2 days and 2 hours till the big event for Mark Motors Racing.
The Masters Platinum Cup Championship has a battle of its own that has been brewing since Round 1. Marco Cirone of Mark Motors Racing currently leads the category, but 17 points back is Anthony Mantella of SpeedMerchants, hungry to knock Cirone off the top step of the podium.
At 9-years-old, Roman was victorious in his very first race. From that moment on he was destined to become a star in motorsports. As most superstar drivers do, Roman started his career in karting during which he participated in all major North American series.
In 2016 Roman made the leap to F1600 with Brian Graham Racing. His debut season in cars was impressive, seeing him capture five wins, Ontario Championship runner-up, third in the Quebec Super Series and taking home Rookie of the Year honours.
In 2017, Roman took another significant leap in his career as he moved up to the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Series Gold Class in both Canada and the United States with the renowned Mark Motors Racing team. In doing so, he became the youngest driver in GT3 Cup history at only 16-years-old. Roman’s season was epic as he captured the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Canada Gold Class Championship. In the US GT3 Challenge, he was poised to take the Gold Class Championship. Unfortunately, an unusual racing incident at the final race of the season forced Roman to retire from the race early, disrupting his dual championship hopes.
Roman’s 2018 season started out with a massive, career highlight win at Daytona in the IMSA Prototype Challenge Roar Before the Rolex 24, driving the No. Ligier JS P3 for Ansa Motorsports.
The remainder of the season will see Roman racing in the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Platinum division in both Canada and the United States. In the US he will be piloting the #1 Kelly-Moss Road and Race entry and in Canada the #78 Mark Motors Racing entry. Plans are also in the works for Roman to compete in select events in the Pirelli World Challenge and the premier IMSA Prototype Challenge.
Zach has had a passion for motorsports his entire life and was brought up in a family that loves racing as his father ski raced when he was young, and car raced in the ‘80s. Following in his father’s footsteps, Zach began ski racing at the age of 3. He competed at the regional, provincial, national and international level until the age of 16. He changed his focus from skiing to car racing in 2008 and has loved it ever since.
In 2008, he was named Quebec’s Karting Rooking of the year and worked as a driving coach at Academie de karting Jim Russell for four years. In 2012, he came in second place at Canadian Nationals and in 2013, he was selected as a member of Team Canada for the Formula Ford festival in England qualifying in third place.
Since then, he has competed in numerous F1600 and F2000 races amazing many wins along the way. 2016 marked his initial foray into sportscar racing with Mark Motors Racing where he finished 3rd in the overall championship. In 2017 Zach and the team finished in the top 2 in every single race including 2 victories. Ultimately leading to the runner up position in the championship. Back with the team in 2018 together they are working hard to fight for the championship once again.
Outside of his racing commitments Zach also holds a Master’s degree in International Economics and Finance.
Valerie has been a race-car driver for 14 years. She has been racing in many different series such as touring cars, late models, GT, and Prototype to name a few. Her dream of racing cars began at the age of 11, and in 2003 she did her first full year karting in the F125 Rotax Max Jr. in Quebec. After being the first female driver to secure a podium finish in the history of the Canadian Grand Prix, Valerie became a representative of the WiM (Women in Motorsport) for ASN Canada at the FIA. She proudly represents Canadian women in the world of motorsport.
In 2015, Valerie got the chance to be behind the wheel of the Stohr Prototype from WeTune team at the Circuit Mont-Tremblant. After a successful season, Valerie finished 2nd in the Fall Classic.
Italian born, Marco Cirone is a great addition to the Mark Motors Race team. In 2006, Marco began racing in regional events in Ontario, before debuting in the Castrol Canadian Touring Car series co-driving with Robert Sabato. Here, Marco won eleven out of twenty-four races. The Following year, Marco competed in the Mobil1 GT series and finished second overall.
2009 saw a brief hiatus before making the big jump in 2010 to compete in the IMSA Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge. Marco’s team was always running up front, achieving two podium finishes at Sebring and Road America. 2011 was a return to IMSA, but this time Marco sharpened his driving skills by competing in both the US Porsche GT3 Series, where he scored another podium finish at Road America, and the newly formed Canadian GT3 Series, where he won both races at the inaugural event held at Mosport International Raceway.
In 2012, Marco competed for the Platinum Class and overall championship in both the US and Canadian IMSA Porsche GT3 cup series. Even more impressive, Marco was the 2013 Platinum Cup Master Class Champion and finished in third place overall in the Canadian Porsche GT3 Cup series. Since then he has competed in many GT3 cup races in North America and has brought home 4 consecutive Canadian platinum cup masters championship for the Mark Motors racing team. He also holds the record for the most wins by a Masters Porsche Cup Driver in History.
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Chris was always interested in cars or anything else with a motor attached to it. As a kid, he would tinker with go-carts, boats and cars with his brother (the real gear head of the family). In the mid 80’s, Chris’ friends decided they wanted to go stock car racing – and of course, Chris was in.
Around 1990, one of Chris’ friends moved their shop to Richmond Hill, next to the shop of Rudy Bartling and Peter Stalibrass, who were into road racing. Chris approached them and said that he was willing to help them if they needed it. Rudy and Peter were going to a race the next weekend and encouraged Chris to join – and that was the start to Chris’ road racing career.
From then on, Rudy and Chris raced together for the next 20 years in IMSA, Sports Car, The Canada Challenge Cup, Porsche Club, and local club racing. In the meantime, Chris also met Vito and George, who were his competition on the track. Around the end of the 90’s, Chris also gave the ALMS a try with his friend Kye Wankum. Later they had co-drivers such as Joe Foster, Doc Bundy and Craig Stanton in the car.
Chris was later introduced to Michael Vong, who was interested in going Porsche Club racing. However, Michael decided he wanted to take a break from racing, and then this guy named Marco came along and decide he wanted to go Porsche Cup racing – and of course, Chris said OK lets go! The rest is a story that is still unfolding.
Matt’s the type of crew member that likes to “get s#!t done.”
Never one to mince words, Matt joined Bestline Autotech after successful stints in the Honda CRX category and following his development at Petrorf (Porsche) Performance.
When Matt’s not trackside with the drivers, you can find him at the shop analyzing, tweaking and then re-analyzing all the team’s data.
Always the perfectionist, Matt believes winning at the race track starts with working together with the drivers and engineers at the shop to gain every advantage before hitting the pavement.
Unlike most motorsports enthusiasts who were introduced to the sport through go-karts, Vito found his passion for motorsports climbing a hill; literally.
In 1966, based in Switzerland at the time, Vito began racing the prestigious Porsche 911 up the hills of mountains. Having competed against the best, Vito grew more determined to conquer the motorsports world. In doing so, he made the jump to FIAT Racing and to Canada, where he would be faced with many new challenges.
Through the 1970′s and 80′s era, Vito raced for FIAT, gaining several podium positions, which lead to him being a lead Instructor for Ferrari at Mosport International Raceway.
In the following decade, Vito would be introduced to long time 6th Gear Racing team member Georges Bourque, and the operation would grow into a two car effort.
Before Vito, came go-karts, girls, cars and school. Having grown up on a race track on Canada’s eastern shoreline of New Brunswick, Georges gained success in the 100cc go-kart division before dominating the IMSA Cup Car series with his father and great-uncle.
Staying focused on the engineering side of motorsports and jumping at an opportunity when it’s presented, Georges decided to combine his engineering expertise with Vito’s race team management and driving talents, which included Hall of Famer, Rudy Bartling. Together, they formed a two-car effort from 1994 through ’96.
They say two is better than one – and with a growing team, a rejuvenated attitude and one goal, Vito and Georges became the 1st individuals to enter the 12hrs of Sebring with a Porsche Turbo 944. They placed 7th overall.
Success breeds more success – and with that said, the following decade saw Vito and Georges continue to race within many forms of Regional and National championships across the Americas, gaining podiums, wins and championships, earning them respect from mutual competitors and colleagues.
