As announced earlier this summer, preparations are underway for the Rotax Grand Festival, set to be held at Karting North East – Warden Law near Sunderland, United Kingdom on the weekend of September 20th-22nd.
Born from a desire to provide increased opportunities to younger drivers on the Rotax ladder, the RMC Grand Festival began in 2017. Since then, the annual race has provided a platform on which drivers in both the Micro MAX and Mini MAX categories can experience competitive, international-grade racing and, by emerging victorious, qualify for the centre-piece event of the Rotax calendar – the Rotax MAX Challenge Grand Finals.
Once again in 2024, the Micro MAX and Mini MAX classes will stand as the headline act for the Rotax Grand Festival which visits the United Kingdom for the first time in its history. Alongside the Grand Festival categories, Motorsport UK – the national governing body for all four-wheeled motorsport and the Event Organiser for this year’s Rotax Grand Festival – will hold the Rotax ‘E’ Plate race for the Junior MAX and Senior MAX categories. This promises to be another fascinating display of kart racing in a country where Rotax Racing continues to grow in strength.
Such strength has been shown not only on a national level, where this year’s British Kart Championships has seen over 200 drivers compete across the Rotax ladder of categories, but also internationally. The 2023 edition of the Rotax Grand Festival in Genk, Belgium saw drivers from the UK take victory in both categories.
The hosting of this year’s Rotax Grand Festival on in the UK will give added impetus to the international field expected to descend on Warden Law in September. With a chance to take on the best of British Rotax drivers on their home soil, drivers from around the world will look to book their ticket to the RMC Grand Finals and fly the flag for their nation at the biggest event of the season.
Drivers from 20 nations raced across Micro MAX and Mini MAX in 2023. With more than 60 drivers already registered for the race at the time of writing, a tally that could well be beaten for this year’s Rotax Grand Festival. Entries are open until one week before the start of the race meeting. Drivers can register now via the Motorsport UK website.
To ensure overseas drivers are offered further testing opportunities, Karting North East will host an optional practice day for competitors on Thursday 19th September. Tickets for the practice day can be purchased directly from the circuit.
For those travelling from mainland Europe, Motorsport UK are offering transport discounts in conjunction with leading transport provider DFDS. The discounts are available for use on the popular Amsterdam to Newcastle ferry route. Being less than 15 miles away from Karting North East, Newcastle’s port offers easy access to international visitors. To find out more and redeem the discount code, competitors must email Danielle Short at danielle.short@motorsportuk.org.
The Rotax Grand Festival is just over a month away. For more information on prizes, weekend format and event infrastructure, make sure you are following our social media platforms or head to the website – www.motorsportuk.org/the-rotax-grand-festival-2024.
TO ENTER THE ROTAX GRAND FESTIVAL, PLEASE VIST: https://www.trakentries.co.uk/club/bkc-guest.asp
Event information can also be found here: https://www.britishkartchampionships.org/championships/rotax-2024/rotax-max-challenge-grand-festival/