CKN Euro Report: Bryce Choquer and Natael Cantin Competing at Rotax Euro Challenge in France

Last month we confirmed that Vancouver, BC’s Bryce Choquer was preparing himself for a new journey by testing a PDB chassis at the final round of the Rotax Challenge of the Americas in Sonoma, California.

This week, Choquer has joined the official PDB / Gillard racing team in Salbris, France for the first round of the 2015 Rotax Euro Challenge.

Competing against the worlds best Rotax racers in the Senior Max category, Choquer has his work cut out for himself but he is excited for the challenge. After many years of competing at the annual Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals, Choquer has been eying the Euromax for a long time, where the event is a little less spec.

Also in competition this weekend is Natael Cantin of Laval, Quebec. Cantin competed in the final round of 2014, also at Salbris, and is back for more international Rotax action. He will compete in Rotax Junior with KMS/BirelART.

This weekend marks the first real test for the new Rotax Max EVO engines. While they were utilized at the Rotax Winter Cup, a much larger turnout is set to do battle in France across the three main categories; Junior Max, Senior Max and DD2. In total, over 160 drivers from 33 different countries will be in action for the first of four Euromax rounds.

Bryce Choquer on the grid in France. (Photo courtesy: Blake Choquer/BBR Karting)

After securing his second straight Rotax Euro Challenge DD2 title last year, Ben Cooper has opted out of the championship this year, continuing his focus at the Jim Russell Karting Academy in Mont-Tremblant, Quebec.

Other North American drivers competing this weekend include: Mexican Javier Gonzalez (Kosmic) in Junior Max and Americans Jake Craig (Formula K) and Oliver Askew (BirelART) in Senior Max.

Qualifying is set for Friday afternoon followed by three rounds of heat races on Saturday. Sunday will see a last chance qualifier for each category to set the grids at 34 drivers for the PreFinal and Final competitions.

For those interested in watching the action, a live stream can be found on http://www.rgmmcmedia.com, starting Friday.