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Written by Abigail Guevara, Senior Content Writer, Freelance
Ever wonder what it’s like to find your passion at 15-years-old? You could ask Mayer Deonarine. At just 15-years of age, Mayer has already found his passion racing some of the fastest cars in the world.
Mayer—a bright, motivated, and intelligent young man raised in Durham Region—is focused on rising higher in the sport of car racing. He first got a taste for speed in 2020 when one of his friends invited him to try go-karting.
“That was the first time I ever drove a fast go-kart,” remembers Mayer. “It turned out I was good at it and the track owner put me in a faster kart, and in my first ever race, I finished fifth. Ever since that moment I haven’t looked back.”
While Mayer is a natural talent, he knows that as you climb the ranks, natural talent starts to matter less, and you must work hard to understand car control and race craft.
“These aren’t natural skills,” he says. “You have to learn and master them.”
Turning Pro and Focused for the Win
With a rapid rise to success, Mayer finished second at his first race in Europe and second in the world finals at the ROK Cup Superfinal 2021, competing against more than 300 international drivers. The following year, Mayer won the Canadian National Championships and earned a scholarship to race in Italy.
By 2021, Mayer went professional and now races cars reaching speeds of 230-kilometres an hour. This past July at the Ontario Honda Dealers Indy Toronto, he earned his first career Radical Cup North America win. A daring, razor-close pass gave him the lead, and first place, in the Pro 1340 class. He followed it up with two more wins to sweep the weekend series.
“I must be focused for the entire 40 minutes of the race, at those speeds losing focus for even a split second can result in hitting a wall,” says Mayer.
This high-level focus is just one of the characteristics that makes Mayer a champion.
The Thrill of Speed and Working with Downforce
For Mayer, the appeal of racing lies both in the speed and the unique sensation of cornering at high velocities.
“I can’t fully explain it, but I love going fast, especially through the corners. Our cars have a lot of downforces, like an airplane turned upside down, which pushes us into the ground. This allows us to take corners at roughly 200-kilometres an hour. It's an incredible feeling,” Mayer explains.
Unlike common cars, race cars can maintain the same speed in the corners as they do on the straights.
If you’re thinking this is hard on the human body, you’d be right. The physical toll of racing is significant. Racers, like Mayer, experience 4G forces in the car which means four times the weight of their bodies. So, even slightly moving an arm during the race requires great effort.
Race car drivers can’t be bulky, they need to fit into the small cockpit. Instead, they build muscle density; and can lose between three to five pounds of water after a 40-minute race, especially when wearing six layers of Nomex (a flame-resistant, nylon-type material) in high temperatures.
“I push myself harder than ever, whether at the gym, on the driving simulator, or at the racetrack,” says Mayer. “Working at higher levels helps me learn and understand new, technical things that are crucial in racing.”
Two of Mayer’s favourite tracks to race on are Silverstone Circuit, home to the British Grand Prix, and Road America, a motorsport road course in Wisconsin, United States (U.S.). They are iconic and offer unique challenges, like high-speed corners and heavy braking zones—two aspects of racing that Mayer thrives in.
A Day in the Life of a Young Racer
Balancing school and racing is no small feat. Mayer attends an academy for student athletes, as well as high school in Durham Region. Both work to accommodate his demanding race schedule.
Mayer practices between two and three hours a day on a racing simulator at home to master different tracks and different cars. For in-car practices, he suits up at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park in Bowmanville as often as possible.
“Durham Region is a great location for me to live, and to get to racetracks in Mississauga and Hamilton, as well as in Montreal and the U.S.,” notes Mayer.
International races require other strategies, as Mayer must fly to the U.S. and Europe and compete in different time zones.
With little downtime between practices and competitions, it's important for Mayer to get proper rest and spend time with family, racing colleagues, and friends when he can.
Photo: Mayer with his Dad, Clive Deonarine
The Road Ahead
However, an audience he’d be glad to slow down for is fellow racer Myles Rowe, an American professional race car driver, and Sir Lewis Hamilton, a seven-time Formula 1 Champion.
“Both of these gentlemen have faced challenges and have helped pave the way for drivers like me,” says Mayer.
His career goal is to reach the pinnacle of motorsports—IndyCar or Formula 1. And, if there is anyone who believes that Mayer can achieve this goal, it’s his family.
Mayer’s parents, brother, and grandparents support him on and off the track.
“My family is incredibly supportive, I couldn’t do it without them and their belief in my abilities is everything to me,” says Mayer.
Beyond Racing
Part of what makes Mayer so special is his take on the world he lives in. He recognizes that it’s a privilege to do what he does, and his champion attitude carries over to what he wants to contribute to the world through appreciation and recognition.
“Changing the world for the better is possible when we value and recognize everyone’s contribution,” says Mayer. “A simple thank you can make a huge difference. Without everyone involved and contributing in some way, big or small, none of us could do what we do.”
Mayer’s journey is an inspiring reminder of what can be achieved with passion, hard work, and a supportive community. From Durham Region to the world stage, this young man is on the track to success.
Innovation and Inclusivity: Stories from Durham Region's Black Business Leaders, Entrepreneurs, and Professionals is a series of stories about thriving Black professionals choosing to live and do business in Durham Region.
