RMCIT: An Unmissable Sporting Event

The 6th running of this event confirmed its high standard and its worldwide reputation during very lively and suspenseful races. Sportsmanship was in evidence in all six categories, thanks to respectful but firm management of the technical and sporting aspects. Great Britain took three victories, France one, the Netherlands one and Austria one.

The RMCIT continues to provide a great deal of satisfaction for the drivers and their teams, who have no hesitation in showing their pleasure at racing in this great event on a regular basis. The warm and festive atmosphere that characterises the RMCIT continued right through to the podium ceremonies, which were accompanied by a prize draw with generous prizes donated by the competition's partners. The most coveted prizes remain the tickets for the Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals, which will celebrate its 25th anniversary in Italy from 19th to 26th October 2024 at the famous Circuito Internazionale Napoli in Sarno.

Joshua Cooke (GBR) in Micro MAX, Albert Friend (GBR) in Mini MAX, Ties Van Wijk (NLD) in Junior MAX, Ethan Jeff-Hall (GBR) in Senior MAX, Leon Mandl (AUT) in MAX DD2 and Vivien Cussac-Picot (FRA) in MAX DD2 Masters are the lucky recipients of the prestigious tickets to the Rotax MAX Challenge Grand Final.

Cooke wins ahead of Mair
Joshua Cooke (GBR) consolidated his 1st place by winning the Super Heat against Alfie Mair (GBR). Cooke led the Final from the start, while Austin Osman (GBR) was 2nd until a 'Slow' procedure was implemented. On the restart, Mair moved into 2nd place and challenged Cooke for the lead. Cooke regained the lead, while Oman and Mair battled for 2nd place. Cooke won by nearly 8 tenths ahead of Mair and Oman finished 3rd by 7 hundredths.

Micro MAX Final results
1- Joshua Cooke (GBR - ZIP/Rotax/Mojo)
2- Alfie Mair (GBR-Kosmic/Rotax/Mojo)
3- Austin Oman (GBR - Exprit/Rotax/Mojo)
4- Dominik Rozsa (HUN - Croc Promotion/Rotax/Mojo)
5- Pedro Faria (BRA - Energy/Rotax/Mojo)

Friend dominates right to the end of the Final
Winner of the Super Heat and poleman at the start of the Final, Albert Friend (GBR) once again managed to outrun his rivals from the start of the race. Already victorious in 2023, he then steadily increased his lead until he won with the fastest lap and an advantage of over 5 seconds. Oliver Spencer (GBR) and Jenson Chalk (GBR) took turns in 2nd place before Emerson Macandrew-Uren (GBR) made the difference in the closing laps.

Mini MAX Final results
1- Albert Friend (GBR - Tony Kart/Rotax/Mojo)
2- Emerson Macandrew-Uren (GBR - LN/Rotax/Mojo)
3- Jenson Chalk (GBR - Tony Kart/Rotax/Mojo)
4- Harry Taylor (GBR - LN/Rotax/Mojo)
5- Zdenek Babicek (CZE - MSKart/Rotax/Mojo)

Van Wijk untouchable in the Junior MAX Final
Ties Van Wijk (NLD) and Boaz Maximov (NLD) had won the two Super Heats, but Jacob Ascroft (GBR) and Matthéo Dauvergne (FRA) started from the front row for the Final. Van Wijk overtook them to take the lead on the third lap. Lewis Goff (GBR) took 2nd position but was unable to keep pace with the leader. Luka Scelles (FRA), who set the fastest lap, and Cameron Nelson (GBR) then battled it out for 3rd place, while Van Wijk won by almost 4". The top four had all moved up three places.

Results of the Junior MAX Final
1- Ties Van Wijk (NLD - Tony Kart/Rotax/Mojo)
2- Lewis Goff (GBR - Exprit/Rotax/Mojo)
3- Cameron Nelson (GBR - LN/Rotax/Mojo)
4- Luka Scelles (FRA - EOS/Rotax/Mojo)
5- Boaz Maximov (NLD - Tony Kart/Rotax/Mojo)

Jeff Hall in control in Senior MAX
The three Super Heats were won by Matthews Higgins (GBR), Lewis Gilbert (GBR) and Nolan Lemeray (FRA). Ethan Jeff-Hall (GBR) remained in the lead ahead of the Final, ahead of Gilbert. Jeff-Hall got off to the best start, ahead of Lemeray, who was soon replaced by Higgins. Gilbert moved up to 2nd place after six laps and then tried to close the gap on the leader. Jeff-Hall managed the situation perfectly, conceding only the minimum to secure his victory with a 1.5" lead ar the chequered flag. Starting 5th, Jayden Thien (NLD) had to fight hard to move up to 3rd place in the final third of the race, and then to hold on to it against his team-mate Higgins.

Results of the Senior MAXFinal
1- Ethan Jeff-Hall (GBR - Exprit/Rotax/Mojo)
2- Lewis Gilbert (GBR - Tony Kart/Rotax/Mojo)
3- Jayden Thien (NLD - LN/Rotax/Mojo)
4- Matthews Higgins (GBR - LN/Rotax/Mojo)
5- Macauley Bishop (GBR - LN/Rotax/Mojo)

Mandl wins the MAX DD2 Final
Antoine Barbaroux (FRA) had won the Super Heat against Xen De Ruwe (SVN), but it was Imke Arts (NLD) who started in 2nd position for the Final. De Ruwe quickly came back to 2nd but was unable to take the lead. Leon Mandl (AUT) took over behind Barbaroux and the battle for victory intensified. Barbaroux managed to cross the line first by three tenths, but he was penalised afterwards for causing an incident and found himself in 6th place, while Mandl was declared the winner 1.4" ahead of De Ruwe. Arts came back to 3rd just a few hundredths behind.

Results of the MAX DD2 Final
1- Leon Mandl (AUT - Birel ART/Rotax/Mojo)
2- Xen De Ruwe (SVN - Tony Kart/Rotax/Mojo)
3- Imke Arts (NLD - KR/Rotax/Mojo)
4- Kylian Guérin (FRA - KR/Rotax/Mojo)
5- David Aulejtner (POL - KR/Rotax/Mojo)

Cussac-Picot in MAX DD2 Masters for the 2nd time
Jack Dex (GBR) had won the Super Heat, but he started 2nd alongside Vivien Cussac-Picot (FRA) in the Final. The Frenchman escaped immediately after the start. Fabian Bock (DEU) and Robert Schlunssen (DNK) took turns in 2nd position before Dex was able to chase down the leader. He gradually closed the gap until halfway through the race, but Cussac-Picot then took control of the situation and won by 1.7". Charles Seguin (FRA) recovered from 8th place to finish 3rd, 37 thousandths off Dex with the fastest lap.

Results of the MAX DD2 Masters Final
1- Vivien Cussac-Picot (FRA - Tony Kart/Rotax/Mojo)
2- Jack Dex (GBR - MSKart/Rotax/Mojo)
3- Charles Seguin (FRA - Tony Kart/Rotax/Mojo)
4- Robert Schlunssen (DNK - Tony Kart/Rotax/Mojo)
5- Jannik Nielsen (DNK - Tony Kart/Rotax/Mojo)

Full results are available on the RMCIT website website and videos are available on Facebook and YouTube.