THE WAKA GRAND PRIX
The WAKA Grand Prix is the premier karting championship organized by WAKA Motorsports, bringing together friends, racers, and motorsports enthusiasts for a competitive multi-race series. Drivers compete across several races in identical karts, battling for points, podiums, and ultimately the championship title in one of the most intense events on the WAKA calendar.
Racing in the WAKA Grand Prix means more than just showing up and turning laps—it represents skill, consistency, and the ability to perform under pressure. With team pride, bragging rights, and the championship on the line, every race becomes a test of racecraft, strategy, and determination as drivers push to prove themselves among the best in the field. 🏁
2026 Lineup
Grand Prix Winners
This section celebrates the winners and past champions of the WAKA Grand Prix. Each season brings together a competitive group of drivers battling for victories, points, and ultimately the championship title.
From tight karting battles and dramatic finishes to dominant championship runs, the drivers listed here have earned their place in WAKA Motorsports history. Every champion represents a season of skill, consistency, and determination — proving they had what it takes to rise above the competition and stand on the top step of the podium.
As the WAKA Grand Prix continues to grow, this page serves as the official record of the drivers who conquered the challenge and became champions.
2025 Champion
FALCAO MENDOZA
WAKA Grand Prix Champion – 2025
Age: 34
Wins: 5
Points: 63
Track: New Jersey Motorsports Park – Millville, NJ
63 Points | 5 Wins
After a one-year hiatus in 2024, the WAKA Grand Prix returned in 2025 with a completely new format and a new venue. For the first time in series history, the championship moved outdoors to New Jersey Motorsports Park in Millville, New Jersey, where drivers competed in gas-powered karts rather than the electric karts used in previous seasons. The new setting brought faster speeds, a larger track environment, and an entirely different style of racing.
The 2025 season also introduced a driver draft system and a two-group championship format. After the opening qualifying session, drivers were separated into Gold and Silver groups based on their Race 1 qualifying times. Teams were structured so that each pair of teammates would be split between the two groups, creating balanced competition across both divisions.
Falcao “Ferc” Mendoza delivered one of the most dominant performances in WAKA Grand Prix history. Although Ferc finished first among his team pairing during qualifying, his lap time was slightly slower than that of his teammate Albert Roldan, which placed him into the Silver Group — the division made up of the slower qualifying driver from each team.
Once the racing began, Mendoza proved he was far more than just a mid-pack contender. Across the five-race championship, he won every single race, sweeping the Silver Group and achieving the maximum possible points total of 63. His flawless performance secured the 2025 WAKA Drivers Championship in commanding fashion.
Entering the season, Mendoza was already regarded as a strong competitor after finishing just outside the top group during the 2023 WAKA Grand Prix. In 2025, he fully delivered on that potential with a championship-winning campaign.
While Mendoza dominated the Silver Group and secured the overall Drivers Championship, the Gold Group winner was Nick Russo, who amassed 62 points — finishing just one point shy of the overall title.
Final Top 5 – 2025 WAKA Drivers Championship
-
Falcao “Ferc” Mendoza — 63 points
-
Nick Russo — 62 points
-
Rich Russo
-
Albert Roldan
-
Chris Griglack
2023 CHAMPION
NICK RUSSO
WAKA Grand Prix Champion – 2023
Age: 23
Wins: 2
Podiums: 3
Track: Supercharged Entertainment – Edison, NJ
76 Points | 2 Wins | 3 Podiums
The 2023 WAKA Grand Prix season marked a major milestone for the series as the championship moved away from RPM Raceway for the first time. Drivers traveled to Supercharged Entertainment in Edison, New Jersey, which at the time was recognized as the largest indoor karting track in the United States. The massive facility and fast, technical layout introduced a new level of challenge for competitors.
The season also featured the largest field in WAKA Grand Prix history, with 20 drivers originally scheduled to compete, though 18 ultimately took the green flag. With a larger grid and a brand-new track, the stage was set for one of the most exciting seasons yet.
In a standout rookie performance, Nick Russo joined the championship just before the season began and quickly made his presence known. Despite entering as a newcomer, Russo showed impressive pace and composure, securing two race victories and three podium finishes on his way to the title.
The championship battle carried an added storyline, as Nick found himself competing directly against his older brother and former champion, Rich Russo. In the end, Nick secured the championship by five points, proving that the rookie had what it takes to compete at the highest level of WAKA competition and earning his first WAKA Grand Prix title.
The 2023 season also introduced team competition for the first time in WAKA Grand Prix history. In the inaugural team championship, Nick Russo and Anthony Gaudio combined their efforts to secure the title, finishing with 144 points and narrowly defeating the team of Rich Russo and Albert Roldan, who finished with 136 points.
Between the record-setting grid, a brand-new venue, and a rookie champion rising to the top, the 2023 WAKA Grand Prix season became one of the most memorable chapters in WAKA Motorsports history.
Top 5 – 2023 WAKA Drivers Championship
-
Nick Russo — 76 points
-
Rich Russo — 72 points
-
Anthony Gaudio - 68 points
-
Albert Roldan - 64 points
-
Falcao Mendoza - 62 points
2022 CHAMPION
Anthony Gaudio
WAKA Grand Prix Champion – 2022
Age: 30
Wins: 2
Podiums: 4
Points: 52
Track: RPM Raceway – Jersey City, NJ
52 Points | 2 Wins | 2 Podiums
The 2022 WAKA Grand Prix season delivered one of the most dramatic championship finishes in series history. Once again held at RPM Raceway in Jersey City, the competition moved to the facility’s new multi-level track layout, adding elevation changes and a more technical driving challenge compared to the original flat configuration used the year prior.
Anthony Gaudio emerged as champion after a fiercely contested season, finishing with 52 points, including two race victories and two second-place finishes. However, the championship battle proved to be far from straightforward. By the end of the season, Gaudio and 2021 champion Rich Russo were deadlocked in points, forcing the championship to be decided by the official tiebreaker.
Under WAKA Grand Prix rules, the tiebreaker came down to fastest lap time recorded during the season. In an incredibly close margin, Gaudio secured the title with a lap time that was just 0.020 seconds quicker than Russo’s — one of the smallest margins in WAKA history.
The 2022 season also introduced a new element to the series: drivers were asked to bring their own action cameras, allowing races to be captured from multiple onboard perspectives for WAKA Motorsports YouTube coverage. This helped elevate the storytelling and documentation of the championship battles.
With the title ultimately decided by two hundredths of a second, the 2022 WAKA Grand Prix stands as arguably the tightest championship fight in WAKA history, cementing Anthony Gaudio’s place among the series’ champions in unforgettable fashion.
Top 5 – 2022 WAKA Drivers Championship
-
Anthony Gaudio — 38 points (29.742)
-
Rich Russo — 38 points
-
Sean Hablitz - 24 points
-
Jael Encarnacion - 23 points
-
Andrew Baez - 22 points
2021 CHAMPION
Rich Russo
WAKA Grand Prix Champion – 2021
Age: 36
Wins: 2
Podiums: 3
Points: 41
Track: RPM Raceway – Jersey City, NJ
41 Points | 2 Wins | 3 Podiums
The inaugural WAKA Grand Prix championship took place in 2021 at RPM Raceway in Jersey City, back when the track layout was still the original flat configuration before the facility’s later multi-level renovation. It marked the very first official season of WAKA Grand Prix competition and set the foundation for what would become a growing tradition of karting battles among friends and competitors.
Rich Russo emerged as the first champion in WAKA history, finishing the season with a total of 41 points, highlighted by two race wins and three podium finishes. Throughout the championship, Russo demonstrated strong racecraft and consistency, positioning himself as one of the most reliable drivers on the grid.
The title fight remained competitive all the way to the end of the season. Russo ultimately secured the championship by just six points over Jael Encarnacion, making it a tightly contested battle that helped define the competitive spirit of the early WAKA Grand Prix era.
As the first champion in WAKA Motorsports history, Rich Russo’s victory established the benchmark for future competitors and etched his name permanently into the WAKA record books.
Top 5 – 2021 WAKA Drivers Championship
-
Rich Russo — 41 points
-
Jael Encarnacion — 35 points
-
Skyy Urtubia - 27 points
-
Chris Griglack - 25 points
-
Andrew Baez - 22 points