ELITE Rotax Competitie

Season 2 – Elite Rotax Competition 2026

A unique step forward in karting

Dutch Racing Series is proud to introduce the Elite Rotax Championship: a new and unique racing concept within the Benelux. For ambitious drivers who are ready to take the next step, Elite Rotax offers a professional platform where talent can compete on a level playing field. 

What makes this concept so special? All drivers compete in identical, professionally prepared Sodi Sport karts fitted with 2-stroke Rotax engines – a combination that is rarely available anywhere in the world. Both the chassis and the karts are brand new and will only be tearing across the tarmac for the second time this year with you behind the wheel!

Race format for Season 2, 2026:

• Free practice: 20 minutes 
• Qualifying: 5 minutes Qualifying before each race
• Races:
  • Race 1: 10 minutes
  • Race 2: 10 minutes
  • Race 3: 12 minutes
  • Race 4: 12 minutes

Each driver is allocated one kart per day. This means there is no kart draw for each race, so you will drive all the races on the same day in the same kart.

Two seasons per calendar year

The Elite Rotax Championship comprises two seasons within a single calendar year. The first season took place before the summer holidays of 2026, and after the summer break we’ll pick up where we left off with Season 2. Whereas the regular DRS season aggregates all Grand Prix results from a single year, the Elite R is divided into two seasons of five races each.  This means two entry points per year.

• Season 1: before the summer break. This was a trial season running from February/March 2026 to June 2026
• Season 2: after the summer break, from September 2026 to November 2026 inclusive

The Elite Rotax Competition GPs sometimes, but not always, take place during the DRS Nationals weekends. It is also possible to register not only for the season but also for individual race days.

Ready for the world’s best – Sodi World Series

Since the first official DRS season (2024), drivers have been able to collect points towards the Sodi W Series Final. In 2027, Sodi is taking things a step further: from that year onwards, Sodi Rotax 2-stroke karts will also be included in their final programme. The year 2026 is considered the first official qualifying year.

Whilst the current SWS points system awards points in the Sprint and Endurance categories regardless of the type and specification of Sodi kart being driven, a completely separate Sprint category is being created for Sodi Rotax karts. As only a handful of circuits and organisations worldwide use these karts, this means that a DRS driver is virtually guaranteed to qualify.

The 2027 Sodi World Series Rotax Final will be a top-tier international event attracting large crowds, media attention and substantial prize money. This is a unique opportunity for drivers and makes it extremely attractive to sponsors. The DRS is ready to support drivers who qualify with promotion and guidance.

Professional and safe racing

In the Elite Rotax Championship, strict standards will apply to every driver’s equipment. For example, the helmet and racing overalls must meet a specified safety standard, supplemented by approved gloves and racing boots. Drivers under the age of 16 are required to wear a rib or neck protector to ensure maximum safety.

The exact standards will be set out later in the official regulations. Prior to each Grand Prix, DRS carries out additional safety checks. 

Technology

The championship uses new Sodi Sport chassis and Rotax engines. Maintenance is handled entirely by KombiKart, ensuring that every driver can count on consistent and reliable equipment.

The Elite R uses a softer tyre compound and riders are allowed to set their own tyre pressure using their own tyre pressure gauge. The minimum tyre pressure is 0.6 bar. At each Grand Prix, a recommendation is issued for both dry and wet conditions.

The entry fee covers: participation, tyres, maintenance and the kart provided. This does not include any damage caused whilst driving, or any personal expenditure on necessary equipment, etc.

Entry requirements and registration

The Elite Rotax is open to participants aged 15 and over who are at least 1.40m tall, and is intended for serious drivers with the necessary experience. Although we assume that every participant will assess their own ability appropriately, we as the organising body reserve the right at all times to refuse or cancel registrations, or, in cases of doubt, to invite drivers to undertake a skills assessment before approving their registration and participation.

Investing in your racing future

The costs for taking part in the second season, comprising five Grand Prix races, or per race day, are as follows: 

Damage Caused by Fault

Damage and liability are assessed on a case-by-case basis where damage is caused by a driver through wilful misconduct or gross negligence; this applies to damage to the driver’s own kart, as well as to damage to other karts where such damage is caused by a driver’s actions. The assessment of such cases is at the sole discretion of the organisation and, should liability be established, costs will be passed on fairly and without any intention of making a profit.

A brief overview of possible damage and prices:

Naturally, we are counting on the professionalism, expertise and goodwill of the participants, and as an organisation we hope that this breakdown of potential costs of damage will never need to be invoked, and that we will get through the second season completely damage-free, just as we did in the first season!