MEDIA INFORMATION
4th May 2016
UP AND COMING TEEN RACES FROM THE BACK FOR ANOTHER TOP 10 FINISH
− 17yr old racing driver completes first race weekend in the 2016 Volkswagen Racing Cup −
Teen racing driver Damani Marcano, took part in the first race weekend of the Milltek Sport Volkswagen Racing Cup held at Rockingham Motor Speedway on 30th April and 1st May. The 17yr old recently began his second season in the Team-HARD. young driver development programme, racing in two competitive saloon car championships to build the experience that is crucial to his growth as a driver.
This weekend at Rockingham Damani qualified 9th, his highest position in the fiercely competitive Volkswagen Racing Cup to date. For Marcano, this was a bitter sweet result, having shown incredible promise early on in qualifying, provisionally set for a top-3 start. As the field spread out, the Team-HARD. driver underestimated his own pace, not leaving enough of a gap in front and unexpectedly catching up with the cars ahead. Overtaking these cars slowed his laps while track conditions allowed others to improve – ultimately placing Damani in P9. Yet more experience gained.
In race one, despite a progressively worsening understeer handling issue, Damani made up two spots to P7, one more place would result in a pole-position start in race two. With over half the race left to make up this position, the understeer problem became so bad that hanging on to 7th became his priority until the cause of his handling issues revealed itself. With gradual pressure loss in his right front tyre, it eventually blew under heavy braking, ending his race.
Marcano’s retreat to the pits in race one meant that his starting position for the second race would be at the back of the grid. Never one to be deterred from his goal to build on his best performance from 2015 and remain in the top-10, Damani fought back hard through the pack finishing 10th, passing some of the most experienced in saloon car racing.
Team-HARD. Racing Driver Damani Marcano comments: “I feel great about my performance this weekend. I was making great progress through the field in race1 and had a chance at pole for race 2 but there was nothing I could do when my tyre blew, ending my race. Even though that meant I had to start at the back in race 2, it was some of my best, closest and toughest racing yet against some top drivers and I got the car back into the top-10 yet again! It was a huge buzz.”
The Milltek Sport Volkswagen Racing Cup is widely regarded as one of the most competitive saloon car racing series out there. Damani is the youngest driver in the series, competing against drivers with years more driving and racing experience. To achieve a top-10 in this field, before he’s even taken his first driving lesson, is impressive on its own.
Team-HARD. principal, Tony Gilham comments: “Damani handled this weekend with immense maturity and delivered the performance of a driver well beyond his years. To drive around the understeer caused by his deflating tyre and still maintain a solid pace was impressive on its own. How he handled it off track was even more impressive, professional, calm and focused on what he could do to make the most of the next race. Then, to deliver that drive, getting himself back into the top-10 was a performance to be proud of!”
With A-Level coursework deadlines and first year exams looming, Damani will have his work cut out making time to prepare for his next races at Brands Hatch (14th/15th April) back in the VAG Trophy.
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 press@damanimarcano.com
On track photos by Jakob Ebrey Photography
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.
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, Volkswagen, VW Racing Cup
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