Damani Marcano is a teenaged racing driver from Hertfordshire. He has always had a passion for cars and motorsport but, until a couple of years ago, he could only dream of being a racing driver. At aged 13, discovering the possibilities and realising that it was up to him to make his dream a reality, he embarked on an incredible journey – to become a professional racing driver.
His story is inspirational, overcoming financial limitations while studying for his GCSEs and facing the challenges that all teens face with the transition from being a child to becoming a young adult.
Damani first showed his talents by achieving a championship 3rd in his debut season in kart racing, against drivers with much larger budgets and who had been racing for years. Damani used his abilities on and off the track, using the power of YouTube and other social media, to showcase his potential.
“I haven’t seen anyone yet do things so right to carve out a racing career from scratch, Damani is a pioneer and an inspiration to any kids who are told to lower their expectations from life. The motor sport world desperately needs him to continue to succeed!”
-Terence Dove, Damani’s former karting coach
Catching the eye of Tony Gilham, sports & touring car racing driver and owner of Team HARD. Tony saw Damani’s rapid development on track, against much more experienced drivers, and unprecedented media coverage as an opportunity to shape a future champion:
We have been keeping an eye on Damani for a while now and he continues to exceed all expectations—progressing at a rapid and impressive rate. Damani’s professionalism has already shone through on and off track and in today’s motorsport world, it is so important to be the complete package. Damani fits these criteria perfectly
-Tony Gilham, Team HARD
Just as Damani turned 16, he transitioned from junior kart racing to senior car racing in one step. As the first and youngest driver to be signed to Team HARD’s 2015 young driver programme, Damani raced in the Milltek Sport Volkswagen Racing Cup in 2015. Up against experienced adult drivers, some of whom have competed at the highest levels of sports and touring car racing, Damani’s expectations were sensibly humble:
This year will be all about working hard and learning fast! If I am lucky enough to get anywhere near the podium with so many experienced drivers on the track it will be a miracle. My focus is to get experience, lay a foundation for my future and show that I can achieve more than most people expect from a teenager who has never raced a car before.
-Damani Marcano
Damani’s first season was described by the Volkswagen Racing Cup as “hugely successful”, highlighting the talent he showed on track and appeal off track to a young Lewis Hamilton:
“Team-HARD. Racing’s teen sensation, Damani Marcano, has all the ingredients to be the next Lewis Hamilton.” -Volkswagen Racing Cup
Despite being too young to hold a driving license and never having raced a car before he went on to set records in 2015. He became the youngest driver to finish in the points (top 20 of 27) in the first round of a 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.
Now 17 years old, Damani begins his second year of a multi-year development programme with Team HARD Racing aiming to one day take him from the Volkswagen Racing Cup to the British Touring Car Championships.
You can follow Damani’s journey on:
Twitter: @DKMRacing
Facebook: facebook.com/DKMRacing
YouTube: www.youtube.com/DKMRacingTV
