We wrapped up the inaugural season of the RMC Ontario Championship with an unforgettable night race at the Hamilton Karting Complex on September 7th. As the sun set, so did the temperatures, and many found themselves reaching for their toques to stay warm. Fortunately, our Round 5 giveaway—hooded sweatshirts—proved to be a hit, with most in the paddock donning them to keep the chill at bay.
As has been the case throughout the RMC season, weather once again played a pivotal role. Despite a clear forecast, an unexpected rain shower disrupted the Senior Max Pre-Final, leaving the track wet for the remainder of the night. This added an extra challenge for the drivers to navigate, creating some dramatic moments.
Given that September marks the return to school, we anticipated a slight drop in attendance. However, the action on track remained as intense as ever, with some fresh faces claiming victory on the podium.
Mini Max: A New Winner Emerges
In the Mini Max category, Leo Dasilva entered the race as the clear favorite, having dominated the series thus far and already clinching the championship. But the rest of the field wasn’t ready to let him walk away with another win. Qualifying was incredibly tight, with Stefano Lanzillotta setting the fastest lap at 44.015 seconds, and the top four drivers separated by just one-tenth of a second.
The Pre-Final, held under wet conditions, saw Ryker Magro seize control, taking the lead on the first lap and never looking back. He maintained his composure in the Final, driving a flawless race to claim his first RMC Ontario win. Lanzillotta and Dasilva rounded out the podium.
Junior Max: Drama and a New Victor
In Junior Max, we had a similar situation with Cole Medeiros having already secured the championship, but the rest of the field was eager to chase for a race win. The competition was fierce, with a different leader in each session. Jackson Morley topped Qualifying with a stellar lap late in the session. In the Pre-Final, Major Makovskis managed to overtake Morley and held on to win.
The Final provided plenty of drama, with the track still damp from earlier rain and cold temperatures preventing it from drying quickly. The entire field started on slick tires, but during the formation lap, Morley spun out from 2nd place. Although he recovered it was not in time to regain his position so he started at the rear with the outside row all moving up a spot. This meant Aristeides Theodoropoulos was starting in second and he capitalized on this opportunity, trading the lead with Makovskis before making a decisive move on lap 13. He then set the fastest lap two laps later, pulling away to win by 1.6 seconds, becoming our second first-time RMC Ontario winner of the night.
Senior Max: The Championship Showdown
The Senior Max race was the one everyone had been eagerly anticipating, with the championship still up for grabs. Ryan Maxwell set the pace in Qualifying, securing pole position. However, the Pre-Final was thrown into chaos when an unexpected rain shower led to a major accident involving the leaders, causing the race to be red-flagged and declared a rain race. The teams had just 15 minutes to switch to a wet setup, and for those involved in the accident, it was a race against time to repair their karts.
Despite the frantic efforts, everyone managed to get back on track for the Pre-Final. In the wet conditions, Bryson Schutte put on a masterclass, charging from 6th to 1st to take the win.
It all came down to the Final. The track, though slick, had dried somewhat. After some early incidents that led to a few DNFs, it was all about heads-down racing. Frank Esposito took the lead early and never relinquished it, taking the victory. Michael Nickle and Arnaud Sabourin completed the podium.
It was a late and chilly night of racing, but it was the perfect conclusion to an incredible first season of the RMC Ontario Championship. A huge thank you to everyone who participated and attended. Stay tuned for announcements about Season 2—we’re already making plans to make it even better!
