Axel Wraps Up Breakthrough 2025 Season — Eyes Full Junior Campaign for 2026
- Dylan Young
- Nov 27
- 2 min read
Swedish-Australian driver Axel “Axeman” Gore has officially wrapped up his 2025 season after competing in the final round of the WSK Final Cup at Lonato’s South Garda Karting circuit from November 18–23, driving for Team Driver in the OK-N Junior category.
It marked Gore’s first time tackling the famous South Garda track in a Junior kart, and the week proved a challenging but valuable learning experience. With persistent rain soaking the circuit for much of the event, conditions were treacherous — putting the young driver quite literally in the deep end once again.
Qualifying took place in torrential conditions, reminiscent of the Formula 1 qualifying chaos in Las Vegas that same weekend, with several drivers sliding off the track. Gore was among those to be caught out by the conditions, leaving him to start the heats from the rear of the grid. From there, he showed steady progression: climbing eight positions to finish P22 in the first heat, and a pair of P24 finishes in the following two heats. In the Pre-Final, Gore continued to learn and race confidently among far more experienced competitors before a minor time penalty dropped him to P28 at the flag.
While results were not the focus this weekend, Gore once again demonstrated the speed, adaptability, and maturity that have defined his standout year. Having moved up from the Mini class shortly after turning 11, he showed rapid progression across the final rounds of the season — particularly during his debut in Juniors at Cremona, where he was immediately on the pace and proved that his smooth, aggressive driving style is naturally suited to the faster OK-N Junior karts.
The final two rounds of 2025 — Cremona, and Lonato — were all part of a deliberate plan between Gore’s management at Road to Success, Team Driver, and his family to give him early exposure to the Junior category ahead of a full 2026 campaign. Despite the unpredictable weather and learning curve, Gore’s performances have confirmed his readiness to take the next step.
Reflecting on a whirlwind 2025 campaign, Gore said:
“This year has been huge — so much learning, new circuits, new karts, and so many challenges. The last few rounds were all about preparing for next year, and I feel like I’ve grown a lot as a driver. I can’t wait to come back in 2026 stronger and ready to fight at the front.”
Gore’s 2025 season included a number of standout moments, including his P2 qualifying performance at Cremona and top three finish. His rapid improvement throughout his debut season in Italy has caught the attention of the European karting scene, with 2026 now shaping up as a major step forward as he begins his first full season in the OK-N Junior class.
