Ultra-Competitive Racing at Genk at the Rotax Max Euro Challenge opener

The first round of the 2012 ROTAX MAX EURO CHALLENGE saw the new season begin with some incredibly close racing at the Karting Genk circuit in Belgium over the weekend. With 190 drivers representing 30 nations from around the world, the opening event of the championship left no room for the faint-hearted, even when it came to the race for positions just to qualify for Sunday’s all-important finals. The weather was near perfect and the technically challenging 1,360 metre Genk track provided an ideal location for round 1 of the series. Event organisers RGMMC Establishment welcomed the support of the competitors, both former and new to the opening edition of the ‘Euro’, where they introduced the new on-board safety cameras for the first time.

Babington wins an outstanding Senior Max battle
Several of the front-runners claimed the finals provided some of the hardest racing they’ve experienced. Full credit must go to those who turned on an impressive display in the amazingly close battle as the laps unfolded in the fight for every championship point, after 90 entries was cut to 34 following the elimination heats Saturday. British driver Sean Babington (Dan Holland Racing/Alonso) was an early pace-setter in unofficial practice and set fastest lap in the third group of the class during the official timed sessions to qualify on pole with 54.464. Senior rookie Jack Aitken (Protrain Racing/Formula K) missed the prime grid position by 0.019 seconds to narrowly outpace Rotax Winter Cup winner Harrison Scott (Strawberry Racing/Tonykart).

The pole-sitter made a clean sweep of Saturday’s qualifying heats, taking four from four victories amidst the quality senior field. Ireland’s Charlie Eastwood secured three wins plus a 2nd place to join Babington on row 1 for the pre-final Sunday, while a win and three 2nd places ranked Ash Hand 3rd overall to make up the next row alongside Edward Brand, also claiming one win. Scott’s results saw him line-up on row 3 having just missed out on taking the chequered flag honours on two occasions, accompanied by Antoine Barthon with one victory.

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Info Jenni Wade RGMMC / © Photo KSP