The second round of the Rotax Euro Challenge gets underway at Wackersdorf in the south of Germany this week, where approximately 30 nations will be represented at the international event which is growing more competitive with every year.

The professionalism of the teams and drivers is becoming more evident, together with the obvious direct factory support for many of its competitors. For the sport of Karting, it has been a very positive progression, which has set the standard for many other championships. However, the Euro Challenge is such a series that continues to lend itself to having individual drivers racing side-by-side with the major teams. This directly contributes to attracting entries from around the World, with the incentive to race against some of the best drivers for the coveted European trophy.

Hosting circuit ProKart Raceland was the dream of its owner Stephan Fritsch, who made it a reality with the support of the Wackersdorf mayor and other community members. In August 1997, an incredible turn-out of 15,000 people came for the official opening to see the sensational 7-hectare Kartsport complex. Today, it boasts a challenging 1257m outdoor track and massive indoor hire kart circuit, that when combined, gives the ultimate racing experience of over 2km.

In 1999, Pro Kart played host to a round of the European Championships for ICC and FC which was their first major race meeting. The international Karting federation later awarded them as the ‘best organised event’ that year. Complete with a professional kart shop and on-site race team, bistro & restaurant, viewing terrace and convention facilities, Raceland has recently extended the paddock area to include more amenities for the competitors and spectators. A new music club & disco is now also adjoining the complex.

Mr Fritsch says that the Pro Kart Team is excited to welcome back the Euro Challenge this week. “In 2007, the Euro Challenge came to Wackersdorf for the first time and it was a great incentive for our young team. This year, we take much pleasure again in hosting this prestigious event, aiming to offer our many visitors even better service and the perfect organisation needed to every team and driver for a memorable race weekend in beautiful Bavaria! We are really looking forward to it!”

This year, the series sees some new prospects in the Senior Max class, where almost 90 drivers will take to the track. Looking to repeat his faultless victory at Wackersdorf, Senior Max ’07 vice champion Mike Joossens leads the points tally going into this weekend. Euro rookies RL Race Team Ltd currently hold 2nd and 3rd places, with Harry Tinknell and Chris Lock. Returning back to the championship this meeting is Mike Simpson, who narrowly missed out on the title last year, but will face some fierce competition as well from British rival and defending champ Ben Cooper.

In Junior Max, South Africa’s Axcil Jefferies leads another of the UK RL Race Team drivers Josh Webster, from the tiny Peter Hoevenaars of the Netherlands. Only one point separates him from his the TKP team-mate and reigning World number one Kevin Korjus, in a close 4th position.

Also from South Africa and racing with Jefferies in the Kalman Motorsport Team, Leeroy Poulter is hoping to keep his dominant hold on the Rotax DD2 class, as he did in 2007. However, he has last year’s runner-up Dennis Kroes and fellow Dutchman Danny Brand chasing him in the championship. The additional pressure although may come from his two native karters on equal standings and only a point in arrears – Cristiano Morgado and Wesleigh Orr. Both are former winners of the Euro Challenge and Rotax World Finals, so it’s going to be a brilliant showdown.

 It’s a close call in the smallest of the championship categories, with the Max Masters having another close battle between some very experienced drivers. Fresh from his DD2 Masters victory at the Grand Finals last December in the Middle East, Christophe Adams of Belgium is at the top of the leader-board. Running in two classes this year, Cristiano Morgado is in 2nd and current Masters Euro champ and World number one Colin Davis is 3rd.

IFR has come away from the weekend with a most satisfying outcome at round 2 of the national Rotax Championship held in Germany over the weekend…

As the event got underway at Ampfing, several of the team drivers shared the leader-board in morning practice Saturday. Laura Kraihamer was the pacesetter in the first senior session ahead of Niki Laa, who was then just off the fastest time in the next group. Our lady driver was still up there, with the 4th best lap before qualifying. In the Junior Max, Corinna Kamper was 2nd on the time-sheet in the last practice.

It was Laa who threw the challenge out in Senior Max to finish a brilliant 3rd on the podium. He actually ended-up with equal points to series leader Hungary’s Imre Birizdo, but was classified behind him in P3. As a senior rookie, Laa’s driving was impressive throughout, taking 3rd and 2nd in the afternoon races. Austria’s Simon Wagner comfortably won both races to also give Intrepid the winner’s trophy at Ampfing. Laa is now positioned 3rd in the championship behind Birizdo and Josh Hart of New Zealand (Intrepid).

“The Intrepid chassis just kept getting better and better, so I set my best lap just two from the end of the race. I knew I could pass Birizdo because I had the speed and I just waited for the chance, then pushed really hard to pull a gap. It’s a great result today for me in the championship and for our team.”

Suffering from a sore neck after a recent testing incident, Kraihamer struggled as the weekend drew to a close. She easily had the pace but gradually lost the strength needed to remain competitive for the 18-lap races. To take 7th in the field of 19 was still a successful meeting in gaining points for the ’08 series.

Clocking a personal best with each session, Felix Wimmer continued to progress. He was pleased with his pace and overcame a minor set-back on the first corner in the final race to come through for 13th, which was where he also finished in the overall placings. Now sitting 11th from a total of 26 drivers in the ARMC, Wimmer says he’s very happy with his effort. IFR team manager Ernst Penninger confirmed that “Felix really did a good job this weekend, as it important for him as a newcomer to gain the race experience.”

Tobias Weichenberger is still coming to grips with getting the tyres up to speed in qualifying. However, he managed to get it together in the racing to end up 8th on the day. P9 in both races was a fantastic result for the 15-year-old to claim 2nd place in the OSK Federation ‘Junior Classic’ class, where he’s now leading the series. In the Austrian Junior Max championship, he’s now moved-up to 4th overall after two rounds.

Unfortunately, it was not ideal for the youngest IFR driver Corinna Kamper, ending up 11th after she was forced out of race 1 in the opening lap Saturday. Starting on grid 18 in the last race, Kamper showed her determination, making the most of the fresh tyres to come through the 20-kart field and cross the line for 8th. She was less than 2-tenths off Intrepid driver Sandra Simbürger, who was the quickest in both races.

With the next round of the Max Challenge only 3 weeks away, the team is looking forward to getting some valuable test laps completed before the event at the hosting Graz circuit in Austria.

Northern Ireland’s Stirling brothers have made history by qualifying for the Bridgestone Cup at Lonato, near Lake Garda in Italy in October - the first time that three members of the same family have qualified for the prestigious race, at once.

Reigning British Open KF3 Champion, 14-year old Carl had already qualified after winning the first qualifying race at PFi in Lincolnshire (6 April), but triumphed again at the second round on Sunday (4 May). In a thrilling final, Carl waited until the last lap to make his move for the lead, and then held off his rivals to the chequered flag.

“On the last lap, we were three abreast running down the back straight. Afterwards, when I saw the time-sheets, I couldn’t believe it – I was half a second a lap slower than the other two guys, but they were slowing each other up by battling so much that I was able to compete with them. It proves that it’s not always the fastest man who wins!”

In the same race, younger brother Adam (13-years old) earned praise as he powered his way from 17th on the grid at the start, to 6th at the finish and book his place for the race in Italy. “He drove a blinder” said a proud Carl.

Not to be outdone, it was 16-year old Craig’s job to uphold the family honour in the KF2 class.

After three tough qualifying heats, Craig started the final from 11th place on the grid, but found that set-up changes by his Millennium team had transformed his kart. Carving his way up the order, Stirling found himself in 4th place and pressuring Harvey for the remaining podium spot.

“There was absolutely nothing in it, in terms of our lap times” he explained afterwards. “On the last lap, I knew that I’d have one chance to make a move and make it stick. I sat on Jack’s rear bumper as we ran down to the back of the circuit and went into the ‘Complex’ (of tight corners). I dived down his inside and then made my kart as wide as possible as we ran into the last chicane and onto the start/finish straight.”

Dad, Alan was understandably delighted with his sons’ performance. “After Carl qualified by winning the first round, our main focus was to get Adam and Craig in the results to make sure that they qualified as well. I think its all credit to the boys (Adam and Craig) that they stuck to the task, despite difficult heat results and they each produced superb drives in their respective finals. They’re going to Italy as three competitors, not to support just one driver.”

The Austrian-based race team has added yet another international driver to their European Rotax campaign, bringing multiple New Zealand champion Josh Hart into the squad for the upcoming round in Germany…

Following an unexpected opportunity to race with Intrepid Force Rotax, the Kiwi driver was pleasantly surprised to get the phone call asking if he would be interested. The 21-year-old from the north island of New Zealand competed at the opening round of the Euro Challenge in France in March in the DD2 gearbox class for another Austrian team, but will now make the switch to the Rotax Senior Max, which was fully subscribed with 92 entries at the opening event of the 2008 season.

Hart has been racing for around 12 years and recently made the trip to Europe to compete in the Euro Challenge, along with some other national Max Challenge series’. Having qualified for the Rotax Grand Finals for the last three years; twice as the NZ Rotax Champion and the 2-speed DD2 category in 2007, he knows what it’s like to compete against some of the World’s best drivers in his class. It’s part of the reason why he also made the move overseas.

IFR Team Manager Ernst Penninger says the choice was easy to take Hart because the talented driver had been impressive already on several occasions. “I had seen Josh race against our drivers in both Hungary and Austria this year, taking pole position and winning two of the four races to make the podium. I remember him as well from the Grand Finals and know he’s an excellent driver.

At the recent test in Wackersdorf where the Euro round will take place, I invited Josh to help us out with the two-day test program and it was most successful. He works very hard and shows a lot of dedication to his racing. His dream to race in Europe has been realised and for us, it fits well with our ‘Race To Get There’ philosophy. We know Josh is more than capable of achieving the desired results, but what’s expected is that he just does his best. We’re really pleased to have him racing with us; no doubt giving IFR an even stronger driver line-up.”

For the NZ Intrepid driver, IFR was probably one of the most well-known and professional outfits he’d only ever read about up until this year, so for Hart it’s quite exciting to be given such a fantastic opportunity to be part of the team in Germany. “It’s unbelievable really… and I am looking forward to racing with them at the Euro Challenge. I have been doing as much testing and training as possible to be prepared, so as to get a good result. I can’t thank IFR enough for the chance to continue competing at the top level of Rotax racing in Europe with their team.”

With less than a week remaining at the ProKart Raceland Wackersdorf circuit until the 10-day driving ban comes into play for the Euro Challenge, the team including Hart plan to squeeze in a few more days testing in Germany. Round 2 of the championship gets underway with official free practice on May 28th. Entries include in excess of 170 drivers from around 30 countries.

Last weekend marked a brand new generation for the Intrepid Force Rotax Team, as they competed at the opening round of the Austrian Rotax Max Challenge with their biggest driver line-up to date…

The first leg of the national championship took place at the popular ‘Speed Arena’ circuit at Rechnitz, close to the Slovenian and Hungarian borders. IFR had six young drivers contesting the series, which they have successfully dominated in Junior and Senior Max to a degree over the past few years. It was the first outing together for the exciting new team and the results promising, making it a positive start to their Austrian campaign.

IFR’s Imre Birizdo of Hungary aquaplaned his way onto the podium in Seniors by winning the final race of the opening round of the series, to finish 3rd overall. The 15-year-old was not as confident as he would have liked of getting the results, after finding himself just a fraction off the pace to be second in qualifying behind New Zealand’s Josh Hart, as he was in Hungary the weekend before. Struggling a little with chassis set-up early on, the Hungarian driver excelled as the heavens opened in the last race of the day.

Also running seniors, Niki Laa was consistent and used his head wisely to hang on for 4th behind his team-mate, as the first of the local drivers in the competitive line-up. He was unable to pass the kart in front as the rains became torrential, although he tried on several occasions. It was a great effort by Niki, who is just 14 years of age and definitely a likely contender for the Austrian title.

The drive of the final had to go to the team’s former junior driver Laura Kraihamer, starting off grid 15 then going off-track to rejoin at the back of the 22-kart field. She eventually fought her way through the field brilliantly to take 5th. As the rain got heavier, Laura got even closer to the front-runners.

Undoubtedly the least experienced of IFR’s senior drivers is Felix Wimmer, who was racing at the Rechnitz circuit for the first time. He progressed well with every session and considering being disadvantaged for not having driven there before, was quite satisfied with his weekend for 17th.

In Junior Max, Corinna Kamper and Tobias Weichenberger showed some obvious improvement from last year’s championship to run 3rd and 4th respectively in race 1. They were both very determined to do well and had the speed to achieve this. In fact, Tobias clocked the fastest lap of the race in that session. Unfortunately, the final was not as good as they’d hoped but still maintained top 10 finishes to get some valuable points. At the end of the day, Cori was classified 5th and Tobias 6th overall.

In the championship tally, Cori is placed 3rd on the table going into round 2 in Germany next month. Another series within this championship is the ‘Junior Classic’, which applies to the OSK Federation Club Sport licence holders. In this class, Tobias was awarded the trophy for 2nd.

Round two of the Austrian Max Challenge will be held at the Ampfing in Germany on May 23 & 24.