The 2026 RMC Trophy Final is set to take place this weekend – July 31-August 2 – at the New Castle Motorsports Park. The fifth edition of the event at the New Castle, Indiana facility will see a new version with now eight categories competing over the three days, welcoming roughly 130 drivers from seven countries. The highlight of the weekend will be the six tickets to be awarded on the weekend, taking six drivers to the 2026 Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals – scheduled for November 7-14 in Portimão, Portugal.

The fifth edition of the RMC Trophy Final brings about a new version of the event thanks to the expansion of welcoming the FZ Shifter program, adding three shifterkart categories coming off the inclusion at the inaugural RMC America’s Trophy program. FZ125 Senior, FZ85 Junior will be joined by an arrive-and-drive FZ65 Mini category this weekend. The same five Rotax Max Challenge divisions return with a total of six RMC Grand Finals tickets to be awarded. Two tickets are available in the Senior MAX division, including one to compete in the DD2 division in Portugal. One ticket each for Micro MAX, Mini MAX, Junior MAX and Masters MAX to compete at the ‘Olympics of Karting’.

The 2026 RMC Trophy Final will also mark the first official event under the Karting Solutions Group / Race Rotax partnership with TPK Promotions, the company that promotes Superkarts! USA events. Many of the same staff members you see at SKUSA events will be operating the weekend activities at New Castle Motorsports Park. Another major part of the relationship is the rules and supplementals following the SKUSA rulebook, a change from the previous RMC events in 2026. This new association, along with the addition of Senior MAX and Mini MAX to the SKUSA SuperNationals 29 this November, offers up nine entries to be awarded to podium finishers. All three podium drivers in Senior MAX and Mini MAX earn a free entry to the Las Vegas event, with one entry available to a podium finisher in Micro MAX, Junior MAX and Masters MAX.

The format for the 2026 RMC Trophy Final includes five rounds of official practice on Friday. Saturday offers warm-up, qualifying, and two heat races (8 laps / 7 for Cadet). Points from the two heat races will set the grid for the Super Heat (10 laps / 9 for Cadet) on Sunday, which follows Sunday warm-up. Points combined from the heat races and the Super Heat will set the grids for the Finals (16 laps / 14 for Cadet).

Oliver Hodgson is attempting to win for a fifth straight time in Senior MAX (Photo: Studio52.us)

The Senior MAX category is the largest of the pre-registration at 31 drivers with four different countries represented. The story going into the weekend is the streak for four-time race winner Oliver Hodgson. The British-born driver who now resides in the USA has won four straight times, seeking a fifth event title. Last year was the unofficial debut with Factory Karts on CompKart colors. Now, the 2013 Rotax Grand Finals champion is coming off the first SKUSA Pro Tour victory for Factory Karts last weekend at New Castle. Already with a Rotax Grand Finals ticket in hand and one of the favorites on the weekend is Canadian Ayden Ingratta (REM / Kosmic). The champion of the RMC America’s Trophy program claimed the title by winning all four main events. He is among a strong contingent of drivers from North of the Border, including recent Canadian Open DD2 winner Arnaud Sabourin (Prime / Redspeed) and Antonie Lemieux (LN Kart). USA drivers include last year’s Junior MAX winner Isaac Malcuit (MDR / LN Kart), 2025 RMC USA West race winner Blake Nash (Factory Karts), along with former Team USA members Macy Williams (CB / CS55) and Gage Korn (Maranello USA) – who won this event in Mini MAX back in 2022.

Junior MAX is just as large at 31 drivers, and will welcome a fifth different winner. Many of the contenders from the RMC Winter Trophy and RMC America’s Trophy will be in the field. Among those is RMC Winter Trophy vice-champion Leo Da Silva (REM / Kosmic), who holds the Rotax Grand Finals ticket from that program. Da Silva, who is among nine Canadians in the field, was second in the RMC America’s Trophy standings as well. He finished second to Nicolas Orbezo (IRM / Tony Kart). Orbezo will be part of Team USA in 2026, coming off a victory in KA100 Junior last weekend at the SKUSA SummerNationals. Both drivers will be among the favorites, plus racing with tickets in hand. Drivers looking to grab the upset include British driver Aidan Hammond (Prime / Redspeed) who finished third at the RMC Winter Trophy in Texas. Enzo DiGennaro (MDR / Parolin) was part of Team USA last year as a Mini MAX driver, seeking a return trip to the RMC Grand Finals this time as a Junior driver. DiGennaro was third in the RMC America’s Trophy standings.

Leo Da Silva is among the Junior MAX contenders this weekend (Photo: Ken Johnson – Studio52.us)

The eight drivers in Masters MAX features four former Team USA members. Defending race winner John Bonanno (FulKrum / CompKart) returns in an attempt to become the first repeat winner in the category. RMC America’s Trophy champion Billy Cleavelin (REM / LN Kart) was part of Team USA three times before with Christopher Mann (REM / LN Kart) representing the Red, White and Blue last year. Scott Roberts (SCR / Redspeed) is also a former two-time Team USA member, making this field one of the toughest over the last five years.

Samuel Chaverri (PSL / Birelart) is attempting to become the first two-time winner in Mini MAX category. The Costa Rican won in last year’s wet race to be the lone driver representing his country at the RMC Grand Finals. Canadian Yousef Adi (Prime / Redspeed) is in the field, competing with a ticket in hand already coming off RMC Ontario title last weekend. Adi finished runner-up at the RMC Winter Trophy and third in the RMC America’s Trophy program. Momentum is also on the side of Dutch Westbrook (Team Benik), the newly crowned SKUSA Pro Tour Mini Swift champion. The Texan won both main events at New Castle last weekend, having finished fourth at the RMC Winter Trophy and fifth at the RMC America’s Trophy. Others to watch include RMC America’s Trophy race winners Aidan Go (Parolin Motorsport USA) and Hudson Howard (MPG / Kart Republic), Canadian Lincoln Lima (Prime / Redspeed), Slate Harrell (MPG / Kart Republic) along with British drivers Charlie Page (Prime / Redspeed) and Arthur Pharoah (Premier / Tony Kart) – who was runner-up in last year.

Samuel Chaverri seeks a second straight victory in Mini MAX (Photo: EKN)

The Micro MAX division will welcome a fifth different winner as well. Alessio Tosti (MPG / Kart Republic) comes in as the RMC America’s Trophy champion. Canadian Tristan Francisco (RPM / Nitro Kart) was second in the standings while Dusty Strayer (SCR / Nitro Kart) was third. Tre Sanders (RPM / Nitro Kart) was P4 in the championship while finishing third in the RMC Winter Trophy program. Among the four drivers outside of the USA are two British drivers – Arlo Gamble (Prime / Redspeed) and Albert Pharoah (Premier / Tony Kart).

New to the RMC Trophy Final event is the inclusion of the FZ Shifter program. The FZ125 Senior category has nine drivers competing for the inaugural victory. RMC America’s Trophy champion Gage Korn (Maranello USA) is among the favorites with Mason Mitchell (Factory Karts) starting after finishing third in the standings. Michell Lowry (Maranello USA) comes in with KZ experience while John Crow (Chacko / RS Kart) has the most of the field with SKUSA Pro Tour championships and SuperNationals victories on his CV.

FZ65 Mini will make its RMC Trophy Final debut this weekend

The top three from the RMC America’s Trophy championship standings in FZ85 Junior will be in the seven driver field. Title winner Brandon Ng (Factory Karts), vice-champion RJ Brown (R3 / Factory Kart) and Wyatt Kroeger (Factory Karts) are among the favorites with the rest of the field making their major FZ debut.

The 12-driver field for FZ65 Mini will be competing in Arrive-and-Drive packages. The karts supplied by Factory Karts and the engines direct from FZ Shifter, these 12 drivers will compete on equal equipment. Seven states are represented in the field, including three drivers who competed at the ProKart Challenge program in 2026. Asher Biezonsky, Cole Harris and Leland Daignault have FZ65 experience.

Be sure to follow all the EKN Social Media outlets for updates, photos, videos and more from the RMC Trophy Final. Listen to the racing action by heading to the EKN Live page or tune in on the EKN Radio Network all weekend.

Provisional Senior MAX Entry List

Provisional Junior MAX Entry List

Provisional Masters MAX Entry List

Provisional Mini MAX Entry List

Provisional Micro MAX Entry List

Provisional FZ125 Senior Entry List

Provisional FZ85 Junior Entry List

Provisional FZ65 Mini Entry List

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