GENK GOES LIVE WITH THE EURO CHALLENGE Twelve months ago Karting Genk in Belgium
hosted their first international meeting on the newly
designed track with the last round of the ROTAX MOJO Max
Euro Challenge and it was an outstanding success. This
week the championship returns to Kartcircuit Horensbergdam
for the fourth and final round of 2006 with an end of
season showdown along with being seen live on Raceworld
TV and over the net…
The “Formula One” style coverage
incorporating the sophisticated Kart-Data live timing
including trackside interviews will go to air Sunday from
11am to 4pm on RaceWorld TV (Astra Digital) and online
at www.raceworld.tv . There’s also a new Raceworld
TV concept where viewers watching the telecast can phone
in during the races for a chance to win prizes. Broadcasts
of all rounds of the series across more than 66 nations
with millions of race fans tuning-in and online videos
of all the finals plus live timing are just a few of the
initiatives the event organisers RGMMC Establishment have
brought the Euro Challenge.
Now in its third year, the series has grown
to a truly international level with in excess of 150 competitors
racing at each round coming from 28 different countries
and five continents. Every driver in the four Rotax classes
(Junior and Senior Max, Masters and DD2) receives a special
commemorative medal from the promoters for being part
of the Euro Challenge while 12 of the champions including
‘Best Rookie’ will be invited for the ultimate
prize to contest the Rotax Grand Finals in Portugal this
November.
An incentive for dealers and factory teams
to get involved and support the championship has been
the introduction of the Chassis Manufacturers’ Trophy
this year. Whether part of a team or individual driver,
all points are included to crown the overall winners.
To help ensure equal competition RGMMC in conjunction
with BRP-Rotax have introduced various methods of monitoring
technical aspects of the regulated classes which include
some new procedures for checking engines, fuel and the
electronic systems are within the rules.
Friday nights at the Euro Challenge during
2006 have given competitors and supporters a chance to
chill-out and get together at the ‘Night of Speed’
party by the track for some great food, drink and music
before the racing begins the next day. Karting Genk will
be no exception with another entertaining night planned
and the stunning new ‘A la Kart’ brasserie/restaurant
ready to go. As with all the Euro Challenge venues, the
facilities have to be able to accommodate the event and
provide a CIK homologated track that’s meets RGMMC’s
expectations, taking location and other factors into account.
Following its official opening last April,
the Belgian complex is probably one of the most impressive
in Europe and the owners believe they have created a circuit
that meets the needs of karting today, with the design
based on their experience visiting other circuits worldwide.
Paul Lemmens and his son Koen are part of a family that
has been involved in the sport for many years, finally
succeeding in their long battle to upgrade the original
track built in 1983 when faced with environmental issues.
They now boast a 1350m layout Koen describes as “complete”
with good braking zones and a long straight to increase
overtaking opportunities but with a distinct focus on
safety.
“The circuit has as many left hand
as right hand curves, a technical inside sector called
‘the Button complex’ that’s a double
chicane followed by a 180° left-hander and a good
straight for slipstreaming. Keeping with CIK guidelines
we had the track simulated for RPM to provide adequate
distance between sections of the track and have added
more external curbs since last year. The surrounding fence
is another innovation in itself. We have continued to
improve our facilities leading up to this meeting by erecting
a grandstand for the mechanics that oversees the whole
circuit plus a briefing room, enlarging the paddock and
scrutineering areas as well as installing TV sets so the
live results can be seen by everyone including in the
restaurant.”
Karting Genk is the chosen venue for numerous
championships from the UK, the Netherlands and Belgium
however they are looking forward to playing host to the
Euro Challenge again after being impressed by the event
last September. Koen revealed “All aspects of race
control to the timing and scrutineering were very professional.
Its international scope is what really stands out from
the others and although it’s tough racing, there’s
lots of sportivity in the paddock which is less stressful
than you may find at many CIK race meetings. It may still
be seen as ‘boy scout’ racing but really needs
to be taken more seriously by big teams and manufacturers.”
Naturally as Rotax importers the Euro Challenge
is a boost for Karting Genk but Mr Lemmens expressed the
importance as he sees it of the ‘Max’ category
in turning the pyramid upside down to broaden the base
for leisure karters and eventually ended up with a high
end scope of competition. “This championship is
a reflection of the success that the national Max Challenges
have had worldwide, linked with a good racing concept
and the focus on giving the participants the best possible
event has enabled it to progress.” Belgium provides
a central location for many of the competitors and not
surprisingly sees interest from a few well known teams
coming into the series decider.
As official practice gets underway Wednesday,
September 20 three classes are still up for grabs for the
European title. Two times World Finals winner South African
Wesleigh Orr (CRG) currently racing for Belgium has already
secured his victory in the Rotax DD2 but will also join the
fight for the podium in seniors. Junior Max is going to be
another close one as it was in 2005 going right down to the
wire. The Masters turned on some of the best racing at round
three in Austria and all places are yet to be decided, with
almost nothing separating these drivers on the track. It promises
to be an exciting weekend!
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