Age: 24
Hometown: Gainesville, FL USA
Racing Team: R2R Racing / Sponsor Paddock E-Sports Team
Bio: Rafael David Leon, also known as Rafi or Rafa, is a passionate and dedicated kart racer from Gainesville, FL. Born on September 4, 2000, Rafi began his racing journey at the age of 9, inspired by his father who was an avid racing enthusiast and competitor. Starting at Roebling Road Raceway, Rafi quickly developed a smooth yet assertive driving style, excelling at adapting to new tracks and situations.
Rafi races for R2R Racing and has achieved significant milestones, including winning the 2015 Ocala Gran Prix Championship and competing in the CKNA Grand Nationals. Despite having no sponsors, Rafi and his father have raced across the country as privateers. His favorite track is Ocala Gran Prix, where he first felt the thrill of high-level competition.
Outside of racing, Rafi enjoys watching various motorsports, working on his kart and simulator, and attending races with friends and family. His short-term goals include securing sponsorships and improving his physical and mental conditioning, while his long-term dream is to make a career in sports car racing.
Achievements:
- 2022 Winning the 2015 Ocala Gran Prix Championship
- Competing in the biggest 4-stroke go kart race in North America, the CKNA Grand Nationals in New Castle, Indiana
- Making life-long friends and connections in the world of racing, both on the sim and at the kart tracks
Favorite Track: Ocala Gran Prix
Goals: My long-term goals in motorsports are to achieve my childhood dream. Which is, to be able to make a living out of racing and do it full time. To be a little more specific, I truly believe sports car racing has the most opportunities in the world of racing right now. Both in terms of costs, while not cheap, and in terms of available seats, I believe it’s a very competitive, legitimate and achievable avenue for a lot of racing drivers, like myself, looking to get their foot in the door and find a way to go racing.
