NAME: Michael Valiante
BORN: November 11, 1979 (age 36)
HOMETOWN: New Westminster, British Columbia
NATIONALITY: Canadian
WEBSITE: www.michaelvaliante.com

Canadian Michael Valiante has graduated from a very successful career in the single seater formulas, to become one of the most respected and sought after drivers in the sportscar world.

Prior to his sportscar career, Valiante was a standout in Formula Atlantic where he scored six victories and finished second and third in the 2002 and 2003 seasons. He also made two Champ Car starts in 2004 and 2005.

Valiante has successful stints in the American Le Mans Series to his credit and has also competed in the NASCAR Nationwide Series for Chip Ganassi Racing.

In Daytona Prototype competition Valiante has driven for many leading teams including; 8 Star Motorsports, Chip Ganassi Racing, Wayne Taylor Racing, Michael Shank Racing, Starworks and Spirit of Daytona.

Valiante is a multiple race winner in both the GRAND-AM Rolex Series and Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge (CTSCC). In 2012 at Mid Ohio, he made history by becoming one of only a handful of drivers to ever win both a Rolex and CTSCC race on the same weekend.

For the 2013 season, Valiante was recruited by the newly formed 8 Star Motorsport GRAND-AM Daytona Prototype squad and immediately showed his speed and technical prowess, by recording a pair of runner-up finishes in their first two races together.

In 2014, Valiante competed fulltime for the Spirit of Daytona team in the new Tudor United Sportscar Championship (TUSC). 4 podium finishes; including a win at Watkins Glen 6 hr resulted in third place in the championship.

For 2015, Valiante returned to the Spirit of Daytona team in the TUSC. He finished second in the championship with 6 podium finishes highlighted with 2 wins at Laguna Seca and the Watkins Glen 6 hours.