Electric Cars

The highly anticipated climax of the 2025 Rotax MAX Challenge Euro Trophy circuit unfolds today at the distinguished Circuito Internazionale Napoli in Sarno, Italy. This event marks the fourth and conclusive round of the championship, promising intense competition as drivers vie for the ultimate titles and coveted spots in the upcoming Grand Finals.

Sarno's Circuito Internazionale Napoli, a formidable 1,547-meter track renowned for its blend of high-speed sections and intricate technical demands, is hosting the Euro Trophy for the first time. Despite its debut for this particular series, the venue is a familiar and revered ground within the Rotax community, having previously hosted numerous editions of the Rotax MAX Challenge Grand Finals, including the 2024 event.

This year's roster of contenders features several reigning champions from the previous season, adding an extra layer of excitement to the proceedings. Among them are Jacob Ashcroft in Junior MAX, Xen De Ruwe, who transitioned from DD2 to DD2 Masters, and Nicolas Picot, the current frontrunner in DD2 Masters. Their presence underscores the high caliber of competition expected.

The weekend's races at the Circuito Internazionale Napoli will determine the 2025 champions and allocate a total of ten tickets to the Grand Finals. These include one ticket for the winner of the RMCET Italian Euro Cup Mini MAX, three for the top finishers in Junior MAX, three for the top three in Senior MAX, and tickets for the winner and runner-up in DD2, alongside the champion of DD2 Masters.

In the Mini MAX category, although it does not contribute to the overall championship, the single Grand Finals ticket on offer makes Sarno a critical and high-stakes round. The grid boasts a wealth of emerging talent, with established winners like Alfie Mair, Emerson Macandrew-Uren, and Lucien Smith facing new challenges from competitors such as Lorenzo Di Pietrantonio, Wynn Godschalk, Andreas Papageorgiou, and Robin Raikkonen, all eager to make their mark.

The Junior MAX category sees Jacob Ashcroft of Dan Holland Racing as the dominant force, having secured victories in both Wackersdorf and Genk. Ashcroft enters the final round with a significant lead and strong momentum. However, Kai Clarke (KR Sport) and Rory Armstrong (Dan Holland Racing) remain close behind, setting the stage for a thrilling finale where the three Grand Finals tickets will be fiercely contested, promising one of the season's most nail-biting conclusions.

The Senior MAX class, consistently the most subscribed category throughout the season, is poised for an electrifying finish. Sean Butcher (KR Sport) currently holds a narrow lead, with Macauley Bishop (Dan Holland Racing) just 20 points adrift. Omar Ghannoum (KR Sport), fresh off a breakthrough win in Genk, could emerge as a dark horse for the podium. With Ties van Wijk also in contention, the battle for the three Grand Finals tickets is expected to be exceptionally intense.

In the DD2 class, Jakub Bezel (Kraft Motorsport) leads the standings due to his consistent performances, despite Enzo Bol (SP Motorsport) dominating in Genk. Bol aims to replicate his Genk success in Sarno, while Lenn Nijs and William Kristensen are still within striking distance for the two available tickets. For DD2 Masters, Nicolas Picot holds a commanding 30-point lead. With only one ticket reserved for the class champion, Picot is in a prime position, though former RMCGF winner Xen De Ruwe and Maurits Knopjes are determined to challenge his lead in Sarno.

The culminating races at the Circuito Internazionale Napoli will bring the 2025 Rotax MAX Challenge Euro Trophy to a thrilling close, crowning deserving champions and setting the stage for the next phase of international karting competition.

Max Verstappen and Red Bull have orchestrated an extraordinary transformation, evolving from a struggling contender at Monza just a year ago to setting the fastest lap in Formula 1 history at the same circuit. This remarkable turnaround, which saw Verstappen's car described as a 'monster' in 2023, is the result of a multifaceted approach involving crucial strategic adjustments, a deeper understanding of their vehicle, and a more aggressive stance on engine modes. The team's ability to learn from past difficulties, particularly those encountered at Zandvoort and the previous Monza event, has been instrumental in unlocking unparalleled speed and performance. This shift underscores a renewed synergy between driver and team, prioritizing on-track feel and race-day optimization over theoretical gains.

A year prior, Max Verstappen’s sentiments regarding the Red Bull car at Monza were notably negative. Despite leading the championship, he openly criticized the vehicle, labeling it a \"monster\" after finishing a disappointing sixth. This assessment highlighted a period of significant frustration for the team, marked by struggles with car setup and a lack of competitive edge, especially against rivals like McLaren, who were showing dominant form. The collective concern within Red Bull prompted a series of introspective meetings, where Verstappen himself played a pivotal role in dissecting the underlying issues.

These discussions, held between the Monza and Singapore races, were instrumental in identifying the root causes of their performance deficit. Helmut Marko, a key figure within Red Bull, pointed to three primary factors contributing to their recent resurgence: insights gained from the 2024 season, the introduction of a new floor upgrade, and a fundamentally revised setup philosophy. Verstappen himself emphasized the profound impact of setup adjustments, stating, \"We’ve learned a lot more about how to set up this car.\" This learning curve wasn't confined to past Monza experiences but also extended to the team's home race in Zandvoort, where crucial data on the car's behavior was collected.

A significant shift in strategy involved the team's approach to engine modes during practice sessions. Previously, Red Bull would often run conservative engine settings, making it difficult to accurately gauge their true competitive standing. Now, as Marko noted, they consistently use their normal race mode, a testament to their confidence in the engine's durability and their optimized race plan. This change, coupled with Verstappen's recent adoption of a fresh power unit, further contributes to their enhanced performance. Moreover, the team has successfully mitigated the handicaps associated with their low-downforce package, a conscious decision influenced by budget constraints in previous seasons.

Beyond these systemic changes, Verstappen's direct input on individual race weekends has proven invaluable. At Monza, he advocated for a specific setup direction, even when some team members expressed doubts. His insistence on a less rear wing configuration, prioritizing higher top speed for the race, ultimately paid dividends, leading to his record-breaking lap. This highlights a growing trust in the driver's instinct and feel for the car, moving away from purely theoretical optimizations. While this aggressive approach delivered exceptional qualifying pace, questions remain about its impact on tire wear during longer race stints, a challenge Verstappen acknowledges. He notes that while the increased top speed is beneficial, maintaining tire performance remains crucial, and McLaren still holds an advantage in this area.

The question of whether Red Bull's recent gains at Monza will translate to consistent success across different circuits remains. Verstappen acknowledges that while the team now possesses a deeper understanding of their car's setup, the RB21 still exhibits structural weaknesses, particularly on bumpy street circuits with slow corners. However, he remains optimistic that the lessons learned will facilitate smoother race weekends, allowing for more consistent progress without drastic setup changes between sessions. Marko believes the team has expanded the car's operating window, although Verstappen maintains a more cautious perspective, recognizing the car's inherent sensitivity. Ultimately, the team's current success hinges on their ability to pinpoint and optimize this delicate setup window, offering a promising, albeit tentative, outlook for upcoming races.