|
 |
|
 |
| October 29, 2010 |
| World Comes to Zuera for the Rotax International Open |
| |
 | Newly crowned European Rotax Max champion Joey van Splunteren on the Zuera International Circuit in Spain for open practice Friday
(Photo: Bas Kaligis-RGMMC Media) |
Track action gets underway today with official qualifying at the Rotax International Open as the mammoth Zuera circuit in Spain plays host to a driver line-up that’s nothing short of “global” with 28 nations being represented in the first ever running of the event. The final race on the 2010 RGMMC calendar sees competitors from as far as Japan, Columbia, Canada, South Africa, the United Arab Emirates and Russia joining drivers from more than 20 European countries to compile a very international entry list.
Organisers and promoters RGMMC Establishment have introduced the Rotax Open to their program as a way to give the ideal opportunity for drivers to race against some of the best in the World at the end of their own national racing season, which is also the perfect lead-up to the prestigious Rotax Grand Finals mid-November in Italy. The top drivers from the Euro Challenge are in Zuera this week, providing a high level of competition in each of the four classes being contested; Juniors, Seniors and Masters in the Rotax Max categories, as well as the 2-speed Rotax DD2 class.
In every case, there’s no clear favourite to take the Rotax International Open honours amongst all the talent at Zuera this weekend. With the likes of Joey van Splunteren as the newly crowned European champion and a string of senior drivers who are all very capable of stealing his glory - not only from the Euro Challenge, but many leading drivers from national and international series’ that are competing at the event. Another Dutch driver, Joel Affolter, comes in as the 2010 Junior Max European champ also facing some tough competition with little separating the times in open practice. Christoph Adams is hoping to add another title to his impressive list of Masters’ credits as the defending World number one, again entered in both the Max Masters and DD2 classes. Euro winner Andreas Jensen is also getting in valuable preparation for the Grand Finals in the Rotax DD2, where the weather in Spain is more similar to La Conca as opposed to Denmark where he lives. He’s racing against some very experienced drivers in Zuera as well, so the racing should be very close.
As the chosen venue for the Rotax Open, the amazing 1700 metre Circuito Internacional de Zuera was also the location for the recent KF2 World Championships. Covering an area of 240,000 square metres that includes three tracks in total, the CIK-FIA homologated Zuera circuit is both fast and technical, considered by many as one of the best karting circuits on the calendar. With a straight of 180 metres, the challenge for the technicians will be to have the necessary engine speed and gearing spot-on, while the slipstream undoubtedly remains a major key factor in the qualifying strategy.
With 75 drivers in total, the schedule sees official timed practice start at 1.30pm today, followed by the qualifying heats Saturday from 10.30am after the morning warm-up, while Sunday’s program has the second chance race preceding the pre-finals and finals. RGMMC is offering fantastic prizes to all the podium place-getters at the Rotax Open of free entry (including race tyres and track fees) for the 2011 Rotax Winter Cup at Campillos, Spain next February, while one driver competing in every class has the chance to win free entry to the 2011 Rotax Euro Challenge for the entire season.
Live Timing and results from all track sessions at the Rotax International Open in Zuera this weekend can be found online at http://www.rgmmc.com. Live commentary from RGMMC series commentator Ken Walker will accompany the live timing. |
|
|
Go Top
|
|
|
|
|
