North Burnaby's Michael Valiante has done it all in his auto racing career. Now he's giving back to those who wish to push the speed button.
Now 32, Valiante has not yet given up putting himself behind the wheel.
Valiante will be driving for the Honda of America team in the Grand American Road Racing Continental street class series in Daytona, Florida this weekend.
When not racing, Valiante is also busy helping manage his father's company, Italian Motors, which has developed Italkarts into one of North America's premier karting companies.
Halfway through last year, Valiante also successfully started up a new auto racing driver development program.
Valiante worked with former Star Mazda champion Chris Cumming of Vancouver to post a season-best third-place finish in the Porsche Cup series.
He also helped guide Surrey's Scott Hargrove to three checkered flags and second overall in the championship in the Skip Barber series.
Valiante then worked to negotiate a ride for Hargrove with JDC Motorsports for the 2012 U.S. Formula2000 racing season.
Closer to home, Valiante has worked with up-and-coming Burnaby karter 17-year-old Remo Ruscitti, who had two top-five finishes on the national circuit last year.
Valiante also got Ruscitti a test with Compass360 in the Continental grand sport series.
"There are lots of drivers out there looking for guidance at the lower formulas," said Valiante. "It gives me the opportunity to give back and make a living at the same time."
Valiante fashioned a pro career in autosports after a successful beginning in the karting world, where he won multiple formula A championships and a chance to step up into the big cars.
All the way up the ladder, Valiante needed help to progress his career in the multimillion-dollar autosport industry.
As a teen-ager, Valiante earned a full season scholarship of open-wheel racing in the Barber Dodge Pro Series.
In 1999, he had seven top-10 finishes and was named co-rookie of the year.
For the next three seasons, Valiante joined the Lynx Racing team in the CART Toyota Atlantic championships, finishing second overall with three victories and four podium finishes in 2002.
In 2003, he was on the podium another six times, including three more wins.
"Lynx was a huge part with what it allowed me to do to this day," Valiante said. "I've been extremely fortunate all the way up. I'm definitely giving back as much as I can."
Valiante also raced Champ Car before moving over to the Grand Am sports car series.
In Grand Am, Valiante had a career-best runner-up finish at the Iowa Speedway in 2007. He also competed on the Nascar Busch series circuit in Montreal that year.
His first victory in Grand Am came a season later with SunTrust Racing.
That season, Valiante and teammate Max Angelleli captured three poles, four podiums, two runner-up finishes and one third-placing.
Valiante spent the last two seasons with Michael Shank Racing.
When available, Valiante will give his experience in driver management and coaching at the family's new worldclass Sumas International Motorsports Academy track built just across the border in Washington State.
"It depends on scheduling but really any type of racing and coaching is where my expertise is," he said. "It's a huge opportunity for aspiring motorsport drivers. It is one of the only facilities in North America and one of the best in the world. It's one of the undiscovered resources so close to the Lower Mainland."
Valiante offers custominzed programs to suit the specific needs of any driver or team, whether experienced or purely recreational.
For information on pricing, availability and scheduling, email coaching@ michaelvaliante.com.
