Challenge of the Americas Takes on Role of First West Coast ROKKER Program

As the landscape for the North American karting community continues to change, ROK Cup Promotions is pleased to announce that the very popular Challenge of the Americas (COTA) series will make the switch to the Vortex ROK engine platform, Bridgestone tire line and take on the role of the first ROKKER program on the West Coast. Known for great racing in a family and team friendly environment, the Challenge of the Americas will continue to offer some of the best racing in the country in the first quarter of the year and beyond as they work to expand their program even further. Some of the prize packages planned include tickets to the ROK International Finals in South Garda, Italy, as well as the ROK Cup USA Finals.

Making the move from ten years as a predominantly Rotax platform, the Challenge of the Americas will now transition to Vortex powerplants. The very competitive COTA program will continue to focus on its great customers and building a bright future, as 2018 will be their 11th consecutive season. Continue reading

Entry opens December 5 for premier winter karting series on the left coast

Entry opens December 5 for premier winter karting series on the left coast

ORANGE, CA (November 23, 2016) – The national karting scene has come to a close for the 2016 race period and like the flip of a switch, drivers, teams and industry members have turned their attention to the upcoming season. Along the western half of the United States for the last nine years, the racing season begins in January with the Challenge of the Americas. The premier winter karting series is set to host its 10th season of competition, welcoming the best drivers from the United States, Canada and around the world over a great decade of racing. The 2017 program is ready for another three weekend, six-round championship program from January until the beginning of April. Continue reading

REGISTRATION OPEN FOR 2016 CHALLENGE OF THE AMERICAS

challenge2016logoCCOver 40 days until new season begins in Arizona for Rotax and Shifter program

ORANGE, CA (December 15, 2015) – A new era is set to begin for the Challenge of the Americas, entering its ninth season. The premier winter karting series on the left coast is set to get 2016 underway in just over a month when the program heads to the Musselman Honda Circuit on January 29-31 in Tucson, Arizona. Planning and organization for the season is in full swing, with series owner and promoter Andy Seesemann hard at work putting all the details together for another exciting winter season for teams and competitors along the western half of North America. Continuing with the international Rotax Max Challenge competition, the new year brings in Shifter Senior and Shifter Masters categories to help coincide the program with the growing US Open format.

The Challenge of the Americas program continues to be an international series for Rotax Max Challenge competitors, as it has since the beginning. Micro Max, Mini Max, Junior Max, Senior Max and Masters Max fill out the class roster utilizing the new Rotax EVO engines. 2016 marks the removal of the DD2 and DD2 Masters divisions. Replacing those two categories will be a Shifter Senior and Shifter Masters race group following the success of the new US Open format combining the two groups together on the national scene. Continue reading

CHALLENGE OF THE AMERICAS UPDATES 2016 SCHEDULE AND CLASS STRUCTURE

2016-Rotax-Challenge-of-the-Americas-logoPhoenix weekend moved to avoid conflicts, series adds shifterkart divisions to program

ORANGE, CA (November 4, 2015) – The Challenge of the Americas has been the premier winter karting series on the left coast for the past eight years. Hosting the international Rotax Max Challenge categories, a number of premier teams and drivers have found their way to the southwestern states during the winter months. The ninth season of the Challenge is set to get underway in January, with new updates made to the series schedule and the class structure for 2016.

The 2016 Challenge of the Americas schedule was released at the end of June to provide series competitors with optimal time to plan, and to avoid conflicts with events here in the United States, along with other major events around the world. For years, their schedule was respected and other programs worked around those dates released. Challenge of the Americas promoter and owner Andy Seesemann recently became aware of two conflicts, including the second and third events of his program and the California ProKart Challenge. Despite attempts to discuss options, messages were ignored. This has prompted the Challenge of the Americas to adjust its schedule for the betterment of the sport and the industry.

Opening weekend of the Challenge of the Americas remains at the Musselman Honda Circuit in Tucson at the end of January. The second stop for 2016 is still set for the Phoenix Kart Racing Association in Glendale, however, the date has been moved from the first weekend in March to the final weekend in February. The finale at Simraceway Performance Karting Center in the wine country of Sonoma, California is unchanged, cemented to the first weekend in April.

2016 Challenge of the Americas Schedule
January 29-31: Musselman Honda Circuit – Tucson, Arizona
February 26-28: Phoenix Kart Racing Association – Glendale, Arizona
April 1-3: Simraceway Performance Karting Center – Sonoma, California

“Out of respect for the karting community and in the best interest of our customers, teams and mechanics, I am changing the date of the Phoenix round of the 2016 Challenge of the Americas,” stated Seesemann. “It has taken a lot of work to change contracts and unwind host hotel agreements, etc., but it is in the best interest for our community at large. I apologize to our community that they have been caught in the middle of this foolish battle that continues to tear our sport apart. I will continue to do my part to make sure that the sport and its customers, teams and supporters are held in the highest regard when decisions are made, and when others make decisions to only serve their own egos, I will do my best to minimize the impact.”

The Challenge of the Americas program will continue to be an international series for Rotax Max Challenge competitors, as it has since the beginning. All Rotax divisions are to be offered again in 2016, with the exception of DD2 and DD2 Masters. Replacing those categories in the time schedule each weekend are Shifter Senior and Shifter Masters. In 2015, with the creation of the US Open, Rotax Max Challenge and shifterkart racing combined to present a new international championship program, geared at putting the best drivers of both disciplines together. The Challenge of the Americas has adopted this vision, including the Shifter Senior and Shifter Masters into the vacated race group slot.

2016 Challenge of the Americas Class Roster
Senior Max
Masters Max
Junior Max
Mini Max
Micro Max
Shifter Senior
Shifter Masters

“The DD2 class, while exciting on-track, has not had the best success overall for the series. We have done our best to promote the category and continued to offer the Rotax Grand Finals ticket to the series champion, still with limited entry totals,” continued Seesemann. “It is time to remove the DD2 group from the series, as there are still plenty of other opportunities for these racers to race elsewhere and earn a chance to win a ticket to the Rotax Grand Finals. I received a number of requests over the years to add a shifter class to the series, and now is the perfect time. The US Open proved that shifter classes can work alongside the Rotax program, and now the Challenge of the Americas provides an early winter season for those racers and teams. I expect to see at least 20 shifters total at the opening event in Tucson”

Entry to the 2016 Challenge of the Americas program is set to open on December 1 at rotaxchallenge.com. Continue to visit the website for updates, and find more information on the host hotels and event details for each stop in 2016, along with the Facebook page.