2022 was a transition year for Mateo. After having obtained a SCCA competition license in 2021, this year was used to determine what kind of cars and what team Mateo would race with in 2023. While working through that process, Mateo continued working on his racecraft in karting.
MNR’s Florida Winter Tour included WKA’s KartWeek at Daytona International Speedway, followed by SKUSA Winter Tour at Homestead. Mateo finished 5th in each of the WKA event in the KA100 Jr class. SKUSA was a soggy wet weekend with the highlight putting Mateo in P2 after a slippery qualifying session.
After two karting events to start the season, Mateo ran the SCCA Super Tour event at Sebring with Rice Race Prep. In his first weekend in the F1600/FF car, he finished 3rd in both races. The second event was a wet one so very different from the dry days that preceeded it.
Season 4 with Trinity Karting Group was eventful…starting with a Route 66 race where Mateo was on track in the snow! Mateo participated in USPKS races at Orlando Kart Center, GoPro Motorplex and Road America.
WKA raced at New Castle Motorsports Park, Charlotte Motor Speedway and held Grand Nationals at Motorsports Country Club of Cincinnati (MCC) in addition to the Daytona race. The point race was tight but with a win in the final race of Grand Nationals, Mateo was the World Karting Association KA100 Jr 2022 Season Champion!
Mateo was selected to participate in a program with Mazda Motorsports for karters looking to move to cars with their Spec MX-5 series in August. He was further one of 30 nominated to apply for the Spec MX-5 scholarship shootout.
In October, Mateo ran the Formula Race Promotions (FRP) races at Pittsburg International Race Complex. He finished 10th among the non-Masters participants in all 3 races.
After one last karting race at MCC and Mateo’s only race in KA100 SR, he ran the SCCA ARRC race at Road Atlanta with Team Pelfrey in early November. He finished second and third in the two races.
Overall, it was a successful year. In karting, Mateo capped off his Jr karting career with a national championship. And the car racing opportunities gave Mateo experience in both open wheel and sports car racing to help the decision-making process for the 2023 season.
Looking forward to running the 2023 Fornula Race Promotions season with Team Pelfrey. In addition to the full FRP season, Mateo will run 3 SCCA Super Tour events starting with the January event in Sebring.