AMERICAN TEEN GIO SANTORA COMPLETES EXCELR8 LINE-UP

American teenager Giovanni Santora will complete a four-strong line-up for EXCELR8 in the Mairon Motorsport MINI CHALLENGE Trophy this season after choosing the series for his first steps into car racing.

The 16-year-old has relocated to the UK from Arizona in order to join the Cooper class, and will join Ashley Gregory, Jorrel Julius and Adam Curtis for his rookie campaign.

Santora has enjoyed years of experience in karting back in his home country, with his performances on track allowing him to secure a place to represent Team USA in the RMC Grand Finals event in Bahrain, which brings together the top talents from across the globe.

His programme this season will be backed by HUNU Soda, an innovative new carbonated drink created in the USA that contains a range of vitamins, minerals and electrolytes and has been designed to help athletes to perform at their best.

“I’m so excited to announce my move into the MINI CHALLENGE Trophy this season, especially with a team as successful as EXCELR8,” Santora said.

“The chance to compete in such a competitive, high-profile series is something I’m really looking forward to, and I can’t wait to hit the track at Silverstone this weekend to get the season underway.

“I’ve been working hard with the team at Dawson Racing to make sure I’m as ready as I can be for the challenge ahead, and with some good testing behind me, I feel confident about pushing for some strong results in my rookie season and hopefully will be fighting for podium finishes.

“I’m also proud to be an ambassador for HUNU as it enters the UK market this year and am looking forward to representing the brand in the best way possible during 2026.”