The season is nearing its end, but Raquel Martinez is keeping herself busy with racing on both sides of the pond. The fifteen-year-old driver from California was looking forward to great month of racing starting off in France aboard her Top Kart “Speedy”

Just before the start of September Raquel headed to Essay, France for the second round of the CIK U18 championship. This would be Raquel’s first time in the package and at the circuit. The weekend did not start as hoped with a thirty seventh qualifying position, but the team and her continued to improve and would garner a 15^th starting position for the final after a very impressive second place in prefinal 2, her best result yet in Europe. In the final Raquel drove a great race to score nineteenth in the final.

Raquel headed in the final round of the WKA Manufacturer’s Cup at New Castle with one goal in mind and that was to win the Komet Jr. Lite title. Sitting in second position in the standing Raquel knew she needed to win or to have a little luck on her side. After qualifying fourth and finishing fourth in the prefinal Raquel and the championship leader were nose to tail the whole final race. After the checkered flag flew the championship leader was removed from the race for a technical infraction and Raquel won the championship. Raquel also competed in three other categories scoring one pole and another podium finish.

The following weekend Raquel headed to the familiar Viterbo circuit where she had one of her best races in 2010. Viterbo played host to the final round of the WSK Masters Series. Raquel qualified in the twentieth position and after a consistent run in the heats she kept the same position for the start of the prefinal. In the prefinal she moved up two spots, but unfortunately fell back to twenty-third in the final.

Next up for Raquel is the final round of the U18 Championship at Jesolo. Following Jesolo Raquel will prepare for the SKUSA SuperNationals in Las Vegas where she will be competing in the KF2 category. To learn more about Raquel please visit www.raquelmartinez.com.  Raquel would also like to thank her sponsors King Taco, Pepsi, P1 Engines, Grand Products, Top Kart, RLV, Bridgestone, DWT, MLP Imaging, Troy Lee Designs, Bell Helmets, Graphix Plus and PKS Kart Supplies.