2025 Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals – Team USA – Wednesday Report
Challenging day in Bahrain with qualifying and opening heat races contested
(Photo: Cody Schindel - CKN)
The third day of the 2025 Rotax Max Challenge at the Bahrain International Karting Circuit on Wednesday was plagued with issues. The final practice session or warm-up for all eight categories for the 394 drivers from over 60 countries was held, starting around 10am local time. Qualifying for all eight divisions began after 1pm local time before heading into heat races.
Unfortunately, penalties for ‘track limits’ were the focal point, especially for Mini MAX and Junior MAX, which delayed the start of their heat races as officials reviewed over 100 different penalties in those two classes alone. E20 Senior, E20 Masters, Micro MAX and Junior MAX contested their heat races before the track was shut down and a new schedule reset for Thursday, which moves the opening round of heats for DD2 Masters, Senior MAX and DD2 into the morning hours. Mini MAX ran their two heat races for the opening round, including a red flag in the first heat, however the groups were not sorted correctly, and Rotax officials have removed those results and will re-run the AvsB and CvsD heats.
Recapping the day for the nine drivers of Team USA, Pauly Massimino led the DD2 duo with US Trophy Final winner Oliver Hodgson putting in the best time in qualifying for the Senior MAX trio.
Below is a breakdown of each driver’s results and some comments on the day’s action.
Bahrain International Karting Circuit
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DD2 – Birelart (72 Drivers)
#467 – Pauly Massimino
(Photo: Hellofoto Motorsports Photos)
Hometown: Mooresville, North Carolina
Qualified: RMC US Trophy Final Runner-Up (Senior MAX)
RMC Grand Finals Appearances: 0
Practice 6 (odd): 8th – 52.873 +0.167
Qualifying (odd): 6th – 52.432 +0.075
Overall: 11th
Heat Race Group: C (Row 3)
“Day 3 went okay. We were a little off in practice, as I was just making too many mistakes. But moving in qualifying going out on new tire for the first time since Monday morning and not really driving this tire too much made it a little tricky. I felt like my lap was decent, but I knew it wouldn’t be enough. I didn’t maximize the full new tire in sector 3, which I think cost me my shot at a better spot. Overall, I am pleased with my qualifying with it only being my first DD2 week. I wanted to run my heat tonight. I thought it would’ve been cool to have the first heat under the lights. But I understand why we didn’t. Tomorrow will be a busy day, but we are looking forward to it.”
#466 – Macy Williams
(Photo: Hellofoto Motorsports Photos)
Hometown: Littleton, Colorado
Qualified: Max Karting Group Canada Final Winner
RMC Grand Finals Appearances: 1 – 2021 (Senior MAX)
Practice 6 (even): 13th – 53.208 +0.272
Qualifying (even): 11th – 52.793 +0.275
Overall: 22nd
Heat Race Group: B (Row 6)
“Practice was decent. Qualifying didn’t go how we were planning. I just have to move forward in the three heats on Thursday to put myself in a better position when it comes to the final!”
Senior MAX – Sodi Kart (72 Drivers)
#367 – Oliver Hodgson
(Photo: Hellofoto Motorsports Photos)
Hometown: Phoenix, Arizona
Qualified: RMC US Trophy Final Winner
RMC Grand Finals Appearances: 4 – 2012, 2013, 2023 (Team GBR), 2024 (Team USA)
Wins: Senior MAX (2013)
Practice 6 (odd): 22nd – 54.108 +0.467
Qualifying (odd): 6th – 53.264 +0.329
Overall: 11th
Heat Race Group: C (Row 3)
“There was a lot of concern heading towards qualifying with a lingering engine problem from practice. Rotax changed some engine auxiliary parts which fortunately livened up the kart in quali. Looking forward to racing now.”
#366 – Cooper O’Clair
(Photo: Hellofoto Motorsports Photos)
Hometown: Phoenix, Arizona
Qualified: RMC USA West Champion
RMC Grand Finals Appearances: 4 – 2021, 2022 (Junior MAX), 2023 (Senior MAX), 2024 (DD2)
Practice 6 (even): 15th – 53.900 +0.366
Qualifying (even): 16th – 54.052 +0.796
Overall: 32nd
Heat Race Group: D (Row 8)
#347 – Charlie Smith
(Photo: Hellofoto Motorsports Photos)
Hometown: Orange County, California
Qualified: BNL Karting Series Championship – Fourth Place
RMC Grand Finals Appearances: 0
Practice 6 (odd): 5th – 53.732 +0.091
Qualifying (odd): 10th – 53.402 +0.467
Overall: 18th
Heat Race Group: B (Row 5)
“Just a difficult day, engine issues which we can obviously do nothing about and have to leave it up to Rotax. But speed has been great besides it top 3 top 2 every session, so we never give up.”
DD2 Masters – Barrichello Kart (36 Drivers)
#535 – Christopher Mann
(Photo: Hellofoto Motorsports Photos)
Hometown: Vancouver, Washington
Qualified: RMC USA West – Third Place
RMC Grand Finals Appearances: 0
Practice 6: 27th – 54.081 +0.834
Qualifying: 20th – 53.378 +0.821
“Qualifying went well today. I’m finally getting comfortable with the DD2 package, and I still feel there’s more time to be found. The big unknown is the field itself. I’ve never raced against most of these drivers before, so learning their tendencies will be part of the challenge. Also, with the revised schedule there is nothing like a heat race in lieu of a warmup, let’s go!”
Junior MAX – Praga (72 Drivers)
#212 – Davin Roberts
(Photo: Hellofoto Motorsports Photos)
Hometown: Mooresville, North Carolina
Qualified: Rotax Winter Trophy Champion
RMC Grand Finals Appearances: 1 – 2024 (Junior MAX)
Practice 6 (even): 24th – 55.031 +0.550
Qualifying (even): 26th – 55.617 +1.274
Overall: 52nd
Heat Race Group: D (Row 13)
Heat CvsD: 21st +9.108 – 55.508
“Today was not anything to write home about. Practice went alright, still needing to find more pace and track position. Qualifying rolled around and someone who was coming onto the track spun out and spread sand and rocks all over the track. Unfortunately, I was one of the first karts to hit the sand and rocks, ruining my first lap. Lap 2 came and it was going great, I had perfect draft and was catching car kart ahead, but unfortunately, some slow karts ahead were blocking the track, forcing me to slow down and ruined my second lap. The same would proceed the following laps. The heat race came and do to poor operations, waited outside the grid for 2 hours. Finally Heat One came, feeling good and high hopes, made some positions but unfortunately was then smashed off the track as the race felt more like bumper karts then racing. I feel like last year Sarno race felt much more put together then this year after they have had changes in the regulations in racing standards. Days like today make me appreciate the racing standards in the United States.”
Mini MAX – Formula K (72 Drivers)
#136 – Enzo DiGennaro
(Photo: Hellofoto Motorsports Photos)
Hometown: Poughkeepsie, New York
Qualified: Rotax Winter Trophy Champion
RMC Grand Finals Appearances: 1 – 2024 (Mini MAX)
Practice 6 (even): 8th – 58.554 +0.162
Qualifying (even): 12th – 58.978 +0.561
Overall: 24th
Heat Race Group: D (Row 6)
“Practice was good, outstanding solo pace. In Qualifying, the race director failed to uphold any of the rules for impeding and slow traffic, as we encountered scattering drivers covering the entire width of the track, drivers bailing on laps in the middle of the racing line, all while we were pushing for a lap. Others were off the racing line randomly jumping back in on the line at nearly half our speed. Dangerous and unsporting is the polite thing to say. Now with our first attempt at the opening heat race removed, we will start again tomorrow morning.”
E20 Senior – Sodi Kart (19 Drivers)
#609 – Ellis Spiezia
(Photo: Hellofoto Motorsports Photos)
Hometown: Hoboken, New Jersey
RMC Grand Finals Appearances: 1 – 2021 (E20)
Practice 6: 14th – 54.405 +0.655
Qualifying: 13th – 54.225 +0.595
Heat 1: 16th +10.595 – 56.003
“Great to get one final practice for qualy. Of course, I really would have preferred to be inside the top 10. First heat started strong and I was p9 after lap 2 but then got punted by another driver and next thing I knew, my hot rod was facing the wrong way. I rejoined but was dead last so I just managed my pace to save my tires. Tomorrow, we give it another go.”
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