Austin Riley set to compete in the 2017 Nissan Micra Cup

The teenager from Uxbridge, Ontario was diagnosed on the high-functioning end of the autism spectrum at the age of 12. But that has not prevented him from winning races and titles in karting.

Austin’s parents, Jason and Jennifer Riley, did not end his racing dreams; instead, they did just the opposite. With the support of family, friends and the karting community, the Rileys encouraged Austin’s promising talent and he found his element on the karting tracks.

In 2013, they established Racing with Autism, a platform to raise awareness about autism and Austin’s official racing team. Austin proved to be a force to be reckoned with, claiming second place in the 2016 Championship Ron Fellows Karting Challenge in the Rotax DD2 Shifter division, and second place at ECKC Goodwood Kartways in 2016.

From karting to car racing

Last year, Micra Cup driver Metod Topolnik of Azure Racing and his wife Marie Christine Bédard introduced the Rileys to the Nissan Micra Cup.

After Topolnik offered his Micra Cup race car for Austin to try on a circuit last year, the Rileys realized something they once considered out of reach – advancing to car racing - was a real possibility. Topolnik of Azure Racing rallied support from Groupe Touchette Pirelli, The Els for Autism Foundation and The Miriam Foundation, to sponsor Austin to participate in the 2017 Nissan Micra Cup season.

The teenager successfully tested his new mount during the series’ test day held last Sunday at Circuit ICAR near Mirabel, Québec.

Riley will now begin his new challenge on May 20-21 at the Canadian Tire Motorsport Park’s road course near Toronto, as he and the other competitors will enter the first Cup race of the season. “I’ve been really excited to drive on the track as a Nissan Micra Cup driver,“ Austin Riley declared. “Getting behind the wheel of the Micra one day before I turn 18 is the best birthday gift I could ask for. Racing is where I belong. I strongly tell everyone to keep following their dreams, nothing is impossible.”

“I’ve been really excited to drive on the track as a Nissan Micra Cup driver,“ Austin Riley declared. “Getting behind the wheel of the Micra one day before I turn 18 is the best birthday gift I could ask for. Racing is where I belong. I strongly tell everyone to keep following their dreams, nothing is impossible.”