Quick Guide to the Rotax Max
The Rotax Max kart has changed the face of karting completely. It almost single handedly destroyed 100cc karting because the Rotax Max gives comparable speed to 100cc karts but without all the hassle. It has now become the model for new karting classes including the top flight CIK karting classes!
Mike Spencer Racing the Rotax Max
When the Rotax Max first arrived in the UK it brought several innovations to the karting market that swept all the opposition aside. In summary these were:-
1. The Rotax Max comes with an onboard push button starter. No more bump starting or heavy external starters.
2. Sealed engines so that competitors are assured of equality between engines within reason.
3. Longevity of engine life - because of limited revs 25 hour engine rebuild intervals were unheard of in 2 stroke karting before the rotax max.
4. Balance gears so that the whole kart benefitted from far less vibration extending general reliability.
In the UK the Rotax Max is split into three classes to suit different ages of drivers.
Mini Max 11 to 17 year olds
The Mini max configuartion for Rotax Max is designed for drivers graduating from cadet karting. The engine is restricted at both the inlet and exhaust to reduce the power available. There is no power valve on the mini max karts. Drivers who feel they are not ready to graduate into the Junior Max class can stay in the Mini-max class until 16.
Junior Max 13 to 17 year olds
The Junior Max class has in inlet restrictor but no exhaust restrictor and has no powervalve. The Junior Max is therefore faster than the mini max.
Rotax Max 16 years and older
For senior drivers the Rotax Max is the unrestricted version of the class with powervalve, to maximise the performance available without causing reliability problems.
Driving the Rotax max class of karts
The max does require an adapted driving style compared to 100cc karts, with smoothness of throttle input and careful steering input being most important. A very considerate driving style under braking and corner exit brings the best results, mainly because the Rotax max power at low revs is limited. If the kart is sliding at the rear on corner exit drivers will complain of ‘bogging’ and a driver who tries to push a Rotax max harder than it wants will find they get slower and slower.
Throttle application with all the rotax classes is key to peak performance. A gradual throttle application gives a more crisp response from the motor, this is most apparent in the Mini max variant where drivers often lift off the throttle on straights to find a sweet spot for throttle position.
Racing the Rotax Max
Just about every MSA kart racing club in the UK will support a healthy grid of Rotax competitors. Head along to your local circuit to check out how many drivers race in Rotax to see for yourself if it is the right class for you. If you want to compete at a national level the Rotax Max has a national level series run by the Super One series, who have been responsible for running the most respected championship in British karting for years. There is also the Euro max competition which travels around mainland europe. Every year there is also the Rotax max Grand Finals for qualifiers from around the world where competitors are invited to ‘arrive and drive’ on identical karts to fight for the status of the world’s number one rotax racer.
