Nick Galante, scores two wins from three Sports Car Canada Championship races as the team brought Alzheimer’s awareness to the Honda Indy Toronto
TORONTO (19 July 2023) – The Racing to End Alzheimer’s team with VPX Motorsport captured two victories and a second-place finish in three Sports Car Championship Canada races at the Honda Indy last weekend, with driver Nick Galante putting down three solid drives in his first-ever street course races.
Galante got off to a flying start to the weekend on Friday, piloting the No. 77 purple Mercedes AMG GT4. On paper, it looked like the most daunting of tasks for the Californian: literally come to grips with his first street course AND get up to speed fast enough to qualify well for race one. Galante not only did that, but he also paced much of the session on the GT4 pole. Dealing with rising tire pressures late, Galante set a solid time that placed him third on the starting grid.
Galante wasted no time at the drop of the green in Saturday morning’s race one, making a move for second in turn one and taking the lead just before the midway point – and just before a yellow flag for two TCR cars that hit hard into the barrier in turn 11. After a lengthy caution to work on the barrier, the race returned to green but Galante powered away and held off his competition to take the win.
In race two that afternoon, Galante got a great launch at the start and drove into the lead in turn one. But Jack Polito stapled himself to Galante’s bumper and with 30 minutes remaining, took the inside in turn one to try to make the pass. Polito drifted out off the curb, catching Galante’s left rear and sending him spinning. Galante kept it off the wall and quickly returned to the fray, albeit in third. Coming back from a yellow, Galante took the inside of Demi Chalkias for second position, with a late caution eliminating the chance to retake the lead.
Galante remedied that situation for Sunday’s race three, held just before the NTT INDYCAR SERIES’ Honda Indy Toronto. Taking the green from pole, he held off the surging Polito in the late stages to capture a hard-fought second win on the weekend.
But for an emotional Galante, bringing the team’s message of Alzheimer’s awareness meant just as much as the victories.
“I knew I might have a chance to do well this weekend, but that car and this VPX team, including engineer Alex Ellis – unbelievable,” said Galante. “Today’s race was tough, with that Mustang (of Jack Polito) a bit quicker on the straights. I focused on attacking every turn and found the speed I needed. That last lap, I focused on just doing a qualifying lap to keep him behind me, and I did.
“Hats off to Phil and everyone with the Racing to End Alzheimer’s. Just having the power of all those people on the car, and thousands of family members cheering us on, it’s absolutely heartfelt. It’s been great to work with the Alzheimer Society of Toronto. They responded to us with open arms and that’s what it takes to really make a difference. It’s been a great weekend, talking to all the fans about what they can do to help – I just love Toronto, I hope I can race here again!”
“We were delighted to have the opportunity to work with the Alzheimer Society of Toronto as our charity partner for our racing adventure in Canada,” said Racing to End Alzheimer’s founder Phil Frengs. “Their mission and vision align with that of Racing to End Alzheimer’s. To be able to have success on track, to meet so many wonderful donors and to leave behind something important – funding for the Society – is rewarding. Nick and I will never forget our wonderful weekend in Toronto.”
VPX Motorsport will travel to Quebec for the Grand Prix du Trois Riveres on August 4-6, 2023. This is the third stop on the Canadian Race Series and features a night race. They will be hoping to extend their wins over the next 3 races.
