All seasons in one weekend at the RMC in Wackersdorf

Ten classes in all filled the two-day program at the Prokart Raceland circuit, including the always popular guest appearance of the GKC 100 category for a cool “throwback” adding to the mix. With the RMC Germany, the first of four rounds has started the race for the Rotax Grand Finals tickets for the end of year highlight in Bahrain early December. The RMC Cup Series has even more rounds in the championship reserved for the karting enthusiasts and newcomers with a variation in rules to suit. The results brought some surprises and also some clear front-runners unbeaten in Bavaria. 

Micro MAX 
Fastest qualifier Max Moor (C4-Racing) continued his successful campaign to win both heats Sunday and take the clear victory at round 1 with maximum points. Henri Moehring (Nees Racing) took line honours in Heat 3, but a penalty meant he finished the day with three P2 results to be runner-up. In third place was Julian Duemmer (3G Racing), securing the last podium step by one point over Kimi Mey (Forty-Two Competition) and Joliena Marie Schultz (C4 Racing) on equal points for the top 5.

Mini MAX 
It was the 2022 Micro MAX champion Maxim Becker (C4-Racing) who confirmed his final result as the round 1 winner by taking the chequered flag ahead of the field in both races Sunday, also having won the initial heat Saturday. Pole-sitter Gabrijel Hofmann (Woik Motorsport) scored a P3 in the second race to beat Niklas Cassarino, twice P2, to second overall by a single point. Another close one as well for Zdenek Babicek (MS Kart) with three top 5 finishes, only one point off P4. Lenn Abbas (3G Racing) was fifth, missing some points after losing the victory in Heat 1 due to a spoiler penalty.

Junior MAX 
The poleman from Saturday, Rafael Baltzer (Beule Kart Sodi Germany), came through to collect the winner’s trophy for the opening round after taking two race wins on Sunday. In second in the standings was Mikka Trapp (Nees Racing) with two P2 results, finishing on equal points with Hannes Ueberfeldt (Kraft Motorsport), winner of Heat 1. Julian Kovacevic (Kraft Motorsport) was fourth ahead of Oliver Staedtler (CV Performance Group).

Senior MAX 
International front-runner Austin Lee was dominant in all but the third heat, although second place was enough to seal the class win. After some great racing amongst the leading group, it was Luca Thiel (Kraft Motorsport) who took the final race victory. Runner-up at round 1 was Nevio Fischer (Kraft Motorsport), who ended with double P2 and a P3; however, a time penalty in Saturday’s first heat omitted his chance for victory. Yuri Tenhaeff (RTM Racing-Team Marggraf) was consistently P4 across the three heats to be classified third overall. Thiel’s second place and win pushed his ranking to fourth, one point ahead of team members Mats Johan Overhoff and Montego Maassen. 

DD2 
Tim Mika Metz (Woik Motorsport) had a third place and two victories to hit the top of the points table on his return to the 2-speed gearbox category. The RMC champion from two years prior led the field by almost 14 seconds at the flag. Niklas Graenz (Forty-Two Competition) finished P2 in all three heats to be second on the day, while Heat 1 winner Denis Thum (Kraft Motorsport) was third. Both also former winners of the German series, the calibre of the Rotax DD2 class will definitely make this season an interesting one. Minor placings were completed by Jannik Jakobs (Kraft Motorsport) and Fabian Bock (Woik Motorsport).

DD2 Masters 
Nico Grimm (Woik Motorsport) was all smiles when he stood on the highest step of the podium. He added another win in the final heat Sunday, controlling the race from around half-race distance when he overtook leader Denis Thum. The current RMC Euro Trophy champion, competing in the DD2 as well, had won the first race Saturday then fought hard in the wet to eventually finish P3 in the last session. It was Chris Koep (FM Racing) who passed him in the latter stages to rank third in the day standings. Michael Becker and Andreas Neumann (RS Competition) rounded out the top 5.

RMC CUP SERIES

Junior Cup
1. Louis Oliver Guenther 
2. Aaron Moser 
3. Florian Block

Senior Cup
1. Dean Olbrich 
2. Jacob Trost 
3. Marik Maak

DD2 
1. Lucas Lippert 
2. Cedric Loretz 
3. Jan Mueller

DD2 Masters
1. Tobias Graef 
2. Mark Slevogt 
3. Tim Von Thun

GKC 100
1. Marcel Bertram 
2. Maurice Kleer
3. Patrick Eder

“The weekend was really a mega RMC Event. It’s the first time the RMC Germany and the RMC Cup Series have started together on the same weekend, which was not easy to implement from an organisational perspective” says Andreas Matis (Kartodrom), RMC event organiser and Authorised Rotax Distributor for Germany. “Despite the difficult weather conditions, we were able to ensure an almost smooth process – so a big ‘thank you’ to the organisation team. We have also seen exciting races in terms of sport, which make you want more. I’m already looking forward to the next race.”

Round 2 of the RMC Germany along with the RMC Cup Series will be hosted by the newly-resurfaced Erftlandring circuit at Kerpen on April 29 & 30.

RESULTS

If you missed the track action from Germany, you can watch all the race videos on YouTube.
YouTube

Social Media – @ Rotax Max Challenge Germany on Instagram & Facebook 
Rotax Global App – free to download on the App Store and Google Play

Photos Motorsport XL/Timo Deck & Text Jen Wade