WINTER CUP OPENS THE SEASON IN STYLE

CAMPILLOS CROWNS THE FIRST ROTAX CHAMPIONS OF 2026

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Gunskirchen, Austria, January 14, 2026 – The 2026 Rotax MAX Challenge Winter Cup marked the official start of the European Rotax Karting season at KartCenter Campillos. The CIK/FIA-homologated circuit once again proved to be a true benchmark, with a demanding layout combining long straights, technical sections and a wide racing surface that rewarded precision, consistency and racecraft.

The event unfolded under mixed and rapidly changing weather conditions. While stable conditions defined the early phases, Friday brought wind, cold temperatures and rain, dramatically reshuffling the competitive order and making results highly unpredictable across all categories. Sunny conditions returned for Finals Day, setting the stage for decisive and spectacular races.

Confirming its international stature, the Winter Cup featured drivers from over 30 nations, including a strong presence from outside Europe, underlining the global appeal of the Rotax Karting platform and the strategic importance of the Winter Cup within the season.

THURSDAY – QUALIFYING DEFINES THE FIRST HIERARCHIES

The opening competitive day featured stable conditions, allowing drivers to push from the very first sessions.

Mini MAX: British outsider Joshua Cooke (KR Sport) claimed pole position by just 0.014 seconds over Mik Klinkers (Bouvin Power), with Oscar Kenney (Hunter Motorsport) third. Cooke immediately confirmed his pace by winning the opening heat.

Junior MAX: Swiss driver Luan Seidl (KR Sport) secured pole position, but the first heat reshuffled the order, with Zdenek Babicek (Dan Holland Racing) taking victory ahead of Jenson Chalk (MLC Motorsport) and Japanese driver Kaito Lloyd (Dan Holland Racing).

Senior MAX: Macauley Bishop (Dan Holland Racing) set the benchmark with the fastest lap overall. Jeremy Reuvers (Karting Club Campillos) topped the second group, while rookie Rayan Ghandour (KR Sport) impressed in third overall.

DD2: Wout Kurstjens (Daems Racing) edged out Ragnar Veerus (MKC Motorsport) in qualifying, while DD2 Masters once again saw Nicolas Picot (Privateer) emerge as the early reference.

FRIDAY – HEATS TURN CONDITIONS AND STANDINGS UPSIDE DOWN

Friday brought a dramatic change in conditions, as wind, cold temperatures and rain mixed up the competitive order and rewarded adaptability.

Mini MAX: Cooke maintained control with a perfect heat record. Behind him, a strong recovery saw Austin Oman (Sam Pollitt Racing) climb into second overall, ahead of Logan Rolfe (KR Sport) and Klinkers.

Junior MAX: Pole sitter Seidl slipped down the order. Leadership changed hands, with Babicek taking control ahead of Lithuanian driver Majus Mazinas (KR Sport), while Chalk remained firmly in podium contention.

Senior MAX: Bishop delivered one of the most consistent heat performances of the weekend. One victory and two second places allowed the 2025 RMC Grand Finals winner to retain the lead ahead of Reuvers and Scott Marsh (Strawberry Racing).

DD2: A fierce duel developed between Antoine Barbaroux (Privateer) and Kurstjens. After qualifying third, Barbaroux took control of the standings. In DD2 Masters, Picot remained the driver to beat.

SATURDAY – PREFINALS AND FINALS UNDER THE SUN

Finals day saw the sun return to Campillos, providing ideal conditions for the decisive races and the crowning of the first Rotax champions of 2026. Earlier in the day, the Prefinals proved decisive in shaping the grids.

Mini MAX: Austin Oman won the Prefinal and started the Final from pole position. However, a post-race penalty reshuffled the outcome, handing victory to Logan Rolfe, who claimed the Winter Cup title ahead of Mik Klinkers and Sebastian Bearman (Strawberry Racing). Rolfe also secured a free entry to the Rotax MAX Challenge Euro Trophy.

Junior MAX: Babicek confirmed his momentum by winning the Prefinal and converting pole into a controlled Final victory. He secured the Winter Cup crown ahead of Chalk and Mazinas.

Senior MAX: Bishop and Reuvers shared the Prefinal wins, with Bishop earning pole for the Final. He capitalised on his starting spot, delivering a dominant performance to win by over four seconds. Marsh and Bran Vanderveken (Bouvin Power) completed the podium.

DD2: Barbaroux claimed victory in the Prefinal and completed a flawless Sunday by winning the combined DD2/DD2 Masters Final. Picot followed him across the line to secure the DD2 Masters title.

FINAL PODIUMS – ROTAX MAX CHALLENGE WINTER CUP 2026

Mini MAX

1. Logan Rolfe
2. Mik Klinkers
3. Sebastian Bearman

Junior MAX

1. Zdenek Babicek
2. Jenson Chalk
3. Majus Mazinas

Senior MAX

1. Macauley Bishop
2. Scott Marsh
3. Bran Vanderveken

DD2

1. Antoine Barbaroux
2. Lenn Nijs
3. Vicente Marquez

DD2 Masters

1. Nicolas Picot
2. Vivien Cussac-Picot
3. Ricard Kalnciems

A sunny Campillos thus closed the Rotax MAX Challenge Winter Cup, the opening event of the 2026 Rotax Karting season promoted by WSK Promotion. The focus now shifts to mid-March, when the Rotax MAX Challenge Euro Trophy gets underway at the Cremona Circuit, opening the next chapter of the 2026 season.

About BRP-Rotax

BRP-Rotax GmbH & Co KG, the Austrian subsidiary of BRP Inc., is a leader in the development and production of propulsion systems for the recreational and powersports markets. Founded back in 1920, BRP-Rotax has been committed to sustainable mobility and technological progress for more than 100 years. The innovative Rotax four-stroke and two-stroke high-performance engines are used for BRP products such as Ski-Doo and Lynx snowmobiles, Sea-Doo personal watercraft, Can-Am on and off-road vehicles, as well as for karts and recreational aircraft. With sustainable products such as the Can-Am electric motorcycles and Lynx electric snowmobile, the first emission-free Lynx HySnow snowmobile or the high-performance E20 e-kart series, BRP-Rotax is a pioneer in the field of alternative drive models. Close to 1,500 employees work in Gunskirchen, Upper Austria, on innovative propulsion systems for the global market.
www.rotax.com

About BRP

BRP Inc. is a global leader in the world of powersports products, propulsion systems and boats built on over 80 years of ingenuity and intensive consumer focus. Through its portfolio of industry-leading and distinctive brands featuring Ski-Doo and Lynx snowmobiles, Sea-Doo watercraft and pontoons, Can-Am on and off-road vehicles, and Rotax marine propulsion systems as well as Rotax engines for karts and recreational aircraft, BRP unlocks exhilarating adventures across different playgrounds. Committed to growing responsibly, BRP is developing electric models for its existing product lines. Headquartered in Quebec, Canada, BRP has annual sales of CA$7.8 billion from over 130 countries and employs 16,500 people as of January 31, 2025.
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For information:

Nathalie Palmetshofer
Strategic Marketing & Communications
Rotax Propulsion Systems
Tel. +43.7246.601.3208
nathalie.palmetshofer@brp.com