The eagerly anticipated return of Rotax Kart racing to Ontario kicked off with Race 1 of the RMC Ontario series at the Hamilton Karting Complex. Introduced less than two months ago, the series aimed to reignite the passion for Rotax racing in the province. After a five-year hiatus, there were initial doubts about the reception, but any uncertainty was dispelled on Sunday with an impressive turnout. The event attracted top drivers from Ontario and Quebec, as well as newcomers eager to test their newly acquired Rotax EVO Engines.
Preparations for the race began early in the week, with teams including REM (Racing Edge Motorsports), PRO (Professional Racing Ontario), Prime Powerteam, VSR (Ventresca Motorsports), and TAG setting up their tents and readying their karts. Practice sessions on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday saw drivers logging hundreds of laps on Mojo tires around Hamilton Karting Complex’s clockwise circuit, under hot and demanding conditions. The stakes were high as the top drivers in the Senior and Junior categories were competing for tickets to the prestigious Rotax Grand Finals in Italy.
Rotax Junior Max:
The Rotax Junior Max category opened the day’s racing. Jensen Burnett dominated qualifying with a time of 41.219 seconds. The close-knit top five included Oliver Mrak, Pearce Wade, Decklan Deonarine, and Cole Medeiros. The prefinal saw Burnett maintain control, closely followed by Mrak, with Wade, Jackson Morley, and Medeiros rounding out the top five.
The final race brought unexpected drama as rain began to fall while drivers were on the grid. A 15-minute rain delay ensued, during which teams scrambled to fit wet tires. Those who made it back to the grid faced a soaking wet track. Burnett thrived in the conditions, pulling away to build a substantial lead. Cole Medeiros showcased his wet-weather prowess, moving up from fifth to second. The battle for third was intense, with Decklan Deonarine chasing Jackson Morley, eventually crossing the line in fourth. However, Morley received a five-second bumper infraction penalty, promoting Deonarine to third and completing a podium sweep for REM.
Rotax Max Senior:
The Rotax Max Senior category featured a thrilling showdown with 16 drivers. Michael Nickle secured pole position by a narrow margin, just 0.039 seconds ahead of Ayden Ingratta. Arnaud Sabourin, Lucas Deslongchamps, and Mackenzie Milwain rounded out the top five. In the prefinal, Ingratta overtook Nickle by the second lap, and the pair built a three-second gap over the rest of the field. Deslongchamps, Cole Hooten, and Frankie Esposito completed the top five.
For the final, the track began to dry, leading to a last-minute decision to switch to slick tires. Ingratta led from pole and never looked back, claiming victory. Esposito finished second, while Nickle completed the podium in third.
Rotax Mini Max:
The Rotax Mini Max category, featuring the youngest racers and future stars of the sport, had a smaller but fiercely competitive field. Ava Cabral took pole position in qualifying, Ryker Magro won the prefinal, and Leo Da Silva emerged victorious in the final. Carlo Lot and Lincoln Lima also showed great pace and promise for future races.
Conclusion:
Round 1 of RMC Ontario was a resounding success, setting the stage for an exciting season ahead. The drivers, teams, and organizers delivered a thrilling day of racing, marking a triumphant return for Rotax Karting in Ontario. We now eagerly look forward to Race 2, scheduled for August 10th, as part of the Constructors Cup race.
