IMSA MX-5 Cup & Michelin Pilot Challenge Driver Luca Mars
01/03/22 • 39 min
In our first episode for season two we chat with Luca Mars. As you'll read below, Luca is an accomplished racer and he is only a sophomore in high school!
Connect with Luca on Instagram & Facebook.
Luca talks about his recent announcement to race in the Michelin Pilot Challenge in 2022 and he's participating in the third edition of the HPD in the Acura GT3 for 2022. He is just coming off a successful season in IMSA MX-5 Cup. We talk being at the track and how karting can be the start to it all.
If you are interested in sponsorship opportunities with Luca contact Brett Mars at 412-310-0980
Special thanks to Dan Scholosser for helping to arrange this interview. Anyone wanting to get into karting or get better at karting needs to connect with Dan.
Luca's Racing Resume:
Karting History:
2012: Started karting in the Pitt Race Karting Series winning Kid Kart and Rookie Championships first two seasons.
2014: Began Regional and National racing winning 26 of 31 races and scoring Championships with Pitt Race Karting Series, Great Lakes Sprint Series, USPKS and WKA.
2015: Moved up to the Mini ranks continuing success with wins and Championships in Rotax US Nationals, Florida Winter Tour, USPKS, SKUSA Pro Tour, Rok Cup USA and WKA.
2018: Granted the opportunity to move to Junior ranks a year early and produced results quickly winning Rok Cup USA, Florida Winter Tour, Rotax US Finals and SKUSA Winter Tour Championships.
2020: Granted the opportunity to move to Senior early and in a single year of competition ranked First in the US with an average finishing position of 3.43 in major races with Seconds in Florida Winter Tour, SKUSA Winter Series and Pro Tour Championships.
International Opportunities:
Earned invitations to represent Team USA at the Rok World Finals in Lonato, Italy 3 times with a best finish of 4th.
Earned invitations to represent Team USA at the Rotax Grand Finals in Italy (2), Brazil and Portugal 4 times with a best finish of 6th. Have the unique distinction as the only American driver to achieve this at the Mini, Junior and Senior levels.
Earned an invitation to be the sole Team USA representative at the CIK/FIA Academy Trophy Series in 2019 finishing 6th and 8th at events in Germany and Italy before an injury prevented competing in the Final event.
Competed in additional International Events with the German DKM Kart Series and Italian ACI Karting Championship CIK Series with best finishes of 5th and 4th respectively.
2020 Car Racing Details: Lucas Oil School:
Sebring Short Track & New Jersey Motorsports Park Thunderbolt – 2 Day Schools
F2000 Testing Program – John Walko Racing:
Carolina Motorsports Park, Roebling Road, Pitt Race, Nelson Ledges – Private and Open Testing
Formula Race Productions – F2000 Championship Series – John Walko Racing: Mid-Ohio (P2), Pitt Race (P2/P3), Road Atlanta
SCCA Hoosier Super Tour – Formula Continental – John Walko Racing: Pitt Race (P2/P2)
Great Lakes Championship Series – Formula Continental – John Walko Racing:
Pitt Race (P1/P1)
USF2000 – Testing:
Arms-Up Motorsports/Greg Borland - Road Ame
Thanks for listening and taking an interest in growing grassroots racing. The Late To Grid podcast shares the stories and inspiration that help listeners along their motorsports journey.
Find all episodes on the Atomic Autosports website.
In our first episode for season two we chat with Luca Mars. As you'll read below, Luca is an accomplished racer and he is only a sophomore in high school!
Connect with Luca on Instagram & Facebook.
Luca talks about his recent announcement to race in the Michelin Pilot Challenge in 2022 and he's participating in the third edition of the HPD in the Acura GT3 for 2022. He is just coming off a successful season in IMSA MX-5 Cup. We talk being at the track and how karting can be the start to it all.
If you are interested in sponsorship opportunities with Luca contact Brett Mars at 412-310-0980
Special thanks to Dan Scholosser for helping to arrange this interview. Anyone wanting to get into karting or get better at karting needs to connect with Dan.
Luca's Racing Resume:
Karting History:
2012: Started karting in the Pitt Race Karting Series winning Kid Kart and Rookie Championships first two seasons.
2014: Began Regional and National racing winning 26 of 31 races and scoring Championships with Pitt Race Karting Series, Great Lakes Sprint Series, USPKS and WKA.
2015: Moved up to the Mini ranks continuing success with wins and Championships in Rotax US Nationals, Florida Winter Tour, USPKS, SKUSA Pro Tour, Rok Cup USA and WKA.
2018: Granted the opportunity to move to Junior ranks a year early and produced results quickly winning Rok Cup USA, Florida Winter Tour, Rotax US Finals and SKUSA Winter Tour Championships.
2020: Granted the opportunity to move to Senior early and in a single year of competition ranked First in the US with an average finishing position of 3.43 in major races with Seconds in Florida Winter Tour, SKUSA Winter Series and Pro Tour Championships.
International Opportunities:
Earned invitations to represent Team USA at the Rok World Finals in Lonato, Italy 3 times with a best finish of 4th.
Earned invitations to represent Team USA at the Rotax Grand Finals in Italy (2), Brazil and Portugal 4 times with a best finish of 6th. Have the unique distinction as the only American driver to achieve this at the Mini, Junior and Senior levels.
Earned an invitation to be the sole Team USA representative at the CIK/FIA Academy Trophy Series in 2019 finishing 6th and 8th at events in Germany and Italy before an injury prevented competing in the Final event.
Competed in additional International Events with the German DKM Kart Series and Italian ACI Karting Championship CIK Series with best finishes of 5th and 4th respectively.
2020 Car Racing Details: Lucas Oil School:
Sebring Short Track & New Jersey Motorsports Park Thunderbolt – 2 Day Schools
F2000 Testing Program – John Walko Racing:
Carolina Motorsports Park, Roebling Road, Pitt Race, Nelson Ledges – Private and Open Testing
Formula Race Productions – F2000 Championship Series – John Walko Racing: Mid-Ohio (P2), Pitt Race (P2/P3), Road Atlanta
SCCA Hoosier Super Tour – Formula Continental – John Walko Racing: Pitt Race (P2/P2)
Great Lakes Championship Series – Formula Continental – John Walko Racing:
Pitt Race (P1/P1)
USF2000 – Testing:
Arms-Up Motorsports/Greg Borland - Road Ame
Thanks for listening and taking an interest in growing grassroots racing. The Late To Grid podcast shares the stories and inspiration that help listeners along their motorsports journey.
Find all episodes on the Atomic Autosports website.
Previous Episode
Late To Grid: E32 - Aaron Johnson - Part 2 (SCCA, Life, and Racing)
Aaron and I kept the recording rolling and talked about SCCA, racing and life.
Thanks for your support during our first season of Late To Grid!
Thanks for listening and taking an interest in growing grassroots racing. The Late To Grid podcast shares the stories and inspiration that help listeners along their motorsports journey.
Find all episodes on the Atomic Autosports website.
Next Episode
Dana & Bill from the ChampCar Endurance Series & Bill Shares Updates On The RX-7
If you've been around motorsports for any length of time you know the fast rise in popularity that endurance racing has seen. It's one of the easiest ways to get into wheel to wheel racing - and it's a blast!
We caught up with the Dana and Bill from the ChampCar Endurance Series to learn more about their series and the 2022 season.
Plus, they have a podcast coming out called Inside ChampCar. Be sure to find it and hear about all the exciting ChampCar updates.
These guys have so much going on, I don't know where to start! From having Bob Varsha and David Hobbs in the broadcast studio for upcoming events to having partners like Race Suit Rentals and Discovery Parts for equipment rental - ChampCar has it going on!
Listen in as we talk all things endurance racing including how to get involved, volunteer opportunities, what sponsorships means to their organization, and the ChampCar class structure (hint: it's simpler than you think). Right now they have 29 events scheduled for 2022 and are working a couple more...one they are super stoked about - but, they wouldn't spill the beans.
Connect & Learn More:
ChampCar Website
ChampCar Facebook
ChampCar Instagram
ChampCar Twitter
Sponsors:
Title Sposnor:
TireRack.com
Series Sposnors:
RVA Graphics and Wraps
Lifeline USA
UUC Motorwerks
Frozen Rotors
NLA Parts
Racing Radios
Bell Racing
ChampCar Endurance Series Sportsmanship award:
The Chandler School
ChampCar Endurance Series – Class Sponsors:
Class A – Krispy Kreme
Class B – Discovery Parts
Class C – Money Shift Racing
Thanks for listening and taking an interest in growing grassroots racing. The Late To Grid podcast shares the stories and inspiration that help listeners along their motorsports journey.
Find all episodes on the Atomic Autosports website.
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