Rotax US Trophy Final Sunday Report
August 24, 2024 – Article by EKN David Cole
The 2024 Rotax Max Challenge US Trophy Final – hosted by Race Rotax – concluded on Sunday at the New Castle Motorsports Park. After a busy day of racing on Saturday at the New Castle, Indiana facility, the grids were set for the five main events to wrap up the third edition of the event. The results on the day awarded six tickets in total to the 2024 Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals, set for Italy in October. The on-track sessions crowned five winners in total, including now three-time victor Senior Max winner Oliver Hodgson.
Hodgson (CompKart) led the 21 driver field to the green flag with Brazilian Diego Ramos (PSL / Birel ART) on the outside. Starting third was Jensen Burnett (REM / Kosmic) battled Ramos over the first few laps before securing the position on lap three. From there, Ramos was pushed back further with others moving by for position. Eventually, Ramos would retire from the event. With Hodgson well out in front, the attention turned to Dalton Hanes (Racelab / TB Kart) who was on the charge forward. He came from ninth and was up into the third spot by lap nine. He began inching closer to Burnett with each lap. With the two laps remaining signal given, Hanes charged even closer. A deep move coming to the white flag, Hanes was able to slip past Burnett, bringing Quinten Lu (CompKart) and Timonty Pernod (PSL / Birel ART) with him. Hodgson, running unchallenged the entire 18 laps scored a third straight victory. Hanes crossed the line second with Lu placing third ahead of Pernod and Burnett – making it a Great Britain, USA, China, Canada and Canada top-five. Hodgson is set to be part of Team USA for the first time now with a USA license, won his ticket from the Canada Open event, thus pushing the Senior Max ticket to Hanes – who will be part of Team USA for the first time. Lu declined the DD2 ticket earned with his third place result and with Pernod just earning one at the Canadian Karting Championships, Burnett was awarded the ticket and will join Team Canada.
Davin Roberts secured the Junior Max victory with a last lap move (Photo: EKN)
The 18-driver Junior Max class was the first on the track for the main events on Sunday. Former Team USA driver Nixx Eggleston (Ruthless / Exprit) and Ryusei Sawada (CompKart) led the field to the green flag. Eggleston, Sawada and Devin Roberts (RPM / Tony Kart) who started fifth made up the lead pack. Eggleston was pushed back to third on lap nine with Roberts and Sawada working past. Eggleston returned to the point on lap 12, and led to the white flag with Roberts trailing. While it didn’t seem Roberts was close enough to make a move, he went deep into the third to last corner, catching Eggleston by surprise. Roberts was able to take the position and hold it to the line to claim the victory and earn the ticket to the Rotax Grand Finals. Eggleston settled for second with top qualifier Isaac Malcuit (PSL / Birel ART) coming up from 15th to third. Canadians Antoine Lemieux (REM / Kosmic) and Cole Medeiros (REM / Kosmic) were fourth and fifth, including 12 positions gained by Medeiros.
Laurentiu Mardan secured his first victory in Masters Max to earn his first Rotax Grand Finals ticket (Photo: EKN)
A great battle for the lone Rotax Grand Finals ticket and the victory in Masters Max went down to the wire as well. The nine drivers opened up the main event with polesitter John Bonanno (Fulkrum / CompKart) out to the lead with Christopher Mann (Ruthless / Exprit) up to second as outside polesitter Laurentiu Mardan (Tecno Kart USA) fell to third. Eventually, Mardan returned back up to the second spot with Ben Cruttenden (Supertune / Parolin) into third and Mann in fourth. Cruttenden and Mann were able to keep pace with the top two, until Cruttenden fell off the draft, leaving just three together. With Mann putting on the pressure on Mardan, it was Mardan jumping ahead to the lead on lap 13. They would run like that as Mardan would hold on to claim his first US Trophy Final victory, earning the ticket to the Rotax Grand Finals. He will join second place finisher Bonanno on Team USA as he won a ticket at the US Trophy East program. Mann settled for the third spot with Cruttenden in fourth and Ray Banach (CompKart) in fifth.
Jaxon Porter drove to victory in Mini Max (Photo: EKN)
It was a four driver breakaway in the Mini Max division. Polesitter Nico Kotowski (JNM / Sodi Kart) was joined by US Trophy West champion Jaxon Porter (Ruthless / Parolin), Olivier Chasse (HMP / Kart Republic) and Willaim Vetor (JHDD / Alonso Kart). Porter took over the lead on lap two, bringing Vetor with him. Vetor stayed on the rear bumper of Porter, keeping Chasse and Kotowski at bay. They gained ground on the final circuit with the former two fighting for the third spot. Vetor never left his wingman, pushing Porter to the checkered flag for 1-2 finish. With Porter already earning a ticket to the Rotax Grand Finals, the Mini Max ticket was awarded to Vetor to give him his first trip to the event. Kotowski was able to beat out Chasse for third with Luke Kanjanapitak (Parolin) placing fifth.
Cam Becker went from fourth to first in the final lap to earn victory in Micro Max (Photo: EKN)
