1st Rotax International Open in Zuera

Organisers and promoters RGMMC Establishment have introduced the Rotax Open to their program as a way to give the ideal opportunity for drivers to race against some of the best in the World at the end of their own national racing season, which is also the perfect lead-up to the prestigious Rotax Grand Finals mid-November in Italy.

In Junior class, local driver Alex Araujo stopped fastest lap in qualifying with 1’04”627, beating Britains Twynham by only 0”085. Saturday’s qualifying heats, held in mixed dry/wet conditions, saw Araujo, Barlow and Affolter take one win each, with the Euro Junior champion grabbing P1 start for the prefinal sided by the Spaniard. On Sunday morning, the Prefinal went to Barlow, with Holland, Affolter and Blom fighting for final front row start and taking the flag in the space of 0”400. For the final, drivers were blessed with dry conditions, and Affolter showed what he’s made of going on to take the first Rotax International Open title, with Blom following behind at less than 1” and Barlow completing the podium.

In Senior, fastest lap in qualifying was stopped by Sean Babington (1’03”470), with French Cousin and English Brand rounding up the three fastest. The heats went to Brand (1 win), van den Brand (2 wins), Babington (2 wins) and Ball (1 win), Brand sitting in front row for the prefinal sided by van den Brand. With the prefinal going to Polish driver Dabski, followed by Britain’s Luke Haynes, the final saw a great comeback from Ball, van den Brand and Brand, who took the chequered flag in this order, recovering from 8th, 10th and 9th on starting grid respectively.

DD2 class saw only 13 entries, with Xen de Ruwe stopping fastest lap in qualifying, taking one heat win, and coming back from second last on the grid to claim the first Rotax International Open title in the class. Andreas Jensen could only stare at the Belgian driver despite taking the win in the prefinal, as van Buuren gained one position from prefinal to complete the podium.

Live Timing and results from all track sessions at the Rotax International Open in Zuera can be found online at www.rgmmc.com.
Live commentary from RGMMC series commentator Ken Walker accompanied the live timing.


RESULTS
Junior
Final
1) 57 Joel Affolter (NED) Tonykart
2) 10 Dave Blom (NED) Intrepid
3) 27 Jack Barlow (GBR) Tonykart

Senior
Final
1) 249 Jake Ball (GBR) Tonykart
2) 209 Mats van den Brand (NED) Tonykart
3) 272 Edward Brand (GBR) Tonykart

DD2
Final
1) 664 Xen De Ruwe (BEL) Topkart
2) 633 Andreas H Jensen (DEN) FirstKart
3) 630 Meindert van Buuren (NED) Topkart