− Former Mercedes AMG F1 Driver Support to Hamilton and Rosberg backs Damani Marcano –
Ivor Bourne, co-founder of newly formed Integra Sports Partners, has had no shortage of exposure to top driving talent. Working for Mercedes AMG F1 from 2012 to 2014, he was part of the team that supported drivers Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg, playing an instrumental part in the team’s success, winning both the Constructor’s and Driver’s World Championship in 2014. Now his focus is on rising star, Damani Marcano.
Up-and-coming 16 year old racing driving Damani Marcano is the only competitor in the VW Racing Cup series who is too young to hold a road driving license. He is also the youngest driver to ever compete in the VAG Trophy and the youngest driver to ever qualify on the front row and achieve a fastest-lap in the VAG Trophy. Until 6 months ago, Damani had never raced a car before.
After his first season racing in cars the teenager caught the attention of Ivor Bourne, Co-Founder and Managing partner of Integra Sports Partners. Integra Sports Partners works with government, academia and civil society partners to ensure that young people across the board have the access to expertise and facilities to achieve their sporting ambition. The foundation’s motto; ‘We think, you focus’ highlights the work being done to allow young people to accomplish great results in their chosen sports.
With only a few months experience of driving and racing cars Damani has had to deal with pressures well beyond his years and the high expectations of everyone around him. Ivor has been a tremendous source of encouragement and positivity for Damani throughout his last races.
Ivor Bourne of Integra Sports Partners comments: “We believe Damani has all the attributes of an ambassador and leader. I had been watching Damani and his race craft development for around 6 months when I finally saw him race at Donington. It was obvious to me that all of the natural skill and ability was there with Damani.”
While Damani’s talent and rapid progression behind the wheel sparked Ivor’s interest, his decision to get behind this youngster went beyond Damani’s on track potential. With Marcano already described by Team HARD’s Tony Gilham as “the complete package” Bourne sees further potential, branding Marcano as a ‘future leader’.
Ivor Bourne of Integra Sports Partners continues: “Damani has integrity and sincerity, not mistrust and ego, a willingness to listen, he is charismatic not brash, he is confident not arrogant. In an age where everything is based around instant gratification, it is refreshing to find true values still exist amongst those who will become our future leaders. We look forward to nurturing Damani’s talent and taking him forward.”
Ivor and the team at Integra Sports Partners will work with Damani to develop communication skills, forward thinking, and crisis control to develop character and improve his racing. With a focus on competition Integra Sports Partners understands the need for patience, balance and team morale in order to maximise the chances for success. Ivor himself lives and works by the mantra of always challenging the norm, wanting to be the best at whatever he chooses to do, and passing those skills on to those that are willing to learn. Ivor brings this life-experience and skills to Integra Sports Partners and now to Damani Marcano.
Watch Damani’s story, “A Drive to Drive”, on YouTube; a video that supports his racing career crowd-funding (http://patreon.com/DKMRacing & http://gofundme.com/DKMRacing) and commercial sponsorship campaigns: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1TV_TbaCQuA
For more information, photography or to arrange an interview with Damani please do get in touch.
Ends
Editor’s Notes
Issued on behalf of Damani Marcano by In The Bag PR
For further information please contact Sophie Kermani on 07739 554 794 or email sophie@inthebagpr.co.uk
Damani pilots a fully race prepared VW Golf GTI R Cup Car in the Volkswagen Racing Cup alongside regular proven and experienced racing drivers. Racing in the VW Cup will be Damani’s first step on a multi-year programme to eventually race in the British Touring Car Championships (BTCC).
VW Golf GTiR Cup Car: a 260 bhp race-prepared hatch-back 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 are 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
For more information on The Clever Baggers please see: www.thecleverbaggers.co.uk
You can follow Damani’s journey:
On Twitter (@DKMRacing)
On Facebook (www.facebook.com/DKMRacing)
On YouTube (www.youtube.com/DKMRacingTV)
2015, A Drive To Drive, Brand Ambassador, Featured, Motorsport, Partnerships, Winter 2015-2016
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