MEDIA INFORMATION
26th March 2016
MARCANO DELIVERS IMPRESSIVE DRIVE MAKING UP 20 PLACES
− 17yr old racing driver shows growing skill in second race weekend of 2016 −
Up and coming racing star Damani Marcano, competed in the VAG Trophy at Donington this past weekend with a stylish finish. Showing real promise in qualifying Damani had a provisional P2, however after a crash on track and the safety car appearing, Damani got caught up in traffic with the cars all bunched up once the safety car came in. Unable to put in another fast lap due to a car spinning in front of him, he finally qualified in P9. With more crashes in the first race and a lengthy safety car period, race 2 ending early for Damani when he was shunted off the track into the first corner, the young driver had to start the final race in 30th! It was this race where Damani was really able to show his form with an inspired drive.
Despite the setback of in race 2 forcing him to start the final race in 30th, Damani entered his final race with one goal in mind – a top 10 finish. From the start, he weaved his way through the pack making up 12 places on the first lap alone. He then pushed forward to reach his goal and finish in 10th place. In a race that lasted just 15 minutes he made up a total of 20 places!
Team-HARD. Racing Driver Damani Marcano comments: “When I’m racing I’m always pushing for the win. I know that this early in my development and against such experienced drivers this isn’t likely to happen yet but in my mind I have to believe I can finish first. This weekend racing past all those cars in my final race was such a buzz! A top 10 looked almost impossible in such a short race. When I saw I was in 10th crossing the line, it felt almost like a podium! Qualifying and the first two races were a bit frustrating with the safety car and cars spinning off but I had to put that to one side and drive as hard as I could. It was one of the most exciting races I’ve ever had! I loved it!”
Marcano began racing in cars last year at the age of 16, and has just begun the second year in a three-year driver development programme with Team-HARD, racing against experienced adult racing drivers. It was the VAG Trophy that, as a guest driver in 2015, Damani became the youngest driver ever to race in the series the youngest to qualify on the front row, and the youngest ever to obtain the fastest-lap in a VAG Trophy race. It’s hard to believe that Damani still hasn’t had a single driving lesson on the road.
Damani’s next races will take place at Rockingham (30th April – 1st May) and is the first race weekend of the Milltek Sport Volkswagen Racing Cup, held as part of the British GT Championship race weekends.
To interview Damani or for more information & photography please do get in touch.
See Damani’s karting to cars story in this 1min promo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YeALkHdWEFE
Ends
Editor’s Notes
Issued on behalf of Damani Marcano by In The Bag PR.
For further information please contact Pippa Gibb on 07970 441 046 or email pippa@inthebagpr.co.uk
Damani was spotted by Team-HARD. Racing in 2014 and became the youngest driver they had ever signed. Despite being too young to hold a driving license and never having raced a car before he went on to set records in 2015. Aged 16, he became the youngest driver to finish in the points in the first round of a Milltek Sport Volkswagen Racing Cup season. He ended the year in the top-7 on pace, challenging experienced adult drivers who had spent the season leading the championship. As a guest driver in the VAG Trophy, Damani also became the youngest driver to qualify on the front row and obtain fastest lap in a race.
VW Golf GTiR Cup Car: a 260 bhp race-prepared hot-hatch capable of speeds of up to 150mph. These cars are based on a road car but stripped of all parts, not essential to racing, and fitted with a safety roll-cage meeting safety regulations of the VW Racing Cup. Additional differences include adjustable racing suspension and racing tyres that increase the amount of grip, and therefore cornering speeds that the car is then capable of.
For more background on Damani, please see: damanimarcano.com/about
You can follow Damani’s journey:
On Twitter: @DKMRacing
On Facebook: www.facebook.com/DKMRacing
On YouTube: www.youtube.com/DKMRacingTV
2016, Car Racing, Featured, Motorsport, Team-HARD, The Clever Baggers, VAG Trophy
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