PRESS RELEASE - TKART - Successful Opener of 12th ROTAX MAX Euro Challenge Season - Dominant Double Wins for Jack McCarthy and Pierce Lehane - Anthony Abbasse takes Victory on Home Soil.

From 30th of March to 5th of April 2015 the ROTAX MAX Euro Challenge held its 2015 opening event in France. The 1.500 metres long circuit of Sologne Karting marked the first stop of the year. 160 drivers from 34 countries representing every continent entered the first of four rounds in order to compete in the most unique European ROTAX series.

"Full grids in each of the three categories of junior, senior and DD2 are the result of our professional standards and processes which are based on love, passion, commitment and an unbroken pursuit of innovation and advancement", said RGMMC CEO Roland Geidel. In mid-February the ROTAX Winter Cup had already proved to be an action loaded and thrilling foretaste of what the Euro Challenge season will be like. But the first rehearsal was even trumped by the ROTAX MAX Euro Challenge season opener at Salbris. On French soil Roland Geidel and his RGMMC team – consisting of over 30 experts from all across Europe – again provided a high level of race organisation.

The only factor, which was not in hand of RGMMC was the weather. While the qualifying practice on Friday took place on a dry track, Saturday's heats were a slippery business. Some slight rain showers made conditions really unpredictable. Anyhow in the end Sunday lived up to its name making amends by a sunny and vernal final race day.

Jack McCarthy unbeatable in Junior Category
In the junior class one nation set the pace in the qualifying session. The first six places went to drivers from the United Kingdom, lead by Jack McCarthy (Strawberry Racing) who drove the best time, close ahead of the Winter Cup winner Tom Gamble (Dan Holland Racing). Mark Kimber (Dan Holland Racing), Zak Fulk (Coles Racing), Fin Kenneally (Aim Motorsport) and Kiern Jewiss (Strawberry Racing) completed the British armada, while Frenchman Enzo Coursimault (PKS) defended his nation's honour in seventh position after a very tight qualifying session. All told 52 of the 60 juniors were separated by less than one second.

During the heats Jack McCarthy did not leave any doubt. By a clean record he won all of his races thus putting his Tony Kart on pole position for the prefinal on Sunday. Behind him his fellow countryman Tom Gamble showed his skills by winning two times, which boosted him in second position after the heats in front of Oliver York (Aim Motorsport) from the UK, Florian Venturi (DSS) from France and Javier Gonzalez (Paul Carr Racing) from Mexico. In a very good shape was Dean MacDonald (Aim Motorsport) but the UK driver was not lucky in his second heat when he only was classified 27th. Yet a victory and a second place compensated the gaffe, which finally meant twelfth place in the heat classification.

The prefinal seemed to develop into a fight between Jack McCarthy, Oliver York and Javier Gonzalez. The trio took the lead and headed away from the grid, while Tom Gamble got off the track during a start collision. After only a few laps the British drivers Jordan Brown-Nutley (CRM) and Kiern Jewiss (Strawberry Racing) closed the gap to the leaders and set them under pressure. Consequently positions among the top five mixed a few times, including the lead. Oliver York and Jordan Brown-Nutley both were temporarily in the top position. But towards the end Jack McCarthy stroke back and defended the victory up to the finish line. Jordan Brown-Nutley had to put up with second place ahead of Kiern Jewiss, Fin Kenneally (Aim Motorsport) and Oliver York, who finally was pushed back to fifth place ahead of Javier Gonzalez.

In the final Jack McCarthy and Kiern Jewiss set the pace, since Oliver York and Jordan Brown-Nutley dropped back to the end of the grid right after the starting phase. From then on Jack McCarthy was unbeatable and completed his double victory easily, while Kiern Jewiss took a save second place. A quite open case was the fight for third place. Up to twelve youngsters struggled in a breath taking battle for the last podium place, which finally went to Dean MacDonald (Aim Motorsport) ahead of the UK drivers Axel Charpentier (Strawberry Racing) and Alex Quinn (CRG SPA).

Pierce Lehane sets the Pace in Senior Class
Australia's Pierce Lehane (Strawberry Racing) tied in with his latest success in the senior category: After dominating the Winter Cup at Campillos he was the quickest man in the qualifying session of Salbris, too. By a time of 1:00.596 minutes he was remarkably faster than his direct chasers Sam Marsh (Dan Holland Racing) from the UK and Berkay Besler (Bouvin Power) from Turkey. Last year's junior Max Timmermans (DAEMS Racing) from Belgium and Louis-Ferdinand Simmenauer (Jana Racing) from France completed the top five positions before the heats.

In a dominant way Pierce Lehane reigned the senior heats. He crossed the finish line first in each of his races and fulfilled the task effortlessly, while Sam Marsh and Berkay Besler again had to put up with the chaser's roles by following in second and third place. Behind them John Stewart (Strawberry Racing) from the UK took fourth position ahead of Dutchman Rinus van Kalmthout (Team TKP) and the reigning European champion Harry Webb (CRG SPA) from the UK in fifth place.

Quite unspectacular was the senior prefinal. Pierce Lehane and his teammate John Stewart established themselves on the top, while the rest of the grid kept struggling the first laps. So the leading duo broke away visibly and drove a tactical race which most of the laps was lead by Stewart. But in the end Lehane's tactics worked out: After couching behind his teammate he overtook him three laps before the end, defended the top on the last metres and won the prefinal. Stewart had to be satisfied with second position while Berkay Besler came in on a secure third place, ahead of Edward Brand (CRG SPA) and Sam Marsh.

Last but not least Pierce Lehane was the one to beaten in final again. The Australian driver defended the lead right after the start, but close on his heels John Stewart, Berkay Besler and Jai Nijjar (Strawberry Racing) – who had recovered persistently after an unlucky heat phase – were waiting for their chance. After a long period of ceasefire they blew for a final attack, but hindered themselves in overtaking Lehane. The latter was able to pull away some decisive metres and complemented his successful weekend by another win. Behind him John Stewart took the second place in front of Jai Nijjar, which equally meant a triple win for Strawberry Racing.

DD2: Anthony Abbasse wins on Home Soil
In the qualifying practice the first of two DD2 groups was slightly quicker than the second one. Consequently Kevin Ludi (Spirit Racing) from Switzerland took the best time ahead of local hero Arnaud Kozlinski (Sodikart) from France. Right behind Germany's Marcel Schirmer (RS Competition) celebrated his best Euro qualifying result ahead of Henrique Baptista (Dan Holland Racing) from Portugal. Winter Cup winner Ferenc Kancsar (BirelART/KMS) from Hungary took the fifth place, equally being the fastest man of the second qualifying group.

The heats could not have been any closer. In the end Ferenc Kancsar, Dutchman Mats van den Brand (VPDR) and Barrie Pullinger (Dan Holland Racing) from the UK were tied in the ranking. Each of them won at least one heat but finally the better qualifying result determined the order in favour of Ferenc Kancsar, while Mats van den Brand and Barrie Pullinger had to be satisfied with the following positions. Anthony Abbasse (Sodikart) was close to the leading group, too. The Frenchman celebrated one victory and took the fourth place after the heats ahead of Henrique Baptista, Finland's Roope Markkanen (VRT) and Kevin Ludi (Spirit Racing).

In the prefinal Ferenc Kancsar managed the best start and pulled away from the rest of the pack. His victory never seemed in danger, until his chasers began closing the gap by halftime. Metre by metre Anthony Abbasse, Mats van den Brand, Kevin Ludi, Roope Markkanen and Henrique Baptista caught up until they were in Kancsar's slipstream. But as there was only one more lap left, Kancsar showed all his skills and defended his position bravely against his opponents who crossed the line in the mentioned order.

When it comes to the final Ferenc Kancsar was far away from having a walkthrough. Although he was able to lead the first laps, his opponents gave him a hard time. At first it was Mats van den Brand gaining the lead. But even his regiment did not last long. Local hero Anthony Abbasse was the one who established himself on the top by halftime, having Ferenc Kancsar, Kevin Ludi, Marcel Schirmer and Mats van den Brand in his slipstream. During the rest of the laps the Frenchman did not show any weakness and so he took the win on home soil ahead of Ferenc Kancsar and Kevin Ludi who completed the podium close behind.

As for the DD2 Masters classification Tamsin Germain (DG Racing) was the first to set the pace: In the qualifying session the UK lady finished in 17th place of the overall grid, establishing herself in the leading role of the Masters, ahead of Igor Mukhin (CRG S.P.A.) from Russia and Frenchman Marc Berteaux (Sologne Sport Tech). After the heats Igor Mukhin took command and was able to turn his advantage into a prefinal win. In the decisive final he could not repeat his success, leaving way to Kawase Tomokazu (Uniq Racing Team). The Japanese drivers celebrated the first victory of the year ahead of Igor Mukhin and Tamsin Germain (DG Racing) who complemented the podium.

Now the ROTAX MAX Euro Challenge is already watching out for its next round. On the Italian track "7 Laghi" in Castelletto (ITA) one will go for the second round from 25th to 31st of May. So stay tuned on the official website www.rotaxmaxeurochallenge.com or rgmmcmedia.com, where you get all information regarding reports, photos, results and live TV stream.