2024 Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals – Team USA – Tuesday Report
Bonanno hits top 10 in DD2 Masters Qualifying as rain hits Sarno, Italy
Team USA driver John Bonanno qualified sixth in DD2 Masters (Photo: Cody Schindel - CKN)
It was an uncharacteristic day at the 2024 Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals. The 391 drivers from over 60 countries took to the Circuito Internazionale di Napoli facility for the second day of on-track action on Tuesday. Issues on Monday pushed the third round of DD2 practice sessions into Tuesday morning, forcing a change in the schedule. Rain hit the Sarno, Italy facility, and with no rain tires distributed to that point in the event, the schedule was delayed further. The Practice 6 even session for Junior along with both Senior and DD2 practice groups were cancelled to handle the tire situation and catch back up to the original schedule that put Micro MAX, Mini MAX and DD2 Masters on track at the end of the day for qualifying.
All categories will have a practice session to begin Wednesday morning before E20 Senior, E20 Masters, Junior MAX, Senior MAX, and DD2 contest their qualifying sessions with all categories competing in their first round of heat races.
Seven of the 14 drivers put in their qualifying efforts on a wet track in all their first time hitting the Sarno circuit in rain conditions. DD2 Masters driver John Bonanno led the way, setting the sixth quickest time to start the heat races from outside row three. All three Mini MAX drivers finished within the top 32, led by Enzo DiGennaro inside the top 20. Micro MAX duo was led by Cameron Becker, reaching the top 15 in qualifying.
Below is a breakdown of each driver’s results and some comments on the day’s action.
Circuito Internazionale di Napoli in Sarno, Italy
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DD2 – Birel ART (72 Drivers)
#404 – Cooper O’Clair
(Photo: BRP-Rotax)
Hometown: Phoenix, Arizona
Qualified: US Trophy West Champion
RMCGF Appearances: 3 – 2021, 2022 (Junior Max), 2023 (Senior Max)
Practice 3 (even): 35th – 1:01.781 +1.843
Practice 4 (even): 18th – 1:00.310 +0.556
Practice 5 (even): 18th – 1:00.326 +0.352
Practice 6 (even): Cancelled
“Struggled with issues on the kart but got some decent track time. The number on the sheet isn’t pretty but the margins are close enough that once we finish smoothing the edges out we should be in good shape.”
DD2 Masters – Charles Leclerc (36 Drivers)
#503 – John Bonanno
Hometown: West Deptford, New Jersey
Qualified: US Trophy East (Masters MAX Champion)
RMCGF Appearances: 2 – 2018, 2021
Practice 4: 26th – 1:01.158 +0.701
Practice 5: 25th – 1:01.002 +0.737
Practice 6: 17th – 1:00.865 +0.447
Qualifying: 6th – 1:16.661 +1.714
“Today was crazy! I started by forgetting my credentials in hotel and ran back, barely making morning practice. I was in a terrible headspace and ran pretty bad. Made some minor setup tweaks and it felt better but still struggling with consistency so never really put together a great lap. Final practice made some front end adjustment and kart was the best it’s been. Really happy with it. I was mid pack but felt like I had more than time sheet showed. I had no idea what to expect heading into qualifying. I’ve never driven DD2 in the rain or any kart with front brakes. This track is super slick and was tricky to find a fast line. I got some advice from a few friends and let her rip. Karts were spinning everywhere and it was tough to stay clean out there. I managed to run my best result in a Rotax Grand Final session. I think me and Scott Howard, who went pole position are gonna pitch in and install a sprinkler system for the rest of the races. Ciao to everyone back in the USA!”
#528 – Laurentiu Mardan
(Photo: BRP-Rotax)
Hometown: Arlington Heights, Illinois
Qualified: US Trophy Final Winner
RMCGF Appearances: 0
Practice 4: 25th – 1:01.148 +0.691
Practice 5: 21st – 1:00.942 +0.677
Practice 6: 18th – 1:00.872 +0.454
Qualifying: 25th – 1:18.059 +3.112
“We are getting closer and closer in pace. The field is very tight. We found some momentum and just before qualifying it rained. I have zero laps in the rain here. I was unable to get a clean lap during the session as it was hectic out there.”
E20 Senior – Sodi Kart (18 Drivers)
#615 – Patrick Ronveaux-Tordion
Hometown: N/A
RMCGF Appearances: 0
Practice 4: 15th – 1:02.030 +0.989
Practice 5: DNS
Practice 6: 16th – 1:03.267 +1.708
Junior MAX – Praga (72 Drivers)
#213 – Davin Roberts
(Photo: BRP-Rotax)
Hometown: Mooresville, North Carolina
Qualified: US Trophy Final Winner
RMCGF Appearances: 0
Practice 4 (odd): 13th – 1:02.026 +0.543
Practice 5 (odd): 17th – 1:02.149 +0.522
Practice 6 (odd): 26th – 1:02.722 +1.101
“Today, unfortunately, was not as productive as the first three practices on Monday. I didn’t have the pace I had shown yesterday. Practice 4, I still needed a little more. The next went about the same. For the final session of the day, we made some changes to the kart. Most everyone waited in the pits for a long time, and I became impatient, causing me to go out on track by myself. The kart changes felt positive, but I experienced some engine issues. The engine was not performing optimally on the straightaways and not pulling out of the corners. Then, at the end of the session, it began to rain, causing my session to be shortened. Rotax checked over my engine, and I am hopeful their changes will have me back towards the top of the speed charts tomorrow!”
#216 – Gage Korn
(Photo: BRP-Rotax)
Hometown: Aurora, Colorado
Qualified: US Trophy West Champion
RMCGF Appearances: 3 – 2021, 2022, 2023 (Mini)
Practice 4 (even): 6th – 1:01.764 +0.106
Practice 5 (even): 13th – 1:01.870 +0.401
Practice 6 (even): Cancelled
“My day was good. The first session of the day, my fast lap, I made a double pass in the last corner and was only a tenth off so I had pace for P1. The second session, me and Ty Fisher went out together with nobody around us and tried to give each other good draft laps, but we timed it wrong. The third session was cancelled due to rain. Looking forward to qualifying and one heat race tomorrow!”
Micro MAX – Formula K (36 Drivers)
#3 – Cameron Becker
(Photo: BRP-Rotax)
Hometown: Englewood, Colorado
Qualified: US Trophy Final Winner
RMCGF Appearances: 0
Practice 4: 8th – 1:10.210 +0.776
Practice 5: 15th – 1:10.385 +0.813
Practice 6: 14th – 1:10.330 +0.733
Qualifying: 14th – 1:26.540 +2.662
#6 – Yutaka Sonoda
Hometown: Tri Cities, Washington
Qualified: Canada Final Winner
RMCGF Appearances: 0
Practice 4: 11th – 1:10.532 +1.098
Practice 5: Retired
Practice 6: 15th – 1:10.371 +0.774
Qualifying: 22nd – 1:27.512 +3.634
Mini MAX – Birel ART (72 Drivers)
#104 – William Vetor
Hometown: Zionsville, Indiana
Qualified: US Trophy Final Runner-Up
RMCGF Appearances: 0
Practice 4 (even): 26th – 1:07.388 +1.263
Practice 5 (even): 16th – 1:06.918 +0.681
Practice 6 (even): 27th – 1:18.646 +11.964
Qualifying (even): 16th – 1:23.225 +2.645
Qualifying (overall): 32nd
Heat Race Group: D (Row 8)
“It was an up and down day, but an improvement over day one. I felt more comfortable than yesterday. I’m really looking forward to my first heat race tomorrow.”
#107 – Enzo DiGennaro
Hometown: Poughkeepsie, NY
Qualified: US Trophy East Champion
RMCGF Appearances: 0
Practice 4 (odd): 9th – 1:06.612 +0.282
Practice 5 (odd): 13th – 1:06.366 +0.449
Practice 6 (odd): 22nd – 1:06.624 +0.764
Qualifying (odd): 10th – 1:22.262 +1.847
Qualifying (overall): 19th
Heat Race Group: C (Row 5)
“We had lots of speed early in the day that some of the timing did not fully show due to traffic on track. We chose to chase an alternate setup with the remaining final practice which further confirmed our confidence in the package we had put together. Qualifying was a gamble for everyone as the rain came down on and off for the first time since the event kicked off. We played it safe with a conservative kart and was able to pull out a respectable time for a solid starting position in the heat racing to follow.”
#108 – Jaxon Porter
Hometown: Scottsdale, Arizona
Qualified: US Trophy West Champion
RMCGF Appearances: 0
Practice 4 (even): 12th – 1:06.883 +0.758
Practice 5 (even): 24th – 1:07.156 +0.919
Practice 6 (even): 22nd – 1:09.563 +2.881
Qualifying (even): 12th – 1:22.537 +1.957
Qualifying (overall): 24th
Heat Race Group: D (Row 6)
Senior MAX – Sodi Kart (72 Drivers)
#305 – Wesley Gundler
Hometown: Holly Springs, North Carolina
Qualified: US Trophy East Champion
RMCGF Appearances: 0
Practice 4 (odd): 24th – 1:01.722 +1.202
Practice 5 (odd): 26th – 1:01.515 +1.087
Practice 6 (odd): Cancelled
“We made progress on figuring out the kart setup and I made progress on driving. Getting a feel for how I should be driving has been difficult due to some sessions cut short. We lost our last session today because of rain but I am feeling confident going into qualifying and the heat race.”
#307 – Oliver Hodgson
Hometown: Phoenix, Arizona
Qualified: Canada Open
RMCGF Appearances: 3 – 2012, 2013, 2023
Wins: Senior MAX (2013) (UK)
Practice 4 (odd): 10th – 1:01.230 +0.710
Practice 5 (odd): 4th – 1:00.807 +0.379
Practice 6 (odd): Cancelled
“A solid day. We had two free practice sessions with a strong showing in the second session. Looking forward to putting it all together for the first day of racing tomorrow.”
#313 – Dalton Hanes
Hometown: Greensboro, North Carolina
Qualified: US Trophy Final Runner-Up
RMCGF Appearances: 0
Practice 4 (odd): 23rd – 1:01.614 +1.094
Practice 5 (odd): 28th – 1:01.579 +1.151
Practice 6 (odd): Cancelled
“The setup was good on the kart unfortunately lack of knowledge about the Rotax hurt us. We didn’t know that you have to charge the battery on the kart or else you lose power. Very different from the X30 in that regard. So, we never did meanwhile everyone else charged there’s overnight. So, we’ll make sure it’s charged tonight and get to work tomorrow!”
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