Subjects: Sports

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.

The search for Star Racer hopefuls heads west as casting of the eight Karters continues at the National Karting Championships in Edmonton and four more of the pre-qualified Others are introduced. In pursuit of the same – and solitary – prize, the tension between the Karters and the Others is palpable, as the Karters still struggle to qualify for the Star Racer Finals to be held at Mt. Temblant, Que. The episode concludes with joy, heartbreak and a stunning surprise when all 24 Kart racer pre-qualifiers gather in the garage to hear the judges’ decisions and learn which racers make the cut and will be heading to Mt. Tremblant, and which racers are going home. In a last-minute twist, two additional Karters are put on the reserve list… the race is on!

Episode Three revives the dream of one lucky driver who just missed the cut at the conclusion of Episode Two – a space has opened up for them in Mt. Tremblant. Convening at the mountain resort, the 16 racers are divided into two rival camps – Team Mazda and Team Castrol – each team moving into luxury chalet digs. Each team, in their new team uniforms, assembles on world-renowned track at Le Circuit to meet their instructors, familiarize themselves with the facilities, hear the ground rules at the Jim Russell driving school and sit in the open-wheel racecar for the first time. Then, the star judges, including Paul Tracy and Derek Daly, makes their first appearance and address the hopefuls before they face a battery of fitness tests.

It’s back to class for the Star Racer competitors. After a safety review, the class moves out onto the track where the key lessons are underscored and then into the F-2000 Van Diemen Racecars for controlled lapping. It becomes evident very quickly who are smoothly making the transition to open-wheelers and which racers are struggling. In the background, the reserve racers also go through the process – nipping at the heels of the qualifiers. The racers take the school test and results are posted – driving the spirit of competition to a new high. The on-track performance of the drivers is evaluated and leads to the first elimination round of the Finals. Two drivers are going home – will they be team members who will be replaced by the reserve drivers, or will the reserve racers see their dreams on the track dashed?

Today, the racers will face time trials that will send two drivers from each team home. Rivalries between the Karters and the Others – and between Team Mazda and Team Castrol – take hold. At the track, the instructors go through the time-trial instructions and the racers strap into their cars. The track record is set as a marker on the big screen and one by one the racers tear up the track at Le Circuit while the rest look on. Who makes disastrous mistakes under pressure? Who rises to the challenge to turn in perfect laps? The judges evaluate each driver and deliver their verdict, sending four drivers home. Now down to 12, the chalets merge as Team Mazda moves into the Team Castrol house.

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.