As one of two Canadians entered in this weekend’s race, Kyle Marcelli has an added level of anticipation for his first American Le Mans Series race at his home track.

“I’m really excited. I have a lot of friends, family and Canadian sponsors here, and it is cool to be back home on Canadian soil and at Mosport,” said the 20-year-old native of Barrie, Ontario and Intersport Racing pilot. He will drive the team’s ORECA FLM09 with Chapman Ducote in the LMP Challenge class.

“I have set quite a few laps here but never in such a technologically advanced race car,” he said. “This race will be very difficult. There will be very little braking and it is going to be tough to get past the GT class let alone the cars in our own class.

Marcelli’s first race at Canada was a Canadian Formula Ford race in 2007. He won in IMSA Lites (one of the sanctioning body’s development championships) at the track last year and again at Road Atlanta’s Petit Le Mans

“This track is physically demanding, especially on your neck,” he said. “Mentally it is even harder. I could be in the car – at speed and without rest – as long as two hours. … This is the first year that I will be competing in this long of an endurance race at Mosport.”

Autocon Motorsports’ Tony Burgess, a Toronto resident, is the other Canadian driver entered. The Lola-AER that he will drive with Johnny Mowlem did not test Friday.