Breakout Top 3 Performance for the Axeman in Cremona

Swedish-Australian karting prodigy Axel Gore delivered a breakout performance at the ROK Cup Italy – Cremona round (July 19–20), showcasing his speed and fighting spirit in just his debut season racing in Italy.

Axel on the front row in Cremona

Competing in the ultra-competitive Mini category against a 40-kart field, Gore stunned the paddock by setting the 2nd fastest time in qualifying, a remarkable achievement made even more impressive by the fact that he ran without a slipstream while others relied on drafting. He was on course for pole before a small error in the final sector cost him the top spot.

Starting both heats from the front row, Gore endured tough opening laps that saw him drop positions early. But he fought back with composure and aggression well beyond his years: in Heat 1, he charged through to finish 4th, while in Heat 2 he pulled off a bold last-lap move to snatch 3rd place. Those results put him 4th on the grid for the final, lining up on the second row out of 36 qualifiers.

Unfortunately, Gore’s final ended in heartbreak when contact at Turn 2 on the opening lap left him facing the wrong way. Despite the setback, his pace and determination left a lasting impression on both his Team Driver crew and the wider ROK Cup field, many of whom are far more experienced at this level.

Speaking after the weekend, Gore said:

“Qualifying was unreal — I didn’t even have a tow and still nearly put it on pole. The heats were crazy tough, but I had so much fun fighting back through the field. The final didn’t go my way, but that’s racing. I know I’ve got the speed to run at the front, and now I just want to keep pushing harder every round.”

ENDS