Axel Nocom added another highlight to his 2025 season by delivering a dominant performance at the recent Asia Pacific Motorsport Championship (APMC). The 13-year-old went on to secure gold in the Karting Junior category helping Team Philippines clinch the Overall Nation Award.
Originally set to compete in the FIA Karting World Cup in Italy, Axel made a last-minute change of plans after being selected by the Automobile Association Philippines (AAP) as one of 12 drivers to represent the country in Sri Lanka. With limited time to prepare, Axel scrambled to find equipment before DoubleR Motorsport stepped in to provide a kart and technical support—just weeks before the event.
Held at the 1.216 km Sri Lanka Karting Circuit, the APMC officially got underway on Friday with five practice sessions. The first three runs were held in wet or damp conditions, yet Axel immediately showed his adaptability by topping the time sheets despite having no prior experience on the track. When the circuit dried out later in the day, he continued to set the benchmark—going fastest again on slicks.
Saturday brought dry conditions, and unsurprisingly, Axel set the pace in Qualifying with a time that was half a second clear of the rest of the field.
He started Heat 1 from pole and controlled the race from the front, gradually building a 6 secs lead. But just 2 laps from the finish, disaster struck—his engine seized, forcing him into a DNF despite looking set for a comfortable win.
The team quickly installed a spare engine in time for Heat 2, where Axel made up for lost ground. He once again led from the front and crossed the line with a 1.752 sec advantage.
The Super Heat on Sunday followed a similar pattern. After fending off early pressure, Axel began to pull away by lap 5. But to preserve his equipment for the Finals, he coasted off through the long straights and fast corners—but still took the win by a margin of 3.490 secs.
Axel left no doubt in the all-important Finals. Starting from pole and with a fresh set of tires, he pulled away immediately and never looked back. With unmatched pace and control, he coasted to victory with a commanding 15.542 secs gap—securing a gold medal for the Philippines, which played a key role in helping the country win the Overall Nation Award.
Axel Nocom: “I’m really grateful to have helped the Philippines win the Overall Nation Award. That was the main goal of this event, and I’m happy I could contribute. Thank you to AAP for the opportunity to represent the country, and to DoubleR Motorsport for supporting me on such short notice.”
Axel Nocom is supported by the Mercedes Young Driver Development Philippines, Deseño MNL, Recaro Philippines, DENSO Spark Plugs, Ceramic Pro Philippines, Ravenol Philippines, AutoPlus Sports, DRIFT XAUST, DRIFT MOTOR Speedway, Ekartraceway, Kart Republic, New Era Cap Philippines, Skullcandy Philippines, Burlington Socks, Simagic, Cammus Philippines, Apex Racing Philippines, Monza Barcade, Pregame Motorsport Merchandise, and DG Budget Hotel.
Those interested in following in Axel’s footsteps to race competitively overseas can inquire at the Axel Motorsports page on Facebook.
[Photos courtesy of Pit Pass Sri Lanka]
