Photo credit: Stay Reel Media

On a warm July afternoon, the hum of engines filled the Toronto air as Anthony Martella, then 15, rolled off the grid from pole position, his family watching from the stands with quiet anticipation.

He was nervous, unsure of how, from pole, he would fend off a competitive field of eight cars in his class behind him. Martella had already finished on the podium three times in the first six races of the touring car class of the Sports Car Canada Championship.

But he had yet to win.

Martella, now 16, will be back in Toronto next summer, this time in an open-wheel car. In 2025, the former Canadian karting national champion will compete in USF2000 with Jay Howard Driver Development as one of only two Canadians on the IndyCar ladder.

But on that day, he was ready to fight in one of the most important races of his young career.

After losing the lead at the race start, Martella made an advantageous pass on the fifth lap of the 40-minute race to take the top spot. Now, he was in control of the pace.

The car Martella had just passed stayed close behind him, eagerly trying to position itself to undercut the Toronto native in an upcoming corner. The two Audi RS 3s battled as Martella worked hard to defend.

“[You’re] just making sure you’re blocking at the right spots,” Martella said. “Making sure you’re not losing too much time to the drivers in third or fourth.”

Martella managed to stay in front. Saving his tires left him more susceptible to attacks, but he wanted to be ready for a late-race charge.

He wouldn’t need it. A collision between the two cars behind him gave him a large lead in the race’s late stages. Still, Martella laid down fast laps, building a commanding 25-second lead. Not only did he win at home, but he also became the youngest winner in series history.

“Winning in Toronto was such a surreal feeling,” Martella said. “We managed to get it done, pulling away in the last few laps. To have all the team and all the guys there — they worked so hard for me just to get that win.”

His homecoming race in USF2000 will be next July, a year after his breakthrough victory. Now, basking in the warmth of New Orleans, Martella is preparing for another winter testing session at NOLA Motorsports Park.

“[What’s important is] going to these tracks and learning how the track reacts to the cars,” Martella said. “We’re getting a setup down for when we go back to these tracks in the future.”

NOLA is a track with history for Martella. He made his single-seater debut there last spring. Before committing to running sports cars, he competed in a partial season in USF Juniors at the start of 2024.

Martella picked up a season-best 10th place in three of the seven races he ran. Coupling his single-seater racing with his time in touring cars, he believes that 2024 helped him get up to speed quicker when it came to adjusting to new machinery.

“When I go to different types of cars, I adapt quicker,” Martella said. “I know what to expect even when I’ve never driven the car before.”

Adapting to the USF2000 car is also one of his goals for winter testing. The cars carry a higher top speed than the 135 mph max of the USF Juniors car, potentially reaching upwards of 150 mph in 2025 following a 20-horsepower increase.

Smiling in the Louisiana sun, Martella expressed confidence in his ability to make the jump.

“We’ll be testing, I’ll be working out in the gym, and getting school done,” Martella said. “I think we’ll have a good program going into next year, and I feel confident we can hopefully bring home a championship.”

As of now, Martella is the lone Canadian driver on the USF2000 grid. Growing up, he spent time karting at one of the country’s most iconic tracks, Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, a passion he took up at 10.

Quickly, he became one of Canada’s top karters. He won his first national title in the Briggs Junior Light category in 2021 and added a second title in the open shifter class in 2023.

Reflecting on his karting days, Martella vividly remembers the sense of speed he experienced when he first got involved.

“Obviously, the go-karts weren’t that fast, but I never thought it would get this big,” Martella said. “Racing in USF2000 next year? It’s definitely big for me and my family, and hopefully, we can make the most of it.”

Martella is most often accompanied at races by his dad, Tony Martella, an avid racing fan who frequently attended the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal.

Anthony Martella describes his dad as someone who is hands-on but also his greatest supporter. The two review tips and data together as Anthony prepares for each race weekend.

Anthony’s goal, with his dad by his side, is simple: He wants to become the second Canadian to win the Indianapolis 500, a feat accomplished only by Jacques Villeneuve in 1995.

With a win under his belt in his hometown, the teenager believes he is on his way.

“[I have] the goal of representing my country,” Martella said. “Being up there against the United States and all the international guys.”