West Kelowna race car driver's dream of being a pro driver one step closer

Photo: Contributed

A West Kelowna race car driver who almost gave up his dreams because of COVID-19 is one step closer to achieving his goals.

Marco Kacic, 18, now has not one, but two, rides as he works his way up the race car driving ladder.

"When it rains it pours. A year ago at this time with COVID-19 and everything we were contemplating whether that was it for his career. This year so many opportunities are coming to him," says Marco's dad Danny Kacic.

Marco was chosen by the Doran Motorsports Group's F3 team, signing a two-year deal. His dad Danny tells Castanet that shortly after that he is also driving for a GT race car team as well. "The schedules don't conflict so he can do both right now."

The contract means Marco will be setting up shop in California to avoid crossing the border during the pandemic. "With travel restrictions, his race schedule and testing schedule being so busy it doesn't make sense to travel back and forth so he's got a place down in California now," says Danny Kacic.

As a dedicated race car driving dad, Danny is breathing a sigh of relief because he and the family are no longer on the hook to finance Marco's race car driving dream.

"This is a massive weight off the family's shoulders."

Danny says typically young drivers like Marco who are trying to make their way into professional racing have to come up with their own funding or sponsors, "so up until now, it's been a real struggle with the financing. This is the first year ever that he's got funded rides. He's in the position now where his talent is going to speak for itself, not his money."

Marco now has twice the opportunity to move up the professional driving ladder in both GT and open-wheel racing.

"He just wants to race for a living, so wherever this takes him, he's happy to go."

Marco's first F3 race is in the middle of March.