STATEMENT: INTRODUCTION OF ROTAX EVO ENGINES TO AUSTRALIA

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Last November BRP-Rotax revealed the latest evolution of its Rotax 125cc engine – the Rotax EVO Series. The Rotax EVO Series engines incorporate ten evolutions/changes/improvements on the previous Rotax models currently used in competition both here in Australia and around the World.

Throughout the past three months Karting Australia has had extensive discussions with International Karting Distributors (Australian Rotax importer) to ensure these engines will transition into Australian competition smoothly. These discussions have centered on the implementation into two distinct categories – Rotax Pro Tour National Series Competition Classes and non-Rotax Pro Tour Competition Classes.

In summary, it has been decided that:

The Rotax EVO Series engines will be eligible for use in Rotax Pro Tour competition from June 1, 2015.
There will be no parity adjustments to equalize the EVO Engines and the Older Engines in the Rotax Pro Tour.
Parity testing will be conducted throughout February to ensure current Rotax and other current TaG 125cc engines are able to continue unimpeded and without undue impact caused by the EVO developments into non-Rotax Pro Tour Competition Classes.
It is anticipated IKD will commence distribution of EVO Engines and EVO components to the Australian market on Monday March 30, 2015.
EVO Engines and Upgraded Engines will not be permitted to be used in any Competition until 1 June 2015.

For the full Karting Australia statement on the introduction of the Rotax EVO engines into Australian karting competition, please see below.

INTRODUCTION
Throughout the past three months Karting Australia has had extensive discussions with International Karting Distributors (“IKD”) regarding the introduction of the Rotax EVO Series engines and components into Australia. Discussions have centered around two distinct elements of competition – Rotax Pro Tour events and other karting competitions that permit the use of Rotax engines.

ENGINE HOMOLOGATION
The homologation process of the five (5) new Rotax EVO engines: Micro Max EVO, Mini Max EVO, Junior Max EVO, Rotax 125 EVO and DD2 EVO (the “EVO Engines”) is well advanced and is continuing on-time following the arrival of the EVO homologation engines in Australia in January.

EVO ENGINE PERFORMANCE PARTS
In total, there are ten evolutions/changes/improvements that have been incorporated in the range of EVO Engines. Three of these are agreed as being performance parts of the engines. They are the EVO ignition system, EVO carburettor and EVO electronic power valve (”EVO Performance Components”).

Karting Australia’s Technical Department is still to make a final determination as to whether or not the EVO piston, EVO conrod and EVO optimized crankshaft should be considered to be EVO Performance Components.

EVO ENGINE INTRODUCTION INTO AUSTRALIAN KARTING
The introduction of the EVO engines into Australia will be separated into two distinct categories:

Engines that are to be used in all Rotax Pro Tour National Series Competition Classes; and
Engines that are to be used in non-Rotax Pro Tour Competition Classes including; Tag 125, TaG 125 Restricted, Junior Max, Rotax 125 and DD2.

Rotax Pro Tour Events
Rotax World Rules as designated for Australia will apply to these events with the introduction of the EVO Engines scheduled to commence from 1 June 2015.

EVO Engines will be permitted to be used in strict accordance with the homologation of these engines.

Previously homologated Junior Max, Rotax 125 and DD2 engines (the “Older Engines”) will remain eligible for competition in Rotax Pro Tour events.

There will be no parity adjustments to equalize the EVO Engines and the Older Engines in the Rotax Pro Tour.

Older Engines can be upgraded at any time to full or partial EVO Engine specification using EVO components.

Non Pro Tour Events
Discussions with IKD have centered around ensuring that Competition at all non Rotax Pro Tour events where Rotax engines are used is able to continue unimpeded and without undue impact caused by the EVO developments. Karting Australia’s greatest concern has been for those Competitors who own and race Rotax engines and for those Competitors who race against competitors using Rotax engines.

To achieve the required outcome it has been decided that for all Classes and Events that allow Rotax engines to be used (other than the Rotax Pro Tour) EVO Engines and Performance Components will only be permitted to be used in a controlled fashion that ensures appropriate performance parity between the various engines as follows:

Full EVO Engines TO Older Engines;
Older Engines that have been wholly or partially upgraded to EVO Engine specification by the addition of any of the Performance Components (“Upgraded Engines”) TO Older Engines; and
Rotax Engines (including EVO Engines, Older Engines and Upgraded Engines) TO other homologated TaG 125 and TaG 125 Restricted engines (“Other TaG Engines”).

The introduction of the EVO Engines, Upgraded Engines and Performance Components into non Pro Tour Competition will only occur after independent testing and evaluation by Karting Australia. Testing will include both dyno and track testing under the control of Karting Australia’s Technical Director and National Technical Commissioner.

The objectives of the testing and evaluation, to be undertaken throughout February and early March, is to:

Ensure that the EVO Engines (including Upgraded Engines) achieve the designated power output so as to be ‘on parity’ with the Older Engines used in the Classes;
Ensure that the EVO Engines (including Upgraded Engines) and the Older Engines achieve the designated power output so as to be ‘on parity’ (subject to weight) with the Other TaG Engines used in the TaG 125 Class;
Ensure that the EVO Engines (including Upgraded Engines) and the Older Engines achieve the designated power output so as to be ‘on parity’ with the Other TaG Engines used in the TaG 125 Restricted Class;

A Karting Australia control restrictor or restrictors (as may be required to match the performance of the various engines) will be used to ensure the performance of the EVO Engines and Upgraded Engines remain consistent with the performance level of the Older Engines.

WHEN IS AN OLDER ENGINE CONSIDERED TO BE AN UPGRADED ENGINE?
From the time that any of the Performance Components are added to an Older Engine, that engine will be deemed to have been upgraded to EVO specification and will accordingly be considered to be an Upgraded Engine.

As such that Upgraded Engine will be required to use the designated control restrictor in Competition at all times.

ENGINE INTRODUCTION DATES
The introduction date for EVO Engines into Rotax Pro Tour and non Pro Tour Competition will ultimately be determined by the availability in Australia of sufficient quantities of EVO Engines and EVO components including EVO Performance Components. Karting Australia will take advice from IKD on this matter.

EVO Engines and Upgraded Engines will not be permitted to be used in any Competition until 1 June 2015.*

EVO Engines and Upgraded Engines will be permitted for use in the Rotax Pro Tour from Round 4.*

It is anticipated IKD will commence distribution of EVO Engines and EVO components to the Australian market on Monday March 30, 2015.* This being the case, EVO Engines and Upgraded Engines will become eligible to practice on Karting Australia tracks at that time.#

* Note: Dates are accurate at the time of release but may be subject to variation as a result of any delays that may be experienced in production, shipping, testing and importation.

# Note: Karting Australia will provide written confirmation in the form of a Technical Rule Interpretation at that time. EVO Engines must not be used on any Karting Australia licensed Race Tracks until that time other than in official Karting Australia testing.

Ends