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.

Below is a preview of the three younger categories of the Rotax Challenge of the Americas, with a look at the Senior Max, DD2 and Masters Max divisions tomorrow.

Rolison Performance Group Junior Max

Sting Ray Robb enters 2015 as the top contender for the Challenge championship (Photo: SeanBuur.com)

For the eighth straight year, the Rotax Challenge of the Americas will crown a different driver as the champion in the Junior Max division. The 2014 title went down to the wire and the final checkered flag. Needing a victory, Austin Versteeg stepped up and did what he had to, scoring his third win in six races to lock in the title by three points over Christian Brooks. Versteeg went on to compete for Team USA at the Rotax Grand Finals and is now moving into prototype car competition for 2015. Christian Brooks, the vice-champion of 2014, won three times as well and is moving into the Senior division for 2015.

The only driver returning that matched the pace of the top two from last year is Sting Ray Robb. The driver from Oregon earned two pole positions and a Prefinal win in 2014 to end up fourth in the championship chase during his Junior Max rookie campaign. The experience of qualifying and making the main event at the 2014 Rotax Grand Finals in Spain while finishing as the top driver for Team USA, coupled with a full year of Junior Max racing under his belt, could put Sting Ray on the preseason contenders list. Returning with BBR Karting, Robb earned his two pole positions in Tucson a year ago, and getting the season off to a good start is key to a championship run.

The last two champions in the category have come from the Rolison Performance Group stable. Blaine Rocha and Versteeg developed well under the tutelage that is Mike Rolison and the entire RPG program. Now, four drivers are gunning to become the third straight champion with the team aboard a Kosmic. Canadian Jeff Fulham was among those just off the podium several times, placing runner-up on Sunday in Phoenix. Michael Michoff finished last year seventh in the standings, and is moving over to RPG stable to help move himself up further. Alongside them are the two Breidinger sisters – Annie and Toni. Both are entering their fourth season in the Junior ranks, looking to build off their success in sprint cars behind the wheel of their karts.

One driver to watch will be Texan Nick Brueckner (Koene USA/Tony Kart). 2014 was his rookie season in the Junior ranks, learning throughout the season and ended with a third place finish at the Rotax Pan American Challenge in October. A handful of drivers will make their Junior debuts in 2015. Trey Brown (Tony Kart) was the vice-champion at the Challenge last year in Mini Max, ready to advance into the Junior ranks with Ryan Perry Motorsports. Zoey Edenholm (Kosmic), Jonathan Shone (Tony Kart) and Everest Fedler (Tony Kart) are also rookies in 2015.

Provisional Junior Max Entry List

PSL West Mini Max

Jacob Blue Hudson is looking to add more victories to his three wins in 2014 (Photo: SeanBuur.com)

There was no one driver who stood out as the top contender throughout the 2014 season in Mini Max. Three different drivers ended up on top of the podium in six races, including eight different pilots finishing in the top-three. 2014 champion Dylan Tavella will not defend his crown this year and runner-up Trey Brown has moved up, leaving Jacob Blue Hudson as the remaining top contender. Hudson drove to three victories in the first four rounds last year, but a DQ in Sonoma cost him a chance at the title. Back with Black Flag Racing Products, the 2012 Micro Max champion will be the driver to beat early on.

Five other drivers have aspirations of being champion in 2015 after finishing inside the top-10 last year. Canadian Marco Kacic (PSL West / CRG) earned one podium finish last year, poised to do more this season. Colorado driver Filip Niemkiewicz (Karting Coach / CRG) stood on the steps twice last year, placing third once in Phoenix and at the last round in Sonoma. Payton Durrant jumped to Mini Max last year after winning the 2013 Micro Max title. The Utah driver showed speed, but was shut out of the podium and finished sixth in the championship chase. Now with Koene USA aboard a Tony Kart, Durrant is out for his first podium results in 2015.

Canadian Griffin Dowler (Ryan Perry Motorsport / Tony Kart) finished seventh in the standings last year, earning one podium finish and one top qualifier. Sebastian Alvarez contested only four race of the Challenge last year, placing runner-up at Round Five in Sonoma. The Texas driver was among those in the hunt at the Cold Stone US Grand Nationals, and working with PSL West, Alvarez could be in the chase this year for the Challenge title. Colorado driver Hannah Greenemeier (KartSport North America / Arrow) made her Challenge debut last year, finishing 10th in the standings and is back to improve in 2015.

Eyes will be on last year’s Micro Max champion Jak Crawford (Nash Motorsportz / Benik). The Texan went perfect in the Finals last year, winning all six races to earn the title. He will try to continue the streak as he makes his Mini Max debut, along with Cooper Becklin (FA Kart) and Austin Torgerson (Tony Kart) entering their first season in the category.

Provisional Mini Max Entry List

Motorsports Development Group Micro Max

Josh Pierson is among the drivers expected to challenge for the Micro Max title (Photo: Ken Johnson – Studio52.us)

The youngest group of the Rotax Max Challenge is the Micro Max division. For drivers 7 to 10 years of age, the Micro Max category allows the young children to learn and adjust to racing at the national level. The last three Challenge champions have developed into solid Mini Max drivers, with the next crop of young pilots on the horizon. Three drivers return from finishing inside the top-10 in the championship standings. Josh Pierson (Tony Kart) had a successful 2014 season, standing on the podium at the Cold Stone US Grand Nationals and in contention at the Rotax Pan American Challenge. Diego LaRoque (Kosmic) won in 2013 but was shut out last year, placing fifth in the championship chase. Cole Keith Cotham (Tony Kart) made his Challenge debut last year, finishing out strong with a runner-up finish in Sonoma. Add in returning drivers Ashton Torgerson (Tony Kart) and Leleand Honeyman (Benik), the battle for the 2015 title could go down to the wire.

Provisional Micro Max Entry List

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