ROK The Rio to include IAME KA100

In a decision just made public within the hour, ROK Cup USA has announced that they have formed Senior and Master 100cc categories for their ROK The RIO event this fall. The new categories will combine their own Vortex VLR 100cc engine with the similar IAME KA100.

When talking with Potter, he said their testing results had the two engines within a hundredth of a second of one another.

“This was something we had been looking forward to since the day we launched our VLR 100cc engine,” said Garett Potter, Director of Promotions at ROK CUP USA. “The idea behind including both current engine technologies -- Vortex VLR100 and IAME KA100 -- was important to show the customers it's not about the brand, it's about kart racing.”

The move will certainly put a new level of attention on the category when the event kicks off October 31st. Combining different engine brands into one category is an idea that's gone basically extinct at our highest levels in American karting. Anymore, each series has their engine manufacturer of choice and anyone with a competing brand of engine is left to find their own series to run.

Early reviews online and with people we spoke with sound optimistic. It looks like a win-win for ROK Cup USA and entry-level racers who want to compete in Las Vegas. However, we'll see how many IAME drivers actually come forward considering the all-IAME SuperNationals is just two weeks later at the same venue.

For a full breakdown of the class structure, registration, and other information, head to the official event page at the ROK Cup USA website.