Team USA took home the Nations Cup, second time in two years (Photo: Rotax-Kart.com)

Four names were added to the history books as the 2015 Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals crowned this year’s world champions at the Kartodromo Internacional Algarve in Portimao, Portugal. Championship Saturday hosted 34 drivers in all four categories, vying for a chance to be in the hunt at the end of the day. The entire week was picture perfect, possible the best weather ever for the RMCGF. The grids were set by heat points and the Second Chance Heat for the Prefinal Saturday morning, which set the field for the main event in the afternoon. Twelve of the 20 Team USA drivers transferred over and gave the best overall performance by a United States of America squad. Drivers were in contention for the win in all categories all week long, with Mathias Ramirez-Barrero earning runner-up in the Junior Max division and Luke Selliken making history with his second place in Senior Max.

Ramirez-Barrero was not a surprise to be in contention, as he showed speed throughout the week, especially during the practice days. A penalty on the opening day of racing hampered his points position, starting the Prefinal 26th. It was a great Prefinal performance, knifing his way through the field to end up seventh and place him in contention going into the Final. A great start put him into the lead group, and by lap five into the lead. The Ocala Gran Prix driver, working with Nate Grindell, led for five laps before relinquishing the position, remaining in a three-driver battle for the win. Unable to make a last lap pass stick, Ramirez-Barrero finished in the second position in his first RMCGF appearance. It is only the second time a Team USA driver had finished on the podium, just one spot below the world championship by Juan Manuel Correa in 2013. Rolison Performance Group driver Michael Michoff came from winning the LCQ to end up 12th, the second best finish by Team USA while Trenton Estep and Darren Keane directly behind to put four USA drivers in the top-14, all in their first ever Rotax Grand Finals.

After a hard-fought battle in the Prefinal, Luke Selliken managed to gain three positions to finish fourth, starting the main event on the outside of row two. It was not the most optimal position, however, he played the start well, ducking down to the inside and only losing one position before entering the tricky opening hairpin. Regaining the spot in just one lap, Selliken was into the third spot by lap four, and found himself trailing the top two by a good margin. With the front trio spaced out well, it became a battle of consistency. Selliken was able to inch his way closer to the second place driver, quickly disposing of him on lap 14. The lap times were just too similar, and Selliken settled for the second position, earning the best ever finish by a United States driver ever at the Rotax Grand Finals. It certainly was the best performance EVER by the Rolison Performance Group driver, with the only issue all week was the opening of the champagne bottle on the podium.

Ocala Gran Prix’s Kyle Kirkwood was in a dog fight the entire 20-lap feature. A great drive from 24th to 9th in the Prefinal set up his chance at a podium run. At first it was for the fifth position, but the group was able to run down the driver running in the fourth spot. Kirkwood emerged as the top driver, ending up in the fourth position at the checkered flag to put two USA drivers in the top-five. Matt Solarczyk made good on his LCQ win to climb up to 25th while Christian Brooks finished 27th, never really matching the pace he posted in practice after his kart was drilled in the opening heat race.

BBR Karting’s Derek Wang looked to be in the driver’s seat after qualifying on the pole position. The rest of the DD2 Masters field caught up through the heat races, however, he managed to win the final heat and earn an outside row one starting position. As seen throughout the three days of racing, it was not where you wanted to be and he was shuffled back to fifth on the opening lap. Dropping down to seventh, it was a four driver fight for the fourth position, including Wang. On lap 11, contact with Canadian Scott Campbell sent both drivers off at the hairpin following the long straight. Wang ended up 17th, and more issues in the main put him on the sidelines with two laps remaining. That handed the baton to Luis Schiavo, who was right with Wang all week. Schiavo finished fifth in the Prefinal, and remained in the hunt. After the top two drivers took each other out of contention on lap 18, Schiavo benefitted from it to move into the second position. He would cross the finish line there, however, was removed from the results for ignoring the mechanical flag after losing components of his rear bumper. It was a devastating finish to what was a promising start to the DD2 Master campaign.

Jake French carried the Red, White and Blue for Team USA in the DD2 program. Overcoming issues from qualifying, the Texan kept himself in the hunt and transferred directly to Championship Saturday, starting 24th. Gaining eight spots in the Prefinal with time comparable to the leaders, hope was high in the Final. French produced as he got as high as fourth in an epic battle, eventually finishing the Final in the eighth position. Fellow Texan Nathan Adds did his best coming from last in qualifying to earn the 28th starting spot in the Prefinal. After gaining two spots in the Prefinal, Adds retired early in the main event. It was still a great performance overall by the young US champion.

To cap off the event, the United States of America earned the Nations Cup, accumulating the most points against the 52 other countries competing in the event. This was the second time the USA earned the trophy, coming home first in 2013 when the event was held at the NOLA Motorsports Park in New Orleans. It was THE best overall performances by Team USA on foreign soil, with drivers in contention in all four categories. This should fuel the fire for more up and coming drivers to attempt to be part of the Team USA program in 2016, when the event will be held at the Circuito Internazionale de Napoli in Sarno, Italy.

Junior Max

Mathias Ramirez-Barrero second place in Junior Max (Photo: Rotax-Kart.com)

#111 – Mathias Ramirez-Barrero
Age: 13
Hometown: Bradenton, Florida
Qualified: Florida Winter Tour Vice-Champion
RMCGF Appearances: None

Warm-up: 1:03.360 (28th)
Prefinal: 7th (26th)
Final: 2nd

#112 – Trenton Estep
Age: 15
Hometown: San Antonio, Texas
Qualified: US Open
RMCGF Appearances: None

Warm-up: 1:02.909 (19th)
Prefinal: 15th (7th)
Final: 13th

#113 – Michael Michoff
Age: 15
Hometown: Roseville, California
Qualified: Can-Am Karting Challenge Vice-Champion
RMCGF Appearances: None

Warm-up: 1:03.705 (28th)
Prefinal: 16th (29th)
Final: 12th

#118 – Darren Keane
Age: 15
Hometown: Boca Raton, Florida
Qualified: US Rotax Grand Nationals – Third Place
RMCGF Appearances: None

Warm-up: 1:02.555 (11th)
Prefinal: 17th (13th)
Final: 14th

Senior Max

Luke Selliken second place in Senior Max (Photo: Rotax-Kart.com)

#210 – Christian Brooks
Age: 15
Hometown: Santa Clarita, California
Qualified: US Open
RMCGF Appearances: 1 (2014)

Warm-up: 1:01.009 (4th)
Prefinal: 27th (22nd)
Final: 27th

#214 – Kyle Kirkwood
Age: 16
Hometown: Jupiter, Florida
Qualified: Florida Winter Tour Champion
RMCGF Appearances: 1 (2013)

Warm-up: 1:02.124 (24th)
Prefinal: 9th (24th)
Final: 4th

#222 – Matt Solarczyk
Age: 16
Hometown: Ashbury, Virginia
Qualified: US Rotax Grand Nationals Vice-Champion
RMCGF Appearances: None

Warm-up: 1:01.396 (13th)
Prefinal: 21st (29th)
Final: 25th

#249 – Luke Selliken
Age: 16
Hometown: Portland, Oregon
Qualified: Rotax Challenge of the Americas Champion
RMCGF Appearances: 1 (2013)

Warm-up: 1:01.729 (20th)
Prefinal: 4th (7th)
Final: 2nd

DD2

Jake French and Nathan Adds represented Team USA very well in DD2

#317 – Nathan Adds
Age: 17
Hometown: Caddo Mills, Texas
Qualified: US Rotax Grand Nationals Champion
RMCGF Appearances: None

Warm-up: 1:00.705 (27th)
Prefinal: 26th (28th)
Final: 27th

#329 – Jake French
Age: 19
Hometown: Sachse, Texas
Qualified: US Open
RMCGF Appearances: 1 (2009)

Warm-up: 59.586 (12th)
Prefinal: 16th (24th)
Final: 8th

DD2 Masters

Derek Wang and Luis Schiavo may not have left with the results as hoped, still had a great time in DD2 Masters

#409 – Luis Schiavo
Age:
Hometown: Miami, Florida
Qualified: US Rotax Grand Nationals Champion
RMCGF Appearances: 2 (2010, 2014)

Warm-up: 59.635 (2nd)
Prefinal: 5th (4th)
Final: DQ (finished 2nd)

#413 – Derek Wang
Age:
Hometown: Seattle, Washington
Qualified: US Open
RMCGF Appearances: 4 (2010, 2011, 2013, 2014)

Warm-up: 59.965 (11th)
Prefinal: 17th (2nd)
Final: 27th

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