Three of the Area’s World Class Race Car Drivers
Story by Michael Seguin
You could be forgiven for thinking there’s something in the water here. Windsor has always housed a wide range of talents. Musicians. Actors. Artists. Athletes. And perhaps most significantly, racers.
You can sometimes hear them from a distance. The rubber smoking against the pavement. The roar of the fans. The determined community that gathers around these talented young performers.
But now, let’s remove that distance and hear their stories…
Roman De Angelis
If you’ve been a fan of racing around Windsor and Essex County, you’ve likely heard of Roman De Angelis.
Standing at an impressive six-foot-two and sporting magnificent shock of red hair, Roman draws a considerable amount of eyes. But then, when approached, his demeanor is always kind and humble. That said, he will talk about his vast range of accomplishments when pressed—never boasting or grandstanding.
“I started racing go-karts when I was eight or nine,” Roman explains. “My Dad always had a passion for the sport, so he got me involved quite early. I go-karted until I was 13 or 14, then I started driving the bigger cars. I operated a Formula Ford for two seasons. I then I had the opportunity to race for Mark Motors Racing—a Porsche dealership—in Ottawa, which I did for three years.”
In 2020, after winning the Porsche championships, Roman joined The Heart Of Racing Team to compete in the IMSA WeatherTech GTD Championship in their #23 car.
“I’ve been with them ever since,” Roman states. “Five seasons now.”
When asked what he enjoys the most about the sport that has dominated his life, Roman’s answer is deliberate.
“I enjoy the competitiveness,” Roman admits. “I really enjoy being in an environment where all the effort you put in outside the track can make a difference behind the wheel. I love all aspects of the sports—the speed, the events, the cars. But it’s the competition the draws me back. The knowledge that I have to be ‘all in’, with nothing held back.”
Roman also credits his family with helping him fully immersed himself in the lifestyle.
“My parents helped me get involved in the sport and backed me in the early stages,” Roman states. “Obviously it’s not a cheap or easy sport to get into, so I was very fortunate to have a family that was able to make those sacrifices to help me. And it’s all paid off now. It’s been my job for the last six or seven years and I’m lucky to be here. My parents and my sister are my biggest fans. They come to all my races.”
Roman has competed in countless races, honing his skills and shaving more and more seconds off his time. Most recently, he competed in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in France.
“That was an amazing experience,” Roman explains. “It’s always something I’ve wanted to do. It’s easily the most special moment of my career.”
But the wheels never stop turning for Roman. He will soon be heading to Belgium for yet another race, followed by another home race in Toronto.
Chase Pinsonneault
“Racing is my life,” Chase Pinsonneault explains. “It’s what I do. It’s the most important thing in my life.”
A 17-year-old recent high school graduate, Chase has already accomplished more than most. He first took to the tracks at seven, earning his wheels at Grand Bend Speedway. And when the pandemic shut the world down, he did not allow his skills to rust. Chase spent time honing his talents on a simulator, keeping his reflexes sharp.
“I was able to start racing again when I was 15,” Chase reports. “When more options presented themselves to us, I started testing a street stock. I was able to race a late model the next year. And I’ve been doing that ever since!”
As with many of Windsor and Essex’s young racers, Chase’s talents are somewhat hereditary.
“My grandparents and my parents are very supportive,” Chase states. “I come from a complete racing family. My Grandfather was a racer forever ago. My Dad loved the sport—he worked on different crews as a spotter. Everyone in my family loved it. So I figured I’d give it a try.”
The thrill of racing has kept Chase returning to the tracks, time and time again.
“It’s very unique,” Chase explains. “You have to connect your body and your mind. You really have to focus. But at the same time, you’re absolutely swimming in adrenaline. It’s completely different from anything else—but it’s the most intoxicating feeling in the world.”
Chase recently competed in the Big O Classic—a 100 lap race at Owosso Speedway in Michigan.
“It was pretty daunting,” Chase admits. “It was a big deal for us and a breakout night. We took the lead at Lap 30. It was stolen from us at Lap 50, but we were able to take it back and win the race!”
Chase also competed at the Battle at Berlin in Michigan.
“We had some mechanical issues,” Chase states. “But we were able to drive up 17 spots and ended up alright.”
Despite all his recent successes, when asked about his favourite race, Chase returns to his first taste of victory.
“I still remember the first time I ever won in a late model,” Chase recalls. “It is a standout memory for me. You never know what it’s going to feel like until you do it for the first time. It was at Delaware Speedway, in Delaware Ontario. My whole family was cheering for me and everything I’d been doing for years had built up to that moment. I’ll always be proud of that.”
And now, as our interview concludes, that taste of victory continues to motivate Chase.
“I have some more races lined up for next weekend,” Chase states.
Ray Morneau
Ray’s first time on the tracks could have gone better. “My first practice day involved some technical difficulties,” Ray muses. “I was trying to tell my Dad that there was an issue with the steering wheel on my go-kart. He just thought that I was weak and couldn’t turn the wheel properly. Turns out, the steering shaft was pushing on the wheel and digging into the ground. So that was my first experience! At least I got the trouble out of the way.”
At only 23, Ray carries himself with the gravity of a much older man. And as well he should—he’s been racing for 17 years now. He started with go-karts before graduating to the “legend cars”—the 5-8 scale 32 Ford coup equipped with a motorcycle engine—and now the larger big cars.
And what draws Ray back behind the wheel, time and time again, is the sheer thrill of the race.
“I’ve never felt anything else like it,” Ray states. “You get such an adrenaline rush. And then there’s the pressure coming from all sides—the sponsors, your friends and family, the heat. It’s mentally and physically draining, but nothing compares to it.”
Ray’s career has been as fleet as his vehicles. He began with micro-sprints at Grand Bend Speedway in Grand Bend Ontario, before dabbling in dirt racing. At 12, he ran for some time in the Legend Car. Following that, he began racing across the border at Flat Rock Speedway. He currently considers home at Delaware Speedway.
In 2022, he was second in the Late Model Championship at Delaware Speedway.
“We had a really, really good season,” Ray explains. “We get a lot of help from McColl Racing—they build our cars, but all final decisions are on us. Although we were also competing against some other McColl cars, it was nice to see that we could do it ourselves.”
Ray recently signed a deal with Liuna to race in the APC Series. He will also be competing in a 300-lap race in Delaware on September 7th.
“The longer races are a lot of fun!” Ray states. “You get to relax a little bit. More strategy comes into it, in terms of when you’re taking tires. It includes everybody. It keeps you on your toes.”
In the meantime, Ray credits his loved ones for keeping his—if you’ll forgive the obvious pun—tires on the tracks.
“Outside of racing, I don’t really do a whole lot,” Ray admits. “I go to work. I come home. I work on the cars all night. And then I race on weekends. But my whole family is involved with my racing. When you run good and see how proud everyone is, that’s what keeps me going.”
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