Damani Marcano has made the step to racing a car for the 2015 season and it is clear that he is already making progress.

The sixteen-year-old took to the track last weekend for his first taste of driving his Team HARD. prepared Volkswagen Golf, ahead of his debut season in the Volkswagen Racing Cup.

Speaking exclusively to Kent Sports News after his first time behind the wheel a beaming Damani, said: “Today has been so much fun for the first time, today is a lot colder and a lot more damp than when I did my ARDS test here before, when I am out there it is so much fun.

“The racing slicks are really hard to warm-up and they aren’t getting any heat into them and it is going to be such a learning experience session today. In the last session I managed to get a lot faster than before because the instructor I was with kind of pushed me in that session.

“It is such an honour to be down here for Team HARD. and everyone has put so much effort in to get me down here.”

It is hard to believe that Damani has only just turned sixteen, he can’t drive on a road but he can race a full season behind the wheel of a race car, something he really is loving.

He added: “I have just turned sixteen like you said. It is such a shock when my friends all hear that I am racing in cars and they are like how can you do that you haven’t got a driving licence. It is just such a surreal feeling that I am racing these cars.

 

“These cars are keeping up with Porsche’s and everything else that is out there on track, because they are light and so much power from the turbos.”

Damani has a new car for the season that Tony Gilham and his team have worked hard to give him a great car, that he can set-up.

“The car is set-up exactly how I want it pretty much and it is so much fun. I can’t really give too much feedback right now as it is my first time in cars but when I get more experience I will be able to tell the team what I want changed, just like in karting.

“I think karting has helped me with being smooth on the throttle, especially in conditions like this as a few people today have spun off. I am being smooth on the throttle and being patient and I have been told that those people that come from karting are really good at race craft, due to the close and intense racing of karting, that will I think that will help me a lot in the actual racing this season.”

Having had some instruction around Brands Hatch to help him get used to driving racing cars, the next step for Damani is to get out there by himself.

He said: “I think I am now going to go out for the first time by myself just after lunch, I think I am going to take it one step back just to get into the rhythm of it. It is very cold today and the track is going to go straight back down, there is going to be literally no heat in the tyres now.

“I will probably build it back to where I was and then maybe push myself after, today is more of a learning experience with the car and to get used to these kind of conditions and having lots of people around me. I just can’t wait to get out there for myself.”

With Marcano being inexperienced he has experience around him in the team with Tony and also Howard Fuller that he intends to learn from.

He added: “I have got Howard Fuller who has raced touring cars before and his immense about of experience will help me forwards in racing and give me lots of tips on how to drive quickly and also how to be calm under pressure.

“They have already taught me so much, even though they haven’t been out with me today, it is just little tips that they have told me have really helped me today.”

Finally we asked Damani whether he would be setting himself any targets for his debut season in the VW Cup.

He said: “The only target I have set myself for the season is for me to know that I put in 100% throughout the whole time. I have only been karting for two years and for someone going onto cars that is not that much at all.

“It is more of a learning experience, learning from the more experienced drivers in the team. I am not expecting to be too competitive against people like Howard, it is just to know that I have put in all that I could throughout the whole season.”

Also, there keeping an eye on Damani was Tom Barley who has significant experience in the Volkswagen Cup.

He said: “Watching Damani’s first day, I have to say he made a VERY impressive start. Quite incredible actually all things considered. At 16 I had no idea I was going to be a racer, and look at Damani forging his career.”

To view a video of Damani in action at Brands Hatch in his first test session follow the link below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_7QI9_bUkFg