The opening race for the Rotax Max Challenge 2023 was the first test for the young driver Henri Möhring from Schöneck in a familiar environment. Last season, he secured the runner-up title in the Micro class at the last race of the season in Genk. This season the expectations are clearly set. They want to fight for the championship and take the maximum points at the 4 events in 2023.

The first practice sessions on Friday clearly underlined the young driver’s role as favorite and showed that Henri mastered the change from Mini60 to the kart equipped with more torque and different tires very well. After 6 practice sessions, we ended the test day with a lot of anticipation for the upcoming race weekend and solid lap times on the ProKart Raceland circuit in Wackersdorf. An exciting component was to be the weather, which was predicted to be very volatile.

We started the Saturday with 2 free practice sessions before the warm-up and qualifying in the early afternoon. Unfortunately, already in the warm-up it became apparent that a driver with an outstanding pace was on the way. Max Moor, who finished last year’s championship in 6th place, finished the warm-up 0.3 seconds ahead of Henri and secured pole position in the rain qualifying session with an incredible 1.236 second lead. Henri finished qualifying in P3.

The first race on Saturday afternoon was similar to the qualifying. Max Moor won the race by 3.6 seconds ahead of Henri in second place. Followed by Joliena Marie Schulz with 6 seconds behind. It was difficult for us to accept the situation but we did not let ourselves be discouraged. The course of the season will show who comes out on top in the end.

On Sunday, in addition to a morning warm-up, two qualifying runs were scheduled. The first, which took place in the dry, Henri could finish on P2 behind Max Moor, who again convinced with an unbelievable speed and a lead of 4.5 seconds. In the last race, which took place under difficult conditions and continuous rain, the tide turned. Henri was able to beat Max Moor in an exciting race duel and crossed the finish line in first place. Unfortunately, the young driver had to take a time penalty of 5 seconds after the end of the race, for what the race organizers considered too hard an overtaking maneuver against Max Moor. This meant that Henri also finished P2 in the third race of the weekend.

“All in all a good race weekend. I wanted to win but the speed of Max here in Wackersdorf was insane.”

Henri is looking back to his first RMC race in 2023.

An intense race weekend in the fight for the championship of the Rotax Max Challenge 2023. After consultation with all involved, we are excited about the further races and how the season will further develop for Henri. Already on 29./30.04. awaits Henri the next start at the Rotax Max Challenge at the Erftlandring in Kerpen.

  • To come: Rotax Max Challenge Kerpen 29.-30.04.23 in Kerpen