Riding Strikers

Back on home turf for the Summer Classic. Halfway through the season and currently sitting 3rd place in the championship💪🏽

This year was just about getting experience on the track. We would have raced any be**er we could get our hands. Never could have guessed we’d end up with a head turner for our first race car⚫️👀

Getting ready to race in the rain today at . The weather radar is calling for rain on and off throughout the day. This will be an interesting one and will be a good mental test.

The body, mind and machine is ready for this weekend at Motorsports.

“Any training is initially difficult, but with persistence practice, we can master the art.” ― Lailah Gifty Akita

Spent some some time at earlier in the spring to do some open wheel racing.

Ontario is rich with talented and ambitious racers like gavinsandersmotorsport, check out this interview we did with him below.

𝗟𝗲𝘁’𝘀 𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗸 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗶𝗻 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆, 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗱𝗶𝗱 𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗱𝗶𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗱?

I am a third-generation racer, so it came inherently with my childhood. My granddad was a part of the industry during the Can-Am Series days, amongst absolute legends of the sport. My dad had always loved racing and was karting locally just after I was born. I was immediately drawn to karting and racing as a whole, so at six years old I started karting around the Ontario scene. It has always been something that my family and I love dearly, and I have spent my youth and teenage years at tracks in Canada and the USA.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐚𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬?

I am currently racing in GT4 America in a Mercedes AMG GT4! GT4 America is a sprint series with two drivers utilizing manufacturer-built sportscars. I have been passionate about sportscar racing from a young age, so the opportunity to jump behind the wheel in the GT4 America series is a dream come true! I always think of a younger version of myself when I get to experience something new, just to reflect on how far I have come and also how unbelievably blessed I have been to get an opportunity such as this one. I am looking to further build myself in the North American sportscar scene, with hopes of being able to create a career for myself in motorsports. This being my first season of international competition, I still have a ways to go, but I am going to push on to achieve my goal.

𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟏 𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐢𝐬 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟐 𝐬𝐨 𝐟𝐚𝐫?

My 2021 season was a large year in terms of growth. I tried to expand my skill set by driving as many different types of race cars as possible! I started off by running a large portion of the Nissan Sentra Cup schedule, a spec-touring car series that had intense competition and a "pack-racing" style of driving which kept every race open for any driver to win until the checkered flag. After capturing two wins and four pole positions as well as racing on many tracks I hadn't prior, I jumped back to my roots and took part in different regional level races in order to expand my knowledge of high-horsepower rear-wheel-drive cars. After racing around in a Chevrolet Camaro, Scion FR-S, and an Audi RS3 LMS, I was invited to head south to NOLA Motorsports Park in New Orleans, Louisiana, to showcase myself for an opportunity in GT4 America with Conquest Racing and JMF Motorsport for 2022. I felt very comfortable in the Mercedes AMG GT4 right away and that led to the opportunity to join on with the team for this season. So far my 2022 has been surreal. After many tests over the off-season, Michai Stephens and I took to the first round of GT4 America in Sonoma, California, and had a fantastic weekend, not only with myself taking pole position for the first race, but running with that advantage and finishing second in both races! Our goal is to shoot for the overall championship, and heading back to NOLA Motorsports Park for round two we have high aspirations and are looking for the top step of the podium!

𝐖𝐡𝐨 𝐢𝐬 𝐆𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐧 𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠?

I am your average 19-year old! I am currently attending Georgian College for Automotive Business Management. I love golf, skiing, and simulator racing when I am not in class or at the track! I am aspiring to graduate with my degree from Georgian, as I am also very passionate about the automotive industry and everything it has to offer.

𝐖𝐡𝐨 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐡𝐲?

I look up to Greg Moore (note the red gloves :) ) who was a lightning-quick Indycar driver who unfortunately had his career cut short. He was passionate and incredibly personable and someone that had immaculate talent but never took anything for granted.

𝐓𝐨𝐩 𝟖 𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐲?

1. Trophies by Young Money ft. Drake
2. Up Up & Away by Kid Cudi
3. Feel No Ways by Drake
4. 777 by Joji
5. Homecoming by Kanye ft. Chris Martin
6. Nail Tech by Jack Harlow
7. White Walls by Macklemore
8. Fair Trade by Drake ft. Travis Scott

𝐍𝐨 𝐝𝐨𝐮𝐛𝐭 𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐳𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐳𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬, 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭’𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐳𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐜𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠?

I have been lucky to have attended many fantastic circuits, I loved the atmosphere provided by the Grand Prix Trois Rivieres while racing there, it was such an empowering feeling with the passionate crowd and historic street circuit. In terms of attending as a spectator, Road Atlanta for Petit LeMans or the Daytona 24 are two of my favourites with picturesque venues and spectacular racing.

𝐖𝐡𝐨 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐳𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡?

My dad is my biggest supporter, he has been by my side since day one and I am where I am due to everything he has taught and given me over my career. I have had the privilege to be partnered with fantastic brands and companies like Motomaster, Simoniz, and Fat Bastard Burrito, all of which have given me the ability to grow and develop myself in the business world and in motorsports and motivated me by having my back whenever I go to the track. This season I have had the support of John Farrow and Danny Kok, through the JMF Motorsport team. They have both helped me navigate and open doors to take the next step and are growing the motorsports industry in North America by giving young drivers in motorsport the ability to prove themselves so that talent doesn't slip through the cracks! I owe my successes to all of these fantastic people and I want to make them all proud.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭’𝐬 𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮, 𝐝𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐚 𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐨𝐫 𝐝𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐮𝐩?

Race day looks different every time! My only ritual is bringing my rubber duck I have had since karting that is my mascot / good luck charm.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧?

The #34 Conquest Racing / JMF Motorsport Mercedes-AMG GT4!

𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐞’𝐬 𝐚 𝐛𝐢𝐠 𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐝𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐂𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐌𝐨𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐝𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠? 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐝𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐰𝐞’𝐫𝐞 𝐝𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐰𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞?

Being someone that is ingrained in the motorsports community as well as learning from an automotive industry perspective, I do believe that Canadian motorsports is on a rise! We have an assortment of racing opportunities and series to showcase all sorts of talents and diverse vehicle classes. Along with that, getting back to events such as the Drive Festival, IMSA event at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park, and Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal post COVID-19 is only going to enhance our steady climb. I am looking at the new tracks being built to provide a booster to the current list we have, such as Oro Station. More venues will create more accessible races for different markets and at the end of the day we are a fan-built sport, so opening ourselves up to the younger demographic through new venues only generates more young people becoming long-time fans of our sport.

𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐢𝐧 𝟓 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬?

I am looking to be a professional racing driver with a degree in Automotive Business Management and a career in the automotive / motorsports industry! I hope to still be making that young version of myself proud and know that I have made something out of my passion!

Close calls over the weekend, watch the full race from Saturday here: https://youtu.be/WKKhvskKHfA

Race #2 - Marc Lafleur E46 M3 - Canadian Tire Motorsport Park - 4th Place Deep down everybody wants to drive race cars 🔴🟡 Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/ridingstrikersInstagram | https://www.instagram.com/ridingstrikers.eth/...

The machine.

📸