WATCH LIVE: 239 drivers race the opening round of Rotax MAX Challenge Euro Trophy

Welcome to the 2025 edition of Rotax MAX Challenge Euro Trophy where 239 young drivers are set to compete in the opening round of the series at Prokart Raceland in Wackersdorf.  This year’s five categories are Senior MAX (101 drivers) featuring the “triple-digit” entries of the year, Junior MAX (61), DD2 and DD2 Masters running together as a combined class with 34 drivers, and Mini MAX (43) running under the banner of “German Cup by Mini MAX.” The late Spring competition is heating up , as a championship win in Mini MAX gets the driver the first ticket to the 2025 Rotax MAX Challenge Grand Finals.

For this next Euro Trophy challenge, reigning Mini MAX champion Albert Friend has moved up to Junior MAX, leaving room for a new name to claim the championship. Expect the battle between Tom Read (Privateer) and Oliver Spencer (KR Sport) to be reignited from the Winter Series — while former strong contenders Alfie Ward (MLC Motorsport), Alfie Mair (Privateer), Jef Verbeke (Bouvin Power), and Marc Quessada (MKC Motorsport) also make their move to perhaps charge the field.

Junior MAX presents another story. Several drivers are up for contention among the 61 competing in Germany. including Winter Series champion Harry Freeman (KR Sport), Kai Clarke (KR Sport) and Shun Sekiguchi (Dan Holland racing). Other potential rising stars to watch: Viterbo poleman Mate Kobakhidze (Dan Holland Racing), and the earlier mentioned, Albert Friend (Strawberry Racing), coming off of another Mini MAX championship.

The biggest class, ensuring the most diverse and robust field of competitors is Senior MAX with 101 drivers. Successors to look out for in taking the place of last year’s winner, Matthew Higgins (Dan Holland Racing), are Sean Butcher (KR Sport), Italy’s Lorenzo Giaquinto (MKC Motorsport) who took 2nd at Wackersdorf last year, and Lizzy Mentier (Dan Holland Racing). 

The combined DD2 and DD2 Masters grids feature Lenn Nijs (Schepers Racing) continuing his winning streak from the start of the karting season, facing competition from Ragnar Veerus (Kartletix) and Jakub Bezel (Kraft Motorsport) in DD2. DD2 Masters, rivals meet rivals again between Nicolas Picot (Privateer), Xen De Ruwe (SSC), Fabian Block (Kraft Motorsport) and Martynas Tankevicius (Privateer).

The Pre-finals and Finals air Sunday here on Motorsport.com with Pre-finals at 10:40am local time, and Finals at 2:15pm local time.