Moving On Up: Giancarlo Vecchi

Paddock magazine catches a young rising star, a very promising Mexican driver Giancarlo Vecchi – a one to remember!

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Name: Giancarlo Vecchi

Date of birth: November 27, 1996

Place of birth: México City

Team: Scuderia Mopar with Scuderia Mexico

What was your very first experience of motor racing?

All of my uncles and my dad, even my grandfather, have been involved in something related to motorsports, either in motocross, rally, or karting. When I was 3 years old, I started begging my parents for a car to race but they told me I was too small to do that. One day they finally took me to a go-kart race and I saw that some racers were just a bit older than me, so I stated that if there were people my age doing that, I could also do it. My parents then told me that when I turn 5 years old, they might let me race. My father and my uncle bought me a go-kart when I was 5 and I instantly started training to fulfill my life dream to become a Formula 1 driver.

How did you finance your early years?

The first year it was all a matter of my dad’s and my uncle’s finances. Later, luckily, we were able to have sponsors, but my family still always supported me during good times and bad as well.

One of the biggest challenges for every driver is to attract sponsorship. What is you recipe for success?

My best shot is to get along with everybody in the track and off it, in life. This actually is the best image you can get out there – being yourself; sponsors really like that!

How do you deal with the competition on the track?

I always try to be very well prepared physically and to be able to give my 100% all the time in every single race. I love biking and it helps me with maintaining good physical condition. For every race, the first thing I do is look for some photos or videos to get to know the track, then, when on the track, I take a walk to find some reference points and details in the track to know the best I possibly can.

What are your most important career highlights?

Being the national champion five times; champion in the CIK-FIA NACAM; getting into Formula cars; finishing third in a continental category of Formula cars.