This weekend is the official kick off to the 2015 season, as the Rotax Challenge of the Americas begins its eighth season of competition. The numbers back up the program’s statement of being the ‘premier winter karting series on the left coast’, welcoming some of the top drivers from all over the continent and the world. The opening event returns to the Musselman Honda Circuit in Tucson, Arizona with official practice set for January 9, with two rounds of racing scheduled for January 10-11.

Over the past eight seasons, the Challenge has presented tickets to the elusive Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals. This year is no different with four series champions set to compete at the ‘Olympics of Karting’ in 2015 while representing the Challenge and their respective countries. This year, the Senior Max, Junior Max and DD2 champions will be joined by the Masters Max title winner (scheduled to race at the RMCGF in the DD2 Masters division). The drivers who claim the top spot in the standings for DD2 Masters, Mini Max and Micro Max earn a sponsored entry into the United States Rotax Max Challenge Grand Nationals, scheduled for August 6-9 at the Carolina Motorsports Park in Kershaw, South Carolina.

Other prizes include certificates and products from the following companies; Precision Karting Technologies, HoleShot, Ribtect, Acceleration Kart Racing, K1 RaceGear and Race Tech Development. In total, they will be providing around $10,000 for podium and drivers meeting giveaways.

For those who are unable to attend the Rotax Challenge of the Americas opening weekend, eKartingNews.com will be providing their ‘Trackside Live’ coverage for a fourth straight season. Viewers can enjoy the live timing from the event provided by Race Monitor, while listening to voice of the Challenge – Rob Howden – as he give the play-by-play call of the action as it happens. The EKN Live program can be streamed to your laptop or computer, and on mobile devices all from one page – eKartingNews.com/live. Daily reports, forum and social media updates can be accessed through the EKN Event Page.

Yesterday, we previewed the Junior Max, Mini Max and Micro Max, with today a look at the three adult divisions.

Nash Motorsportz Senior Max

The two top challengers in last year’s Senior Max championship chase – Louie Pagano and Jake Craig – find themselves on new chassis for 2015 (Photo: SeanBuur.com)

In the entire history of the series, no championship chase was more dramatic then that of the Senior Max fight a year ago. Three drivers entered the sixth and last Final race of the season with a chance at the title, and once the tally was calculated, three drivers finished within five points with Phillip Arscott scoring the race win and his second straight championship. Arscott, a 2009 US Rotax Grand Nationals winner, stood on the podium in five of the six races, winning two of the last three features. His two-year title streak will come to an end this year, as the Rolison Performance Group driver is focusing on finishing his Masters degree at Oregon State.

This has opened the door for a new champion, with last year’s top contenders on the short list to lead the championship chase in 2015. Former Challenge Junior Max champion Louie Pagano came two points short of the championship driving for Dallas Karting Complex / Sodi Kart USA. This year, Pagano moves over to the 2Wild Karting stable aboard a Tony Kart. He replaces the spot left void by Jake Craig, the third place finisher in last year’s championship. Craig drove to three wins in 2014, but a DQ in Phoenix cost him valuable points in the standings, leaving him five markers away from the title. Craig will make his RaceLab / Formula K debut in Tucson while making his European debut with the factory team.

Among the top rookies last year was Oregon driver Luke Selliken. The young driver embarks on his second season in the Senior ranks, leading a six-driver roster under the Rolison Performance Group tent. His best finish came at the final, placing third and second in the two features at Sonoma. Parker McKean rejoins the RPG stable after missing out last year with illnesses striking him at the wrong times. McKean won the opener in 2013, finishing third in the championship chase and with Pagano, is among the elder drivers in the field.

Also looking to start their sophomore season in the Senior divisions is Jim McKinney and Marco Eakins. McKinney (Ruthless / Tony Kart) showed speed throughout 2014, but only managed one podium finish in the six races to finish ninth in the standings. Eakins moves from the ART GP frame to Formula K as Black Flag Racing Products has become the newest American dealer.

Among those to watch include Canadian Bryce Choquer. The 2014 Team Canada driver was a regular top-10 contender during the Challenge last year, looking to move his BBR Karting Tony Kart onto the podium in 2015. Christian Brooks will make his Senior Max debut this season after finishing runner-up in the Junior Max category last season. The 2011 US Grand Nationals Mini Max champion returns with Nash Motorsportz aboard a Tony Kart. Alongside is Brenden Baker, who certainly has the speed to compete. Two-time DD2 Masters Team USA driver Derek Wang (FA Kart) throws off the median in the age range for the Senior division, as the Washington driver will battle drivers half his age in Tucson.

Provisional Senior Max Entry List

Cambrian Go-Karts Masters Max

Paul Bonilla returns to the Challenge, hoping to claim the first Rotax Grand Finals ticket thru Masters Max (Photo: SeanBuur.com)

One of the great benefits of Masters racing, drivers don’t graduate, they come back for more. This year is expected to be one of the most competitive seasons at the Challenge for the Masters category, which has always produced some great battles every weekend. The added bonus in 2015 is the new Rotax Grand Finals ticket up for grabs to the driver who scores the championship. The past two seasons have seen Donald Durbin on top of the championship standings each year. This year, Durbin will not compete in the series, thus leaving one of the former champions to reclaim the throne or give a new name to the record books.

This year’s field features three of the six Challenge championship drivers. 2012 was the title year for Paul Bonilla, who makes his return to the Challenge. Bonilla (FTK / Tony Kart) is among the top Masters drivers in the country, ready for another assault in Rotax competition. In 2011, Colorado driver Scott Falcone came away with the championship by two points over Bill Kann. Falcone has been away from the Challenge for two years, and the Team USA driver in 2013 is making his return under the Rolison Performance Group tent aboard a Kosmic machine. John Crow is a two-time Challenge champion, winning the Masters Max title in 2009 and scoring the DD2 Masters crown in 2012 to secure his first trip to the Rotax Grand Finals. Crow is moving back to the Birel chassis, running under the Full Throttle Karting tent.

Last year, Brian Phillipsen and Ken Maxfield were the championship challengers. Phillipsen (Tony Kart) won his first series race in Phoenix, adding two other podium finishes on the season. Maxfield (Arrow)came back recovering after a serious illness at the end of 2013 to land himself on the podium three times, missing out on a victory. He continued to improve and went on to win the Cold Stone US Grand Nationals to join Team USA at the Rotax Grand Finals for the first time. Kurt Fisher started last year as the top qualifier in Round one, but could not match the result the rest of the series to land fourth in the championship standings. The CRG-USA driver is back for his second year in the program, coming off a top-10 run at the US Grand Nationals.

Provisional Masters Max Entry List

CRG-USA DD2

Sabre Cook is the only returning DD2 driver from 2014, up against new names this year (Photo: SeanBuur.com)

The Challenge of the Americas will welcome its seventh different champion in the DD2 category with defending title winner Gavin Reichelt not competing in 2015. Five drivers enter Tucson with aspirations of becoming the champion, and representing their country at the Rotax Grand Finals. The lone returning driver from last year’s chase is Sabre Cook (CRG-USA). The Colorado driver won twice last year, and easily could have won more if not for mechanical issues. Arizona driver Bailey Murphy (Tony Kart) was quick at the Phoenix event he contested last year, and is back to start out the championship chase on top.

2014 Team USA driver Michael Ilavia will make his Rotax Challenge of the Americas debut, along with the Compkart. The Texas driver for J3 Competition finished fifth at the Cold Stone US Grand Nationals to earn a ticket to Spain for the world championship. Ilavia qualified for the main event, placing 27th, one spot behind Challenge champion Reichelt. Colorado driver Ben Schermerhorn (CRG) is a longtime Challenge competitor in the Senior Max division, making his first DD2 start in Tucson. Also moving over is veteran karter Matt Jaskol. The Las Vegas native is a successful shifterkart driver, making his first DD2 appearance at the Challenge, working with the PSL West program.

Provisional DD2 Entry List

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