What’s the big deal?
26.03.2007
The buzz in kart racing in South Africa
revolves around whether engines should be sealed or not.
If they should be sealed who should seal them?
Even motorsport has a doping code and
to think that competitors won’t look for engine
enhancing opportunities is naïve. Equally naïve
is a belief that scrutineers have the resources, information
or time at a race meeting to do anything more than a random
superficial check even at national championship level.
How secure do you or would you feel at club and regional
racing with unsealed motors?
In the late 90’s 100cc Stock class
was a popular national championship class for teenagers.
At a particular national championship event an unusually
thorough check of the top ten competitors revealed an
astonishing six out of ten illegal engines!
For sure the unequalled reliability and
long intervals between services on ROTAX engines has made
a unique engine sealing system possible and sustainable.
How does a sealing system reduce the
chances of wide spread cheating?
For starters by reducing the number of people preparing
engines and limiting this to suitably qualified technicians
improves the odds. Add to this the fact the authorised
service centres by attaching a uniquely numbered seal
(registered world wide) guarantee that your engine will
be legal for racing.
There is no question that ROTAX revolutionised
kart racing world wide with the Max Challenge concept.
Others have copied aspects of this karting phenomena with
varying success. Even the FIA/CIK (World Governing Body)
has taken many elements from the Max concept in their
new KF1, KF2, KF3 and KF4 “long-life engines”.
Some important differences remain:
• 6 month Warranty
• Nikasil Cylinder – Incrediably hard wearing
material
• Effective mandatory airfilter – even racing
cars use this
• Non-adjustable digital ignition – all the
same, not possible to cheat
• Oil consumption – half of conventional karts
• Low noise levels – allows practice on Sundays
in many countries
• Long intervals between services - economical
• Annual World Final on five different continents
• Euro Challenge – the only one make stand
alone European Championship in four classes
Is this why 35 000 licensed kart racers
enjoy the Max in 86 countries!
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