – Odd numbers | |
| 10:49 AM | 3:49 AM | DD2 – Even numbers | |
| Local Time | AEDT | Non Qualifying Practice 2 – 15 minutes | |
| 11:06 AM | 4:06 AM | Junior Max – Odd numbers | |
| 11:23 AM | 4:23 AM | Junior Max – Even numbers | |
| 11:40 AM | 4:40 AM | Senior Max – Odd numbers | |
| 11:57 AM | 4:57 AM | Senior Max – Even numbers | |
| 12:14 PM | 5:14 AM | DD2 Masters – Odd numbers | |
| 12:31 PM | 5:31 AM | DD2 Masters – Even numbers | |
| 12:46 PM | 5:46 AM | Lunch Break | |
| 1:25 PM | 6:25 AM | DD2 – Odd numbers | |
| 1:42 PM | 6:42 AM | DD2 – Even numbers | |
| Local Time | AEDT | Non Qualifying Practice 3 – 15 minutes | |
| 1:59 PM | 6:59 AM | Junior Max – Odd numbers | |
| 2:16 PM | 7:16 AM | Junior Max – Even numbers | |
| 2:33 PM | 7:33 AM | Senior Max – Odd numbers | |
| 2:50 PM | 7:50 AM | Senior Max – Even numbers | |
| 3:07 PM | 8:07 AM | DD2 Masters – Odd numbers | |
| 3:24 PM | 8:24 AM | DD2 Masters – Even numbers | |
| 3:41 PM | 8:41 AM | DD2 – Odd numbers | |
| 3:58 PM | 8:58 AM | DD2 – Even numbers | |
| WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 13 (Thursday November 14 AEDT) | |||
| Local Time | AEDT | Non Qualifying Practice 4 – 10 minutes | |
| 8:45 AM | 1:45 AM | Junior Max – Odd numbers | |
| 9:00 AM | 2:00 AM | Junior Max – Even numbers | |
| 9:15 AM | 2:15 AM | Senior Max – Odd numbers | |
| 9:30 AM | 2:30 AM | Senior Max – Even numbers | |
| 9:45 AM | 2:45 AM | DD2 Masters – Odd numbers | |
| 10:00 AM | 3:00 AM | DD2 Masters – Even numbers | |
| 10:15 AM | 3:15 AM | DD2 – Odd numbers | |
| 10:30 AM | 3:30 AM | DD2 – Even numbers | |
| Local Time | AEDT | Non Qualifying practice 5 – 10 minutes | |
| 10:45 AM | 3:45 AM | Junior Max – Odd numbers | |
| 11:00 AM | 4:00 AM | Junior Max – Even numbers | |
| 11:15 AM | 4:15 AM | Senior Max – Odd numbers | |
| 11:30 AM | 4:30 AM | Senior Max – Even numbers | |
| 11:45 AM | 4:45 AM | DD2 Masters – Odd numbers | |
| 12:00 PM | 5:00 AM | DD2 Masters – Even numbers | |
| 12:15 PM | 5:15 AM | DD2 – Odd numbers | |
| 12:30 PM | 5:30 AM | DD2 – Even numbers | |
| 12:40 PM | 5:40 AM | Lunch Break | |
| Local Time | AEDT | Qualifying Practice – 15 minutes | |
| 1:20 PM | 6:20 AM | Junior Max – Odd numbers | |
| 1:40 PM | 6:40 AM | Junior Max – Even numbers | |
| 1:55 PM | 6:55 AM | 5 Minutes Break | |
| 2:00 PM | 7:00 AM | Senior Max – Odd numbers | |
| 2:20 PM | 7:20 AM | Senior Max – Even numbers | |
| 2:40 PM | 7:40 AM | DD2 Masters – Odd numbers | |
| 3:00 PM | 8:00 AM | DD2 Masters – Even numbers | |
| 3:20 PM | 8:20 AM | DD2 – Odd numbers | |
| 3:40 PM | 8:40 AM | DD2 – Even numbers | |
| THURSDAY NOVEMBER 14 (Friday November 15 AEDT) | |||
| Local Time | AEDT | Warm-up – 10 minutes | |
| 8:15 AM | 1:15 AM | Junior Max – Odd numbers | |
| 8:30 AM | 1:30 AM | Junior Max – Even numbers | |
| 8:45 AM | 1:45 AM | Senior Max – Odd numbers | |
| 9:00 AM | 2:00 AM | Senior Max – Even numbers | |
| 9:15 AM | 2:15 AM | DD2 Masters – Odd numbers | |
| 9:30 AM | 2:30 AM | DD2 Masters – Even numbers | |
| 9:45 AM | 2:45 AM | DD2 – Odd numbers | |
| 10:00 AM | 3:00 AM | DD2 – Even numbers | |
| Local Time | AEDT | QUALIFYING HEATS # 1 | |
| 10:20 AM | 3:20 AM | RACE 1 – Junior Max – (A + B) | 7 laps |
| 10:40 AM | 3:40 AM | RACE 2 – Junior Max – (C+D) | 7 laps |
| 11:00 AM | 4:00 AM | RACE 3 – Senior Max – (A + B) | 10 laps |
| 11:20 AM | 4:20 AM | RACE 4 – Senior Max – (C + D) | 10 laps |
| 11:40 AM | 4:40 AM | RACE 5 – DD2 Masters – (A + B) | 10 laps |
| 12:00 PM | 5:00 AM | RACE 6 – DD2 Masters – (C + D) | 10 laps |
| 12:20 PM | 5:20 AM | RACE 7 – DD2 – (A + B) | 10 laps |
| 12:40 PM | 5:40 AM | RACE 8 – DD2 – (C + D) | 10 laps |
| 12:55 PM | 5:55 AM | LUNCH BREAK | |
| Local Time | AEDT | QUALIFYING HEATS #2 | |
| 1:35 PM | 6:35 AM | RACE 9 – Junior Max – (A + C) | 7 laps |
| 1:55 PM | 6:55 AM | RACE 10 – Junior Max – (B + D) | 7 laps |
| 2:15 PM | 7:15 AM | RACE 11 – Senior Max – (A + C) | 10 laps |
| 2:35 PM | 7:35 AM | RACE 12 – Senior Max – (B + D) | 10 laps |
| 2:55 PM | 7:55 AM | RACE 13 – DD2 Masters – (A + C) | 10 laps |
| 3:15 PM | 8:15 AM | RACE 14 – DD2 Masters – (B + D) | 10 laps |
| 3:35 PM | 8:35 AM | RACE 15 – DD2 – (A + C) | 10 laps |
| 3:55 PM | 8:55 AM | RACE 16 – DD2 – (B + D) | 10 laps |
| NON QUALIFYING PRACTICE 1 FOR MICRO – MINI | |||
| 4:15 PM | 9:15 AM | Micro MAX | 15 min |
| 4:35 PM | 9:35 AM | Mini MAX | 15 min |
| FRIDAY NOVEMBER 15 (Saturday November 16 AEDT) | |||
| Local Time | AEDT | Warm-Up – 10 Minutes | |
| 8:15 AM | 1:15 AM | Junior Max – Odd numbers | |
| 8:30 AM | 1:30 AM | Junior Max – Even numbers | |
| 8:45 AM | 1:45 AM | Senior Max – Odd numbers | |
| 9:00 AM | 2:00 AM | Senior Max – Even numbers | |
| 9:15 AM | 2:15 AM | DD2 Masters – Odd numbers | |
| 9:30 AM | 2:30 AM | DD2 Masters – Even numbers | |
| 9:45 AM | 2:45 AM | DD2 – Odd numbers | |
| 10:00 AM | 3:00 AM | DD2 – Even numbers | |
| Local Time | AEDT | QUALIFYING HEATS # 3 | |
| 10:15 AM | 3:15 AM | RACE 17 – Junior Max – (A + D) | 7 laps |
| 10:30 AM | 3:30 AM | RACE 18 – Junior Max – (B + C) | 7 laps |
| 10:45 AM | 3:45 AM | RACE 19 – Senior Max – (A + D) | 10 laps |
| 11:05 AM | 4:05 AM | RACE 20 – Senior Max – (B + C) | 10 laps |
| 11:25 AM | 4:25 AM | RACE 21 – DD2 Masters – (A + D) | 10 laps |
| 11:45 AM | 4:45 AM | RACE 22 – DD2 Masters – (B + C) | 10 laps |
| 12:05 PM | 5:05 AM | RACE 23- DD2 – (A + D) | 10 laps |
| 12:25 PM | 5:25 AM | RACE 24 – DD2 – (B + C) | 10 laps |
| 12:40 PM | 5:40 AM | LUNCH BREAK | |
| Local Time | AEDT | NON QUALIFYING PRACTICE 2 – MICRO MAX – MINI MAX | |
| 1:20 PM | 6:20 AM | MICRO-MAX | 15 min |
| 1:40 PM | 6:40 AM | MINI-MAX | 15 min |
| Local Time | AEDT | SECOND CHANCE RACE | |
| 2:00 PM | 7:00 AM | RACE 25 – Junior Max | 7 laps |
| 2:20 PM | 7:20 AM | RACE 26 – Senior Max | 10 laps |
| 2:40 PM | 7:40 AM | RACE 27 – DD2 MASTERS | 10 laps |
| 3:00 PM | 8:00 AM | RACE 28 – DD2 | 10 laps |
| Local Time | AEDT | QUALIFYING PRACTICE FOR MICRO MAX – MINI MAX | |
| 3:20 PM | 8:20 AM | Micro MAX | 15 min |
| 3:40 PM | 8:40 AM | Mini MAX | 15 min |
| SATURDAY NOVEMBER 16 (Sunday November 17 AEDT) | |||
| Local Time | AEDT | Warm-up – 10 minutes | |
| 8:00 AM | 1:00 AM | Micro MAX | |
| 8:15 AM | 1:15 AM | Mini MAX | |
| 8:30 AM | 1:30 AM | JUNIOR MAX | |
| 8:45 AM | 1:45 AM | SENIOR MAX | |
| 9:00 AM | 2:00 AM | DD2 Masters | |
| 9:15 AM | 2:15 AM | DD2 | |
| Local Time | AEDT | PRE-FINALS | |
| 9:30 AM | 2:30 AM | MICRO-MAX | 7 laps |
| 9:50 AM | 2:50 AM | MINI-MAX | 7 laps |
| 10:10 AM | 3:10 AM | JUNIOR MAX | 11 laps |
| 10:35 AM | 3:35 AM | SENIOR MAX | 14 laps |
| 11:00 AM | 4:00 AM | DD2 MASTERS | 14 laps |
| 11:30 AM | 4:30 AM | DD2 | 14 laps |
| 11:50 AM | 4:50 AM | LUNCH BREAK | |
| 12:00 PM | 5:00 AM | DRIVERS PRESENTATION | |
| Local Time | AEDT | FINALS | |
| 1:15 PM | 6:15 AM | MICRO-MAX | 10 laps |
| 1:35 PM | 6:35 AM | MINI-MAX | 12 laps |
| 1:55 PM | 6:55 AM | JUNIOR MAX | 15 laps |
| 2:25 PM | 7:25 AM | DD2 MASTERS | 20 laps |
| 3:00 PM | 8:00 AM | SENIOR MAX | 20 laps |
| 3:35 PM | 8:35 AM | DD2 | 20 laps |
