Languages: English

The day of reckoning arrives for Team Castrol. It’s race day at last and the six remaining Team Castrol members head to the track. Only four will return to the chalet for dinner as two more drivers leave their racing dreams on the track. The Team Mazda members will face an off-track surprise challenge of their own before moving to the main track to watch the Team Castrol race. With the competition watching, the Team Castrol drivers take warm-up laps and then go through a qualifying session. The pole position is awarded to the fastest qualifier and the starting grid is set. The race passes in a blur and at the end, the checkered flag flies as the race winner takes a victory lap. Then, one by one, the racers are called before the judges to hear their evaluation and learn their fate. Potential, character, teach-ability, performance and teamwork are evaluated – how will each racer measure up against the challenges and responsibilities on the pro circuit should he or she win the coveted prize? Four drivers will hit the track another day; two are sent home.

Today, Team Mazda revs up for their semi-final challenges on the track, while the four remaining Team Castrol members face an off-track surprise challenge. The Team Mazda drivers go through last-minute details with the instructors and the pit crew, strap in and hit the track for warm-up laps. The green flag falls and it’s go time. The victory lap goes to the race winner then, each racer is called before the judges to hear their evaluation and learn their fate. Potential, character, safety, coach-ability, performance and teamwork are measured. For four drivers, the goal is within their grasp; two drivers are heading home. The last eight savour this moment – only one race stands between each finalist and his or her Star Racer dream. Tomorrow one of them will pull ahead of the rest to win the ultimate prize.

It’s all on the line today as the eight final racers arrive at the track. The judges pass through and offer invaluable advice, and the instructors lay down the ground rules, including a mandatory “pit stop” during the race. The drivers rev their engines, hit the track to warm up, and proceed through the qualifying laps. They take their place on the grid and when the green flag falls, it’s anyone’s race. Then, final victory as one driver wins the race of races and earns the title Star Racer.

In Episode One, meet 16 of the contending Karters, eight from the King Of The Bay Race in Barrie, Ont., and eight from the Quebec Cup in St. Roch, each selected by the attending officials to pre-qualify for the event. Then, meet the first three finalists from the other racing disciplines. As the episode closes, the lines between the two groups, the Karters and the Others, are drawn.