2023-12-02 06:00:00
In elementary school, he was told that he was rich because he went karting. No, Alexis Baillargeon’s family is not rolling in gold, but they are bending over backwards so that this young, gifted driver can live his dream and climb the ranks of motorsport. Welcome to the life and reality, special to say the least, of a 12-year-old kid, Quebec and Canadian champion.
“Not everyone has this chance to drive on the slopes, but what young people constantly tell me, this is not the case,” says Alexis with aplomb and lucidity in an interview with The newspaper about his life.
Very kind, the Baillargeons form a middle-class family like thousands elsewhere in Quebec. Mom Dominique is a teacher, therefore on strike. And dad Mathieu, from the world of racing, works in the field of mechanics when he’s not fooling around on his son’s “machine”.
They don’t live in abundance and wealth like the Lance Strolls of this world, but they aren’t pulling the devil by the tail. This reality is what keeps Alexis’ two feet on Earth. He travels across Quebec, Canada and the United States to pilot his little car and win trophies.
“At my age, it’s special, but it’s trippy. In addition to driving fast, I visit places that I might not have seen or known.”
The young Quebec karting driver Alexis Baillargeon is a rising star in auto racing. In 2023, in addition to his Coupe de Montréal title, he won, among other things, the ROTAX national championship and the important ROK Vegas race. PHOTO FRANÇOIS-DAVID ROULEAU Photo François-David Rouleau
World Championship in Bahrain
Precisely, for the next week, he is in Bahrain to participate in the Rotax World Championship near the international Formula 1 circuit. Where his idol Lewis Hamilton won the premier event on five occasions.
Alexis is among the twenty Canadian drivers registered in the nine categories. This is the second time he has found himself in Bahrain, an island in the Persian Gulf near Qatar and Saudi Arabia.
At the end of a year where he won almost everything, including the honors of the Coupe de Montréal, the ROK Vegas and the provincial and national championships, Alexis has big ambitions. Among the world elite and 72 registered in the 125 Mini Max segment, he thinks big.
PHOTO PROVIDED BY CODY SCHINDEL / CANADIANKARTINGNEWS.COM
“Last year, I didn’t make the final which took place in Portugal. This time the goal is to make the final. If things go well, I’m aiming for the top 15,” asserts with confidence the man who will be participating in his third participation in the major world event. In 2021, in the Micro Max category, he took 5th place.
Work and pleasure
According to her mother, Alexis puts a lot of pressure on herself. “He’s hard on him,” she said alongside her son in an interview in the kitchen of the family home in L’Épiphanie.
His father, who accompanies him to the Middle East, prefers not to push the bill. He would like to see him on the track in the final, but he “wants him to give his best and see him happy”.
Upon his return from Bahrain, Alexis will already prepare for his 2024 season where he will travel to the United States, among other places, in the Super Karts series! USA. On the track, he will compete with older drivers.
Co-owner and director of the PSL Karting racing team in Trois-Rivières, Kevin King believes in its potential. According to him, with a good attitude and the motivation that drives him every day, Baillargeon will be able to carve out a place in the top 5 and even the top 3 of this competitive series.
“He is a persevering and combative young man. In Utah last summer, he was among the five fastest on the track. He still has things to learn. He listens and wants to improve,” says the former driver whose team took the youngster under its wing.
Young Quebec karting driver Alexis Baillargeon climbed to the top of the podium in the MINI category at the important American competition ROK Vegas at the end of October 2023. PHOTO PROVIDED BY CODY SCHINDEL / CANADIANKARTINGNEWS.COM
From two to four wheels
The gifted youngster has only been driving karts for four years. The passion for motor sports has been running through his veins since he was in bed. At two years old, he was already riding a motocross bike. The F1 Grands Prix on TV then gave him the taste to try another discipline.
Alexis then asked his parents to start karting so that he could dream of F1. Without a second thought, the family embarked on this adventure. After a trial period observing Alexis’ talent and interest, she sold everything so that he could flourish in his discipline.
In his mission to climb the ranks of motorsport, he is greatly involved in the search for sponsorships and partners. Because every dollar must be fully and brilliantly invested. With the collaboration of many, the costs of the racing season in Quebec can be amortized to approximately $10,000 for the family.
It was his performances despite a limited budget that allowed him to attract the attention of good karting teams.
The young Quebec karting driver Alexis Baillargeon is a rising star in auto racing. In 2023, in addition to his Coupe de Montréal title, he won, among other things, the ROTAX national championship and the important ROK Vegas race. PHOTO PROVIDED BY CODY SCHINDEL / CANADIANKARTINGNEWS.COM
“A natural talent”
On the phone in his PSL Karting headquarters in Trois-Rivières, Kevin King is categorical. “Alexis is a natural talent. He understands how to improve and ride faster. Which is rare.”
King, known on the motor sports scene in Quebec, has seen and met drivers in his career. Baillargeon quickly stood out in his eyes.
“He shows enormous motivation. We see that it is not his parents who are pushing him. It’s very different. Despite his lack of experience at the start, he was able to achieve good performances in the big races.”
After moving to Ben Cooper’s Racing Academy, Baillargeon continued his progress.
“The basic notions, he has them in him. It’s innate. He just has to develop them, explains King, who has worked with him for two years. He visualizes the track, racing lines and braking well. He understands his kart. It’s only about 15% of young people who have this.”
And on the track, he guides a real impatient little lion who takes great pleasure in overtaking those who are riding in front of him.
“He is combative and he does not give up,” he confirms.
Intentional start in last row
Racing action is precisely what drives the young driver who likes to overtake and win. Even at the end of the season this fall on the Icar track in Mirabel, he dared to intentionally start from the back of the grid…
Drooling? Pretentious? Too confident?
“No not at all. It was for fun,” he replies calmly.
His parents didn’t completely agree, but they let him make his decision after listening to his arguments.
He let his 13 rivals pass after the training round. After the start of a 15-lap race, he moved up the peloton and crossed the finish line in first position, also setting the best time. His strategy, however, earned him a 10-second penalty. By adding another penalty, he dropped to seventh place.
Which did not prevent him from putting his paw in the 2023 championship, despite having driven on worn tires all season.
“He likes challenges. To learn, he must know how to drive in the pack and not always at the front. It’s not by always driving at the front that you learn,” says his father, Mathieu.
Great recognition
His performances on the track and his qualities behind the wheel allowed him to add his name to great Quebec drivers such as Patrick Carpentier, Alex Tagliani and Andrew Ranger on the Gilles-Villeneuve trophy. A recognition symbolizing the combativeness and excellence on the track of a Quebec driver.
Thanks to his splendid 2023 season, young Quebec karting driver Alexis Baillargeon has added his name to the impressive list of drivers on the Gilles-Villeneuve trophy. This recognition symbolizes the combativeness and excellence on the track of a Quebec driver. PHOTO PROVIDED BY CODY SCHINDEL / CANADIANKARTINGNEWS.COM
“It is a great honor and pride to see my name engraved on this trophy, because there is no one aged 11-12 who appears there,” he observes.
This title also allows him to open doors for the 2024 season. A relief in several respects, including that of managing the limited budget.
PHOTO PROVIDED BY CODY SCHINDEL / CANADIANKARTINGNEWS.COM
Looking for tires in dumpsters
Alexis Baillargeon is so aware of his reality and the budgetary challenges of his karting seasons that he goes looking for slightly worn tires thrown in the trash by his rivals on competition sites.
A hunt that allows you to save money while dominating on the trail.
This season, apart from the qualifying event for the World Championship, the young Quebec driver has not worn brand new tires costing up to nearly $400 per train.
Instead, he managed the use of scrap tires. And by rummaging through garbage dumpsters, he found some real bargains: “rubbers” that had only a few rounds of wear.
“It’s not uncommon for almost new tires to be thrown away. As runners no longer want them, I collect them,” he explains.
At his side, his mother, Dominique Fagnant, adds. “We don’t always have the means to practice and ride in qualifying with a set of new tires, so we take worn ones.”
Precious seconds
His father Mathieu believes that giving a second life to these erasers is not frowned upon.
A set of new tires can eat up to 0.7 seconds per lap, a significant fact in qualifying. On worn tires, Baillargeon still managed to frequently qualify his car around the top 5.
And then he did the job in the race.
“Alexis knows her situation. He doesn’t always have a kart on the go, with new tires, but he knows where it comes from, says his father. Being raised in cotton wool doesn’t give the best lessons.”
The young Quebec karting driver Alexis Baillargeon is not a driving ace by chance. He knows how to adjust his car so that his father Mathieu prepares it accordingly for the race. PHOTO PROVIDED BY CODY SCHINDEL / CANADIANKARTINGNEWS.COM
This reality also creates tension across the board. In a ruthless environment, some of his rivals are stung, especially when they finish behind the gifted youngster.
“Alexis is aware of the issues. He hasn’t cooked everything in his mouth and he manages to do well,” concludes his proud mother.
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