2024 Rotax US Trophy Final – Preview

August 19, 2024  – Article by EKN David Cole

The third edition of the Rotax Max Challenge US Trophy Final – hosted by Race Rotax – is set to take place on August 23-25 at the New Castle Motorsports Park. Rotax drivers from around the United States and seven other countries represented will converge on the New Castle, Indiana facility for a chance to take home victory, and to earn one of the six 2024 Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals tickets – scheduled for October 19-26 in Italy – up for grabs.

Five categories will battle on the weekend, same as the two US Trophy regional programs that already awarded six Rotax Grand Finals tickets to six of their champions – three from the West and three from the East. This year’s Rotax US Trophy Final offers one ticket per class, with two awarded in the Senior MAX class. The format features six rounds of official practice on Friday. Saturday offers qualifying, two heat races, and a Prefinal based on the points from the heat races. Sunday hosts the main events and awards ceremony to crown the 2024 Rotax US Trophy Final champions.

The largest category, up to 23 drivers representing four countries is the Senior MAX division. Two tickets to the Rotax Grand Finals are on the line. The winner takes a Senior MAX ticket while runner-up goes to compete in the DD2 category. The class includes five drivers holding Rotax Grand Finals tickets already, including two-time defending winner Oliver Hodgson (CompKart). The English driver won his 2024 ticket at the Canadian Open event in Quebec, but is now gunning for a third straight victory at New Castle. Both East and West US Trophy champions Wesley Gundler (Fox&Son / OTK) and Cooper O’Clair (CompKart) are in the field. Cooper finished seventh last year while Gundler was the Junior winner at the US Trophy Final in 2023. Canadian Timothy Pernod (PSL / Birel ART) is coming off victory at the recent Canadian Karting Championships while Brazilian Diego Ramos (PSL / Birel ART) has held a ticket since February by winning the Rotax Winter Trophy in Florida. Griffin Dowler (Apollo / Tony Kart) is coming off a trip to Japan in the EXGEL Rotax Driver Exchange Program, which brings Quinten Lu from China over in the Senior class. Dalton Hanes (Racelab / TB Kart) is a podium finisher from last year returning, while Aidan Fox (Fox&Son / Kosmic) finished fourth a year ago. British driver Brandon Carr (HM Propela / Kart Republic) – currently top-five in the EKN Driver Rankings – will be making his US Trophy Final debut, as is Canadian Jensen Burnett (REM / Kosmic) in the Senior division.

Oliver Hodgson gunning for a third straight US Trophy Final victory in Senior MAX (Photo: EKN)

The Junior MAX division is up to 20 drivers, with only one already holding a ticket. Canadian Antoine Lemieux (REM / OTK) – who finished eighth here last year – won his Rotax Grand Finals trip at the Canadian Open in Alberta. US Trophy West champion Gage Korn (MPG / Kart Republic) won his ticket, and will not be in the field, while East champion Davin Roberts (Fox&Son / Kosmic) will need to win this weekend to claim the one Rotax Grand Finals ticket up for grabs in the category. Lemieux finished second to Korn in the West, with Nixx Eggleston (Ruthless / Exprit) placing third in the standings. Eggleston was part of Team USA in 2023, finishing 22nd in Bahrain. Behind Roberts in the East was Landon Buher (MPG / Kart Republic) and Derek Wargo (CompKart), both in the field this weekend. Isaac Malcuit (PSL / Birel ART) and Fion Shi (MDR / OTK) finished top five last year in the Mini MAX division, moving up to Junior this season. Part of the EXGEL Rotax Driver Exchange program is Japanese driver Ryusei Sawada.

One ticket is on the line in the Masters MAX division, which features 10 drivers. The stipulation of the ticket to the Rotax Grand Finals is the competitor must be have competed in the US Trophy West or East division. Of the 10 entered, only three have not – Brian Bulhoes (Racelab / TB Kart), Ben Cruttenden (Supertune / Parolin) and Bill McLaughlin (Supertune / Gillard). US Trophy East and West champions are in the field. John Bonnano (Fulkrum / CompKart) grabbed his ticket already with Clayton Kesler (CompKart) looking to join him with a win this weekend. Laurentiu Mardan (Tecno Kart USA) was second and third over the last two years at the event, finishing second to Bonnano in the East. Christopher Mann (Ruthless / Exprit) was third in the West and comes in as a contender for the victory this weekend.

Jaxon Porter comes in as one of the favorites in Mini MAX (Photo: Race Rotax – 1 AIM)

The field in Mini MAX is only nine drivers, however, represents three countries. USA has five drivers, led by US Trophy West champion Jaxon Porter (Ruthless / Parolin) – who was part of the EXGEL Rotax Driver Exchange Program that took him to Japan to compete. Porter also won his Rotax Grand Finals ticket with the West title. The East champion Enzo DiGennaro will not be in the field. Along with Porter, two Canadians are in the field holding Rotax Grand Finals tickets. Leo Da Silva (REM / Kosmic) won his ticket at the Canadian Karting Championships while Jeremy St-Cyr (PSL / Birel ART) earned his at the Canadian Open. This leaves six drivers fighting for the RMCGF ticket up for grabs, including the Japanese driver Itsuki Hayashi.

None of the 14 drivers in the Micro MAX division have a ticket in hand, with all fighting for the top spot on the podium to earn the lone ticket up for grabs in the category. Lucas Tarango (Ruthless / Nitro Kart) and Griffin Vukich (PKC / Tony Kart) are coming in as the US Trophy West and East champions. The drivers who finished second and third in both of those championships are in the field including Paxton Romero (FDM / CompKart), Conner Lypka (CompKart), Jack Kotowski (JNM / Sodi Kart) and Slate Harrell (Parolin). Cam Becker (MPG / Race Factory) finished second in this event last year, with Lypka placing fifth. Hudson Howard (JHDD / Alonso Kart) calls NCMP home, adding to the list of top contenders entering the event.

Be sure to follow all the EKN Social Media outlets for updates, photos, videos and more from the Rotax Max Challenge US Trophy Final. Listen to the racing action by heading to the EKN Live page or tune in on the EKN Radio Network with the official voice of Rotax – Henry Beaudette – on the mic all weekend.