The DD2 class at Genk 2006

	Rotax DD2 Breaking With The Chains Of Tradition
	Major manufacturers follow BRP-Rotax along chainless kart route
	By John Bone / CKN “Everybody was laughing when Rotax introduced the electric starter to karting. Now nearly everybody has it.” Says BPR-Rotax Manager of Sales and Marketing, Klemens Dolzer. His smile that of a man who knows his company’s visions and beliefs have previously been vindicated with the fullness of time, and who is quietly confident that their next innovation, the DD2 kart engine, will prove equally as prophetic. The DD2 – or 125 MAX DD2 to give it its full title – was first introduced in 2002 and has thus far been a market success, so why are Herr Dolzer, Rotax’s Robert Gumdenberger and, most tellingly, BRP-Rotax VP and General Manager Gerd Ohrnberger away from their desks to talk about an engine premiered to the press almost five years later? Well today is not just about the engine. Nor in truth is it just about Rotax, although when the VP and General Manager of a company takes time away from the office you’d better believe they have something worth hearing. What’s more, Herr Ohrnberger isn’t the only VP in the room, for he is joined by owners and representatives of fourteen – yes fourteen – of the world’s major kart manufacturers. So what’s going on? Rotax’s DD2 engine, mated to their RM1 chassis has grown steadily since the ’02 debut. Increasingly popular with professionals, the DD2 is also finding a base with the amateur or ‘weekend warrior’ driver, but to-date its uses were limited, and it is this that the almost unprecedented collection of company bosses and bigwigs have congregated to address. Klemens Dolzer again, “We had to prove DD2 would work.” He says of the DD2–RM1 chassis monopoly. “Now, with fourteen major manufacturers we leave it to the free market.” And Rotax aren’t being shy about it either. Not only have they assembled the manufacturers, in person, to speak to the press, but they are putting their RM1 up against chassis from the likes of Sodi, Tony Kart, CRG, Intrepid, et al and allowing the media throng to test drive each chassis, back-to-back. By offering such unrivaled access to the manufacturers and their products, it is clear that Rotax are fully committed to the expansion of DD2 on the world kart scene. On the professional stage this opening up of the DD2 class will be significant. Here in Canada, Elite class drivers are in need of somewhere to graduate to, and the ICC Shifter’s are beginning to become prohibitively expensive. If something is almost too expensive for the pro’s, then when you do the math at the amateur, grass roots levels then there’s no way they are going to be able to afford it. Usually left by the wayside, having to make do with obsolete or second-hand machinery, often running hybrids (with all the spares and support headaches that brings with it) these people are finally being recognized by Rotax, and offered a way forward. “We want to increase the pool of karting participants in the world – amateurs as well as professionals.” Says Herr Dolzer, to which VP Gerd Ohrnberger adds with a grin “But Rotax is a business, so we wanted to increase the revenues too!” Alright so it’s not an entirely altruistic move on the part of Rotax to open up the DD2 class, but it certainly isn’t one driven solely by greed, and those standing to gain the most are still the competitors themselves. With the chassis now open, there will eventually be a price-war between the manufacturers; always good news for the consumer, and the two speed ‘box, direct-drive powertrain concept of the DD2 (where do you think the ‘DD’ moniker came from?) eliminates the expense of having to have hundreds of ratios for differing circuits, and of course the never ending cost of replacement chains. That Rotax give a warranty on their race engines doesn’t hurt either! All the chassis manufacturers have kept the safety features incorporated in the RM1, including the anti-climb bars behind the rear wheels which prevent a following kart getting dragged ‘up and over’ into a roll during those inevitable wheel-touching moments. Motor sport will always be dangerous, but anything being done to prevent that sort of accident should be embraced. As Klemens had noted of the electric starter pioneered by Rotax at the very beginning, he concludes “I see this as similar to the chain and the direct drive concept. Today the chain is dominating the concepts for power-train, but we believe that the DD2 system will come forward.” They weren’t wrong last time. For anyone considering entering into kart competition, looking to upgrade or replace old equipment, or considering a move up the career ladder, the DD2 category has just become a very serious candidate worthy of very serious investigation.
	Related links:
	Recent Rotax News: Devlin DeFrancesco, US Grand Nationals Report Lazare wins Rotax Junior at Trois-Rivieres NEW SPONSORSHIP FOR THE CANADIAN ROTAX MAX CHALLENGE WESTERN CANADIAN CHALLENGE - EDMONTON PREVIEW ECKC Event 3 Preview, Monaco de Trois-Rivières ANTHONY GANGI JR: US ROTAX GRAND NATIONAL CHAMPION PSL Karting, US Grand Nationals Report WCC Class Points and Sup. Regulations BURKETT RACING STANDS ON PODIUM IN WCC ACTION Saskatoon WCC Karting Canada/Italkart Report