2026 OTK Kart
A 2026 OTK kart supplied by KartGeezer as the foundation of the winner's 2027 race package.
Race to Rotax
DER & Anders Lad and Dad Racing
One driver. One opportunity. A fully paid 2027 season with DER in The Kart Championship, in Junior Primo or Junior Rotax, for a 12-15 year old racer ready to take the next step.
The Opportunity
The Race to Rotax Scholarship is designed to uncover a young driver with the attitude, commitment and potential to grow inside a professional team environment.
The successful driver will join Dave Edwards Racing for a fully paid 2027 season in The Kart Championship, in Junior Primo or Junior Rotax, with the support, guidance and paddock standards needed to compete properly at national events.
What You Win
The prize includes a fully paid season in The Kart Championship, with the winner racing in Junior Primo or Junior Rotax under the DER banner in 2027.
A 2026 OTK kart supplied by KartGeezer as the foundation of the winner's 2027 race package.
A Junior Rotax engine supplied by Aurum Racing Engines for the scholarship season.
Race tyres supplied so the driver can focus fully on performance, consistency and development.
Mechanic support supplied as part of the DER race team package throughout the programme.
Coaching from British level drivers to help turn ability into polished race-day performance.
All kart storage, preparation and transport provided by DER across the scholarship programme.
DQ Sport will supply the winner with a race suit, gloves and boots as part of the funded package.
DQ Sport will supply a full set of teamwear including key DER-branded kit for the season.
Entry into all 6 rounds of The Kart Championship, including the Friday practice running across the full season.
Selection Process
Applications open on Monday 6 July 2026. The scholarship is for drivers aged 12-15 who are serious about progressing into Rotax racing and ready to show the character behind the helmet.
The process is built to look well beyond lap time alone. We want to understand the driver, the family behind them, the way they present themselves and the potential they could bring into Team DER.
Submit a 60-90 second video introducing who you are, what you have achieved so far and what you feel you can bring to the team. You will also share your social media accounts for the judging panel to review, plus a link to recent driving footage from Club100, DRS, Junior Rotax or indoor or outdoor rental karting.
The strongest 50 drivers from Stage 1 will be invited through to the live assessment day, giving the panel a closer look at how each driver performs on and off the track.
Stage 2 will be held at Three Sisters in February 2027. The day will include media interviews with Andrew Mather, team interviews with Dave Edwards and Jared Fox-Whiteley, fitness assessments with Grid Performance and on-track assessment in the Three Sisters corporate karts across 3 x 10-minute sessions. The top 10 will then progress to the Junior Rotax shootout for 2 x 8-minute sessions in the Junior Max karts, before the final top 3 is selected and the winner is announced.
Complete Transparency
The scholarship will be run transparently from start to finish. Filming is actively encouraged, with key decisions, judging criteria and final discussions covered and filmed wherever appropriate.
Drivers and parents will be able to understand how decisions are made, why drivers progress and what the panel is looking for.
The journey, selection moments and final discussions will be covered where appropriate, while respecting safeguarding and privacy.
Applications
Stage 1 entries are now live. Apply now and follow the journey on Instagram for scholarship updates, selection news and behind-the-scenes team content.
0 applications received so far.
150 places remaining from a maximum of 150 entries.