Taking the initiative to an exciting new level for future generations in Sweden
Prince Carl Philip is the Duke of Värmland in Sweden and a familiar face on the race track – both in karts and racing cars. He started driving about 20 years ago and has been competing since 2008, now a regular entry in Porsche Carrera Cup & Sprint Challenge Scandinavia.
Prince Carl Philip's first experience in the Rotax E20 was several years ago during a demonstration and test program in the lead up to the Prince Carl Philips Racing Trophy incorporated into the Rotax MAX Challenge Sweden series. 2022 saw the first Swedish E-Kart Championship supported by the national ASN, where the winners in the Junior and Senior E20 classes qualified for the RMC Grand Finals. Both drivers won the prestigious Rotax title in Portugal that year.
It was a fantastic event at Gelleråsen, back where you personally opened the new karting circuit near Karlskoga last year driving the Rotax E20. This has been a truly historic weekend at the annual Kanonloppet [Cannon Race] with the Swedish E-Karting Championship, Porsche Carrera Cup and Sprint Challenge Scandinavia, all scheduled together with race cars and Superbikes.
I almost get goosebumps when we speak about this. I think it’s so cool! The Kanonloppet 2024 can realistically be seen as putting a stamp on this event that shows you can mix different classes and different types of disciplines in motorsport. We have the Porsche as the Swedish Championship here and the E-Kart now as well. It’s pretty cool, also for the spectators to see who the next young drivers might be coming up, in this case from the E-Kart. They may jump into the Porsche Carrera Cup or some other cars to compete in a few years so that makes this very special.
It is a totally unique situation for both karting and car racing, to find ourselves on a big track with so many families and race fans there to support this great event.
Our international driver from Romania who finished third this weekend, Alexandru Boltasu, said something quite interesting in his interview after the E-Kart race. He mentioned the special venue here in Sweden, to be able to race with the local drivers, the fast track and being part of the family; feeling the togetherness that was created by this event in effect. Being here and driving karts on the big race track is something else. He summed it up well.
Of course, with the introduction of E-Karting for the Swedish Championship in 2022, it is well-aligned with Sweden’s more sustainable future goal for the environment. Porsche continues to progress in this way by using bio fuels and other key initiatives they are implementing. How important do you believe this for Sweden?
I think this is super important. Sweden wants to be in the forefront to show what we can do. So together with Rotax and the event organisers, everyone can see that they have made this happen, that you can do different types of motorsport together at the same time. You can mix full electric-powered vehicles like the E20 with hybrid cars and classic engine combustion categories of racing. It does not have to be either/or when the track facilities are in place already and the people can enjoy such an event for their own preference too.
This historic event has obviously been another significant step in achieving these goals. Do you see any future initiatives like this alongside Porsche racing and supporting classes?
That’s a good question and I only hope so… we’ll see. That would be cool. But we have clearly shown that it is possible. I think that the track owners, the audience and the different drivers in the various fields actually like this type of competition bringing karting here too.
You have been supporting young drivers to help them progress in their own development with more opportunities through your own initiative ‘Prince Carl Philip’s Racing Trophy’ for numerous years already. With the chance to test drive a Porsche and take the licence test, as well as some amazing prizes for the competitors from the valued partners of the event at the Swedish RMC, it has been a successful formula. As a racer yourself, in both karting and in cars, what is behind this excellent idea that you are fully committed to here in Sweden?
It has always been that the kids are our future. For me and Thomas Johansson, who helps me set up this event, this is a way to give the drivers an insight into what could be the next level. If they are still driving karts, it would be fine, but we’re showing them the possibilities and giving them some sort of platform to promote themselves, while trying to bring up some top Swedish drivers. This also applies to developing leading drivers from Sweden on an international level, which we have. It’s super fun to see how they progress too. In 2024, we have another driver from our programme racing, Robin Knutsson, who is currently leading the Porsche Carrera Cup Scandinavia.
