Exciting news for racing enthusiasts! With the growing popularity of the newly formed RMC Ontario Championship—which made its debut at the Hamilton Karting Complex in 2024—the Hamilton Regional Kart Club (HRKC) is proud to announce that starting in 2025, we will offer a full season of Rotax racing for our members. This expansion marks a significant addition to our club’s racing program, with at least 12 races scheduled for the Mini Max, Junior Max, and Senior Max categories.
In the past, HRKC has been primarily a Briggs & Stratton LO206 racing club, occasionally incorporating two-stroke races where drivers could run engines like Vortex ROK or Rotax. However, with Rotax’s resurgence, driven by the success of RMC Ontario, HRKC is now fully embracing Rotax as a sustainable and exciting two-stroke platform for club racing.
Why Rotax?
Rotax has proven to be a sustainable option for club-level two-stroke racing. One of the key challenges with other two-stroke engines has been the high cost of maintenance and running expenses, which made long-term competition difficult for many racers. However, Rotax engines are renowned for their longevity—often running up to 30-40 hours before needing a rebuild. Additionally, Rotax engines run on pump gas, unlike other two-stroke engines that require leaded race fuel. This significantly reduces the cost of racing, making it more accessible and sustainable for both seasoned racers and newcomers alike.
We’ve already seen a surge of interest from our members, with several racers having already purchased Rotax engines in anticipation of the 2025 season. The competition promises to be fierce, with racers eager to hit the track for what will surely be an intense season of Rotax racing. While we don’t expect the Rotax classes to have quite the same membership levels as our Briggs & Stratton classes initially, we are confident that it will be a strong, competitive series that will continue to grow.
Briggs & Stratton Racing Will Remain a Core Focus
While we’re excited to launch a full season of Rotax racing, we want to reassure our members that Briggs & Stratton LO206 racing will remain a core part of HRKC’s offerings. We have a passionate and growing base of Briggs racers, and we fully intend to continue supporting and expanding these classes. In fact, we’ve recently awarded another round of Briggs & Stratton scholarships to our Arrive & Drive racers, ensuring that we keep building up this important class.
Our goal for 2025 is to provide the best of both worlds: continued large fields of Briggs racers alongside the exciting new addition of Rotax competition. We believe this diversity will make HRKC one of the top karting clubs in Southern Ontario, offering something for every type of racer.
Ready to Join Rotax Racing at HRKC?
If you’re interested in joining the Rotax racing community at HRKC, now is the perfect time to get involved. Prime Powerteam, located at Hamilton Karting Complex, is an authorized Rotax dealer and can help you get everything you need to hit the track, from engines to karts and parts. Through our partnerships with Rev Performance Materials, we ensure that all racers have access to the best equipment and support available.
The future is looking incredibly bright for HRKC in 2025 and beyond. With Rotax now part of our full-time program, along with our thriving Briggs & Stratton classes, we’re set for another exciting year of competitive club racing. Contact us today to learn more about our Rotax program or to get started in karting with HRKC.
We look forward to seeing you on the track!