Troy Castaneda has the determination and work ethic to do what it takes to get to the top.

Troy was a competitive gymnast for 13 years of his life. He was in the gym training each day, typically for 3 ½ hours.  Gymnastics requires physical strength, flexibility, balance, endurance and kinesthetic awareness.  It is one of the toughest sports in the world.  He was a champion; Troy pushed the limit and did what he had to do to make the podium.  He does the same today, only in a different form.  He is a racing champion.

In 2004 Troy attended the Jim Russell Karting School at Infineon Raceway.  After the class, one of the instructors, Wes Phillips (2005 Rotax National Champion), discussed with Troy the potential of racing at a competitive level. Soon after he was enveloped in the racing world.

From the beginning, Troy demonstrated that he was destined to be a professional racer after winning his first karting race in 2005.  He raced across the United States and qualified for the Rotax National Championships in South Bend, Indiana.

In 2006, after only one year in racing, Troy conquered the Northern California Senior Rotax Championship.  Being the youngest competitor in the class, he qualified and finished in the top four of every race; breaking several track records.  At the end of that year Troy was crowned the 2006 Rotax Champion.

In 2007, Troy raced in the Formula Russell series at Infineon Raceway.  He won many races, broke track qualifying records and finished on the podium numerous times. Troy, in his rookie season, finished 4th in the championship.

2008 proved to be a very exciting, but also very challenging year for Troy. He competed in the Italian Formula Master Championship. At the beginning of the year he moved to Italy; living on his own in an unfamiliar territory with an unfamiliar language. Troy acclimated himself quickly with the environment. Unfortunately, due to a falling economy, he was only able to compete in one race weekend, but Castaneda made the most of it finishing in the top 5 setting some of the fastest laps of the race. He continued to live in Italy determined to get back in the car. Troy traveled to countless meetings, working on gaining the funding to compete. While living there, Troy learned Italian, was able to meet many important people, but was unable to get back in the car.

In 2009, Castaneda moved back to the U.S. still determined to compete in Formula 1. With no funding from any sponsors, Troy was forced to step back into karting. He worked 3 jobs in order to race. Troy first competed in the Gatorz Challenge of the Americas competing in DD2 and finished as Vice Champion in the Championship. He then competed in the Northern California Rotax Max Challenge Championship in DD2 and won the Championship winning 8 out of the 10 races. He also won the overall U.S. Rotax Nationals points Championship as well. After finishing as Vice Champion in the U.S. Rotax Nationals, Troy was invited to compete at the prestigious Rotax World Finals where qualified the highest out of any American in the history of the event. He would go on to finish an impressive 5th place after starting in 34th (last place) as a result of a mistake from another driver in the pre-final.