Paddock Insider: 2024 Rotax US Trophy Final
August 21, 2024 – Article by EKN David Cole
Henry Beaudette – The Voice of Rotax Competition
You know it’s a big Rotax event when Henry Beaudette is on the mic. For a second straight year, the voice of the Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals is calling the action from the US Trophy Final. A native of Wales, Beaudette began calling the Rotax Grand Finals back in 2014 and has called events in many different countries for Rotax and other karting events, including here in the USA. During the unofficial practice day on Thursday, Beaudette provided us a tour of the paddock with Race Rotax official photographer Norito Hagiike.
EXGEL Driver Exchange Program with Race Rotax for US Trophy Final
In 2024, Race Rotax partnered with EXGEL Motorsport to establish a Driver Exchange Program. Race Rotax sent two drivers to compete at the MAX Champ Series on August 11 in Japan, while they sent three drivers here to the USA for the US Trophy Final this weekend. Jaxon Porter and Griffin Dowler were selected from the US Trophy West program and enjoyed their trip (Read More HERE). Three drivers from Asia were selected to compete at the US Trophy Final this weekend – Itsuki Hayashi (Japan – Mini MAX), Ryusei Sawada (Japan – Junior MAX), and Quinten Lu (China – Senior MAX). Henry Beaudette talked with the three drivers along with EXGEL president Kaname Ogawa on Thursday.
MPG Motorsports – Operation of All Trades
MPG Motorsports continuing to service Rotax engines for drivers across the country (Photo: EKN)
One of the teams to hit nearly every program around the country – national and regional – is MPG Motorsports. Based out of the Whiteland Raceway Park, ‘My Parents Garage’ operation is focused on grooming drivers from the club to the regional level, while still assisting those moving on to the next step. MPG is servicing Rotax engines as they supported drivers at both the US Trophy West and US Trophy East programs under the MPG / Kart Republic tent. Gage Korn earned his fifth Rotax Grand Finals ticket, this year as a first time in Junior MAX after securing the West championship. Korn is here working as a driver coach under the tent this weekend. Landon Buher finished second in Junior MAX at the East program, and is among the four drivers competing here this weekend in Senior, Junior and Mini MAX. At the same time, the other half of the team is at Road America for the Route 66 Sprint Series event.
Members of Team USA 2024 at the US Trophy Final
Tickets for the 2024 Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals have already been awarded on the year, with six more to be handed out on Sunday following the action here in New Castle. A total of 10 drivers who claimed a ticket to compete at the October 19-26 at the Circuito Internazionale di Napoli in Sarno Italy are here this weekend. In total, four drivers already on Team USA are competing – Cooper O’Clair, Wesley Gundler, Jaxon Porter and John Bonanno. The first three, along with Gage Korn – the US Trophy West Junior Max Champion – joined Henry Beaudette for a Roundtable on Thursday.
Racelab Working with Midwest Dealer SpeedTech Racing
SpeedTech Racing hosting two drivers on the TB Kart brand this weekend (Photo: EKN)
