MRP Motorsport announces Rotax Max Challenge schedules THREE OAKS, MI - Rotax Max Regional Distributor MRP Motorsport has announced major plans for the spec racing concept during the 2003 racing season. Most notably, MRP will oversee the 3rd season of the MRP Rotax Max Challenge. In addition, it has also been announced that the Midwest Sprint Series will offer the Rotax Max Class as an official Challenge Series with support from MRP. The highlight race for both series is a "Dual Regional Challenge" that will bring both series together at South Bend Raceway Park on June 20-22 with the Midwest Sprint Series in what will be anticipated as the largest grid of Rotax Max drivers ever in the Midwest. Each Challenge Series will be run in strict compliance to the rules as outlined for all 2003 Rotax Max Challenge events. The MRP Rotax Max Challenge will run four races at South Bend Raceway Park, one at Michiana Raceway Park in Buchanan, MI, and one at the East Lansing Kart Track in East Lansing, MI. Three of the South Bend dates are dual events with the Michiana Kart Klub. Chad Hartzell of MRP Motorsport said, "We've received an excellent amount of support for the RMax concept during the off-season. When {MRP owner Garry Lobaugh} gave me the opportunity to oversee this program, our main goal for the upcoming season was to establish a presence in the Midwest that provides a solid foundation for growth of the RMax Challenge concept. With two official Challenge Series within the Region, I believe we are poised accomplish those goals in 2003 and beyond. " "Our initial plans were to offer only the MRP Rotax Max Challenge to encompass those individuals wanting to run the full RMax Challenge rules structure and draw drivers throughout Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin. Shortly after the New Year, there was an influx of interest within the Wisconsin area and a group of drivers approached the Midwest Sprint Series about running a Rotax Max class with the highly competitive WKA Divisional series. We have assured the MWSS of our support with regards to tech and compliance with the RMax Challenge structure, and we look forward to having a Rotax presence with their series in 2003. This series coupled with the MRP series offers a lot of racing for the Rotax enthusiast wanting to compete under the official RMax Challenge structure," Hartzell stated. Hartzell's final comments looked forward to the upcoming season "I'd like to thank the Midwest Sprint Series, Michiana Kart Klub, and East Lansing Kart Track for welcoming both Rotax Max Challenge Series as part of their programs in 2003. Many of the drivers have expressed a great deal of enthusiasm for the upcoming season. At least one of each of the tracks each series will visit provides a "home track" for many of our competitors and they're looking forward to that opportunity." Although not yet available, official rules for both series can be found at www.mrpmotorsport.com and www.midwestsprint.com when released by SSC Racing. The schedule for each series is as follows: 2003 MRP Rotax Max Series April 13 - South Bend Raceway Park (South Bend, IN) May 17 - Michiana Raceway Park (Buchanan, MI) June 21-22 - South Bend Raceway Park (South Bend, IN) (Dual Challenge w/ MWSS) July 20 - South Bend Raceway Park (South Bend, IN) August 17 - East Lansing Kart Track (East Lansing, MI) September 7 - South Bend Raceway Park (South Bend, IN) 2003 Rotax Max Midwest Sprint Series May 17-18 - Mid-State Raceway (Springfield, IL) May 31-June 1 - Norway Speedway (Norway, IL) June 21-22 - South Bend Raceway Park (South Bend, IN) (Dual Challenge w/ MRP) July 11-13 - Road America / Briggs & Stratton Motorplex (Elkhart Lake, WI) August 16-17 - Badger Raceway (Dousman, WI)