Youth 100 Awards

15 Mar , 2016

MEDIA INFORMATION

15^th March 2016

TEENAGE RACING SENSATION DAMANI MARCANO PRESENTS TOP AWARD TO GOOGLE AT YOUTH 100 AWARDS

− Damani Marcano joins Jason Bradbury to present Google with Digital award chosen by voters 16-24 −

17-year-old racing driver Damani Marcano was this year’s star guest at the Youth 100 Awards, held at the Camden Roundhouse on Tuesday 8^th March. Joining Gadget Show presenter, Jason Bradbury, on stage to announce the final and most sought after award – ‘Top Digital brand as voted for by 16-24yr olds’, Damani presented Google with the coveted accolade. Damani’s journey in motorsport and the growing list of companies supporting him are a great example of how brands can do good and work with young people, rather than doing things for young people. Both key themes of the Youth Marketing Strategy Conference.

With just two years in karting, Marcano moved into cars at the age of 16 and joined one of the top teams in Saloon car racing, Team-HARD. In 12 months he has worked with multiple brands, developed partnerships and raised £100,000 worth of financial backing. Damani services these relationships with much more than simply racing, he attends events, creates content, grows his fan base and this year will be racing in not one but two top championships. On top of this, Damani works to inspire young people, showing that hard work and determination can lead to unbelievable opportunities.

Global Partnerships Director at Voxburner, Richard Jackson comments: “We invited Damani to present at the Youth 100 Awards as he’s an inspirational young man, he’s part of the 16-24 age group that attending delegates are so keen to target and he showcases exactly how brands can do good by working with young people. We showed a brief video of Damani’s story which was met by rapturous applause and he delivered the award with maturity and clarity – everything you would want from a brand spokesperson. We expect to hear much more from Damani in the future.”

On-stage Marcano was dressed in King Apparel, his 2016 clothing partners, and he took time to chat with delegates as well as TV presenter Jason Bradbury before awarding Google with its top digital brand award.

Team-HARD. racing driver Damani Marcano comments: “It was a real honour to be invited to attend and present at the Youth 100 Awards, I met top marketing execs at massive brands and spent time chatting to Jason Bradbury which was very cool! The overall theme of the conference connected with me as I’m in a position where I want to work with brands to help me progress on my motorsport journey. Ultimately the brands I work with are helping a young person achieve their dreams and I am working relentlessly to reach my goals.”

Damani’s first race of 2016 in the VAG Trophy will be on 28th March at Oulton Park, where he had his first taste of car racing last year. Damani is also studying for exams and scheduling testing, in his race car, around his school timetable.

To interview Damani or for more information & photography please do get in touch.

Damani was introduced to the youth 100 awards audience using this 1min clip:
youtube.com/watch?v=IuSaNcXxzug

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, Brand Ambassador, Events, Media, Public Appearances, Winter 2015-2016, Youth Marketing