Axel Slijepcevic is a Design Engineer at Apex Circuit Design, combining technical expertise with a strong competitive background in karting. Since joining Apex in 2022 as part of his Master’s degree in Mechanical with Automotive Engineering at the University of Bath, Axel has developed into a key member of the team, working across all aspects of circuit design and simulation.

Alongside his engineering work, Axel is one of Apex’s most accomplished kart racers, with multiple championship titles across endurance, prokart and university competition.

What does your role at Apex involve day-to-day?

My role is quite varied, which is one of the things I enjoy most. I work across masterplanning, circuit design, safety and homologation, supporting projects through all stages of development. I’ve been able to take on significant responsibility early on, including managing elements of projects and leading design development across different phases.

I’m also leading the development of our in-house lap simulation tool, which helps us evaluate vehicle speeds, acceleration profiles, runoff requirements and barrier impacts. It’s a key part of making informed design decisions with confidence.

What led you to this career path?

It’s really a combination of motorsport and engineering. I’ve always been competitive and heavily involved in racing, but I also had a strong interest in analytical and scientific subjects at school. That led me into Mechanical Engineering and then into Formula Student, where you start to understand the design side in more detail.

What makes this career unique is the combination of technical engineering and creativity. You’re not just solving problems — you’re shaping environments that people will experience and race on.

What’s been your proudest moment working at Apex?

Seeing designs come to life is a big one, particularly when you can then go and drive them. Being involved in changes at Karting North East and then experiencing them from a driver’s perspective is something quite special. It gives you a direct connection between the work you’ve done and how it performs in reality.

How do you stay inspired or keep learning in such a fast-evolving industry?

The variety of the work plays a big role. No two days are the same, and being given responsibility early in my career has accelerated how quickly I’ve developed. You’re constantly learning through doing — whether that’s through design work, simulation, or being involved in different stages of a project.

What’s one thing about your job people might be surprised by?

Probably the amount of travel involved and the range of people you work with. You get exposure to different countries, cultures and ways of working, which adds another dimension to the job beyond the engineering itself.

How does your racing background influence your work?

It’s a big advantage. Understanding how a circuit feels from a driver’s perspective helps when you’re making design decisions. You’re thinking about flow, overtaking opportunities, and how different elements of a track will be approached at speed. That feeds directly into both design and simulation work.

How different is working on infrastructure projects compared to circuit design?

Circuit design allows for a lot more creativity. With something like a bridge, the solution is often driven heavily by constraints and function. With a motorsport facility, you still have those constraints, but there’s more scope to shape the experience — how it flows, how it challenges drivers, and how it looks and feels.

What are your favourite circuits or types of track?

Brands Hatch, Spa, and the Nordschleife all stand out. They combine elevation, flow, and technical challenge in different ways. Those are the kinds of characteristics that create the most engaging circuits, both to drive and to design.

What do you enjoy outside of work?

A lot of it still revolves around competition. Karting and sim racing are big ones, but I also play golf and tennis and try to stay active. I enjoy travelling as well, which fits quite well with the nature of the job.

Can you summarise your karting background?

I started karting at the age of eight and competed in British owner karting through to my early teens. After that, I moved more into arrive-and-drive and endurance formats, where 

I’ve had a lot of success.

More recently, I’ve been competing in prokart championships and the British Universities Karting Championship with the University of Bath, which has been a big part of the last few years.

Selected achievements

• Daytona      DMAX Lightweight National Champion (2017)

• Daytona      DMAX 24 Hour Winner (2018)

• BUKC      Heavyweight Drivers Champion (2023, 2026)

• BUKC      Male Driver of the Year (2024)

• BUKC      Champions (2025)

• BUKC      Super Final Runner-Up (2025)

• BUKC      Vice Champions (2024, 2026)