ROTAX EURO CHALLENGE - MARCH 29/30, SALBRIS (FRANCE) - ROUND 1

Jefferies (Junior), Poulter (DD2) and Adams (Master) give the Lissone company three splendid victories in the first trials of the European Rotax Series.

The Birel colors have always been great players in the single-brand championships where, with engines and tires being equal, the chassis is the determining factor. The European Rotax Series is, with all probability, the most important event in the single-brand world and, the comforting results from the first Salbris trial, greatly emphasizes the value of Birel’s technology. The R31-SE chassis series, in fact, were great players in all of the classes, demonstrating excellent versatility. Starting with the Junior class, the Kalman Motorsport flag-bearer Axcil Jeffries clearly beat his direct adversaries, Webster (Tony Kart) and Hoevenaars (Intrepid).
Vera Paaw (Paauwer Kart Racing) also came within one step of the podium, winning a fantastic 4th place overall. There was another positive result in the top ten with Kancsar (9th) while the other lady from the Paauwer team (Giovanna Boontjes) was less fortunate, ending the race in 19th place. Without any adversaries to worry him, Leroy Poulter who, despite a disputable disqualification in the Pre-Final due to a contact with Orr, also won the DD2 final with a 2” advantage over his countryman from the PCR team.
The final success of the day for the Birel team was in the Master class where, the speedy and expert Adams won the race ahead of Morgado and Davis. The 2nd round of the championship will take place in Germany on June 1 and we can bet that the Birel drivers will try to ensure the title in the three classes where they dominated in France.
This is also what Mike Wilson, the Birel representative on the track in the Rotax Series, hopes, "Last year we could have won both the Max class with Simpson and the DD2 with Poulter, but misfortune left us empty-handed after a great season. This year we hope to solidify more, and based on our excellent start I can’t help but be optimistic. Our 2008 chassis have proven and confirmed an excellent performance apart from the engines and tires used, offering excellent feeling for the drivers in all classes and on all tracks. I would like to offer my congratulations to our Kalman, Paauwer Kart Racing and Gem Sport teams, who were represented by talented motivated drivers and a first class technical staff.”