Nicolai Elghanayan, 20, took third place in the top division of the Lotus Cup, held at the Sonoma Raceway, a 2.52-mile road course and drag strip, on Sept. 20-21, according to the race website.
His father and Laguna Beach resident Jeff Elghanayan trained his son beginning in middle school to build, control, and race cars.
The younger Elghanayan said he took inspiration from another Laguna Beach racer, Michael Lewis, a go-cart turned professional Formula and Porsche racer.
Elghanayan, a Laguna Beach High School graduate, finished the 12-lap race with an elapsed time in the Trophy Class of 1:47.264, says the Lotus Cup website. He looks forward to his next race at Spring Mountain in Parump, Nev., on Nov. 8-9.
