Josh Cooke Blazes Through the Heat to Claim Victory at Genk Euro Trophy🏆

THE WEEKEND BREAKDOWN
⏱️ Qualifying: P6
🏁 Heat 1: P7 (P14 post-penalty)
🏁 Heat 2: P4
🏁 Heat 3: P1 🥇 (FL)
🏁 Prefinal: P1 🥇
🏆 MAIN FINAL: P1 🥇

GENK, BELGIUM – Round 3 of the RMC Euro Trophy at Karting Genk threw absolutely everything at the grid this weekend. In what proved to be the most grueling event of the 2026 season so far, Josh Cooke delivered a masterclass in resilience, overcoming a tough start to sweep the final three races of the weekend and keep his flawless 2026 Euro Trophy Finals record intact.  

Chasing Pace in the Belgian Heat

From the first practice sessions at the "Home of Champions," it was clear that endurance and track adaptation would be the defining factors of the weekend. With ambient temperatures soaring past a blistering 40°C, the Genk circuit became heavily rubbered-in, creating high-grip, physically punishing conditions that pushed both machinery and drivers to their absolute limits.

Early on, the KR Sport team worked hard to dial in the setup as Josh uncharacteristically struggled to unlock front-running pace. Despite the handling hurdle, a calculated drive in Friday's Qualifying session saw Josh secure P6 on the grid—a solid foundation, but with plenty of work left to do.

The heat races on Saturday brought a mixed bag of fortunes. A hard-fought P7 finish in Heat 1 was severely penalized by a post-race bumper penalty, dropping Josh down to P14 in the official classification. Undeterred, he bounced back instantly in Heat 2 to claim a brilliant P4, proving the pace was rapidly returning.

The Turning Point

By the final heat, the technical adjustments clicked. Striking the perfect balance on a heavy track surface, Josh found his groove. He drove a flawless defensive and offensive race to capture a stunning victory with fastest lap in Heat 3, signaling to the paddock that he was back at the top of his game.

That Heat 3 win completely transformed the momentum of the weekend. Starting from an optimized position for Sunday's crucial final stages, Josh put on a clinic in tyre management and racecraft. In the Prefinal, he controlled the field with maturity beyond his years, taking a commanding P1 finish to lock down pole position for the main event.

Perfect Sunday, Perfect Season

When the lights went green for the Main Final, the pressure was at an all-time high, but Josh never wavered. Navigating the brutal ambient heat and intense pressure from behind, he delivered a pitch-perfect drive to take the chequered flag, securing a phenomenal P1 and completing a legendary Sunday sweep.

The victory extends a staggering milestone: Josh retains a 100% win rate across all 2026 RMC Euro Trophy Finals, matching his previous dominant victories at Cremona and Wackersdorf.  

"The boy had to dig incredibly deep this week," said Oliver Cooke. "The heat was intense all week, and the track was so heavy it made every single lap a massive physical battle. I am incredibly proud of the way he never gave up, even when we were searching for pace early in the weekend. To turn it around and walk away with three straight race wins is a testament to his grit and the incredible support from KR Sport."

With three rounds down and a flawless finals record in the books, the team now looks ahead to the grand season finale at the highly technical Steel Ring circuit in Trinec, Czech Republic, this September.  

Josh and the team extend their massive thanks to KR Sport, their technical partners, and everyone cheering them on from corner to corner.