• Introduction of the legendary Rotax 100cc rotary valve engine for kart racing. (CIK/FIA and FSA classes)

• Introduction of the Rotax 100cc reed valve engine. (CIK/ICA class)

• Introduction of the Rotax 100cc piston port engine. (CIK/ICA-Junior class)

• CIK homologation of the innovative left-side-drive Rotax 100cc rotary and reed valve engines.

• Introduction of the Rotax 125 MAX engine.

• Start of the first national Rotax MAX Challenge Race Series.

• Introduction of the Rotax 125 Junior MAX engine.
• First Rotax MAX Challenge Grand Finals.

• Rotax 100cc engines are discontinued.
• Market introduction of the Rotax 125 MAX DD2 engine – innovative chainless drive system with 2-speed gearbox.
• Introduction of the Rotax RM1 kart.

• 25,000 Rotax 125 MAX engines manufactured.

• Introduction of the Rotax 125 Mini MAX engine.

• Opening of market to all chassis manufacturers for the Rotax 125 MAX DD2 engine.

• Introduction of the Rotax 125 Micro MAX.

• 60,000 Rotax 125 MAX engines manufactured.
• 10th Anniversary of the Rotax MAX Challenge Grand Finals.

• ROTAX MAX GRAND FINALS Comes back to UAE, Al Ain Raceway with stronger and bigger grid than 2007
• 70,000 Rotax MAX engines manufactured.

• 30th Anniversary of the kart business at BRP

• Introduction of the Rotax 125 MAX evo engine series - the next generation of Rotax MAX engine.

RACE LIKE NEVER BEFORE: BRP-ROTAX LAUNCHES ITS FIRST E-KART POWERPACK: THE ROTAX THUNDER!

• First electric powerpack for Rotax racing karts
• Eco-performing electric powerpack goes from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.5 seconds with top speed of 130 km/h
• Electric powerpack with 20 kW and 46 Nm max. torque

100,000TH ROTAX MAX ENGINE LEAVES THE LINE
Gunskirchen, February 2, 2018 – Beginning of February 2018 the 100,000th kart engine – out of the Rotax 125 MAX engine family – left the assembly line at BRP-Rotax in Gunskirchen, Austria. The Rotax 125 MAX engine conquered the market after its launch in 1997.

“When we launched the Rotax 125 MAX karting engine in 1997, we launched a new engine concept based on our extensive experience of 2-stroke technology for recreational applications. Using the Rotax 125 MAX engine allowed the driver to spend more time on the track and less time in the pits”, said Peter Oelsinger, vice-president Rotax Propulsion Systems and Finance.

Compared to existing engines of that time the durability and the ease of use with the onboard electric starter in combination with the centrifugal clutch and a carburetor with fixed jets was significantly improved and attracted the kart drivers. The rapidly increasing engine sales confirmed that the new engine concept met the requirements of the market. Rotax engines won the most kart racing titles – and still leads the list of overall championship titles.

“We already provide the best karting engine in terms of equal opportunities, reliability, cost of ownership to our customers as well as a concept for the Rotax racing community that stands for consistency and same opportunities for everybody. Be assured we will not stop here”, said Oelsinger.
The Rotax MAX Challenge (RMC) is a professional kart racing series established, owned and organized by BRP and its Rotax kart engine distributors. Approved by and in compliance with CIK / FIA, the RMC is a "one-make-engine" formula: only Rotax kart engines that are checked and sealed (for equal performance) will be used. With an equal technical playing field, the success in the competition is primarily dependent on the skills of the driver.

With 43 authorized distributors and a network of more than 700 authorized service centres and dealers, BRP supports its customers worldwide.

For more information about the Rotax MAX Challenge, please visit our website.

Caption: (from left to right) Helmut Voglsam, Stefan Gruber and Johann Hosner who was working at the kart assembly line when the first Rotax MAX engine was produced and also when the 100,000th left the assembly line

• ROTAX MAX CHALLENGE INTERNATIONAL TROPHY: AN EXCEPTIONAL SUCCESS FROM THE FIRST EDITION

The Rotax MAX Challenge International Trophy - the newest addition to the exciting Rotax MAX Challenge racing world with participants from all over the world – is an additional global event of the Rotax MAX Challenge calendar. 3MK Events in collaboration with BRP-Rotax organized this special event at the legendary Le Mans Karting International Circuit bringing together many drivers who wanted to have the opportunity to compete with others from around the world using their own personal choice of equipment and their usual or preferred team.

GRAND FINALS 2019

For the 20 th anniversary of Rotax MAX Challenge Grand Finals BRP-Rotax cooperates with well-known associates and a newcomer in one of the world’s biggest  karting event. The proven partners BirelART, IPKarting and Sodikart are complemented by J3’s Compkart chassis brand.

“Ensuring the best support during the event and an incomparable race experience is our main objective.
With our long-term partners and Compkart as a new partner we will ensure those perfect conditions,” says Peter Oelsinger, General Manager BRP-Rotax and Vice President Sales, Marketing RPS-Business & Communications. “We are pleased to have the Compkart brand now as part of the team.”

The chassis partners will support following classes at the RMC Grand Finals 2019:

125 Micro MAX Praga
125 Mini MAX Compkart
125 Junior MAX Praga
125 MAX Sodikart
125 MAX DD2 BirelART
125 MAX DD2 Masters Sodikart

Rotax Thunder Sodikart

The last race of the DEKM (German Electric Kart Championship) 2019 with the Rotax THUNDeR will be held at the RMC Grand Finals 2019. The Rotax THUNDeR was developed in cooperation between RIC TECH GmbH and S.M.R.E.’s subsidiary IET S.p.A and features a specially designed chassis from Sodikart. The DEKM is going into its second season and is open for international drivers this year.

“We are proud that the Rotax THUNDeR class is now an integral part of Grand Finals,” states Mr. Oelsinger. “It reflects the new major interest in electric karting, which is a step into the future and a totally new kind of racing.”