We’ve all heard the saying “If not now, when?” – but how many of us can actually say we’ve held ourselves to it and followed through? For local professional performance and racing driver Demi Chalkias, this is more than just a saying – it’s a mantra in how she lives her life.
On March 20th UCR hosted a sell-out social at the Port Credit Yacht Club where members gathered to feast on a delicious Italian dinner and hear from the night’s guest speaker, Demi Chalkias, the driver of the #34 Mercedes-AMG GT4. Special thanks to UCR members Peter and Ursula Balzer who are longtime friends of the Chalkias family and helped make the connections to have Demi speak at our monthly social.
Demi’s passion for the automotive world stemmed from her father, Bill Chalkias, a longtime UCR member, instructor and racer. Growing up in rural Ontario, Demi recalls always loving anything with an engine. After suffering from a hip injury, ending her initial athletic passion for triathlons, she pivoted her focus to the automotive world. Starting with go-karts and eventually moving to advanced driving schools at Mosport and other local tracks, it was a passion, but she didn’t know how to pursue it as a career. While working a part-time job, she set off to university, but continued to spend her days thinking about the racetrack. The thought of “if not now, when?” kept coming back to her. As Demi’s passion for petrol became ever more evident, she decided to set her sights on making a career in racing. She dropped out of university to allow for more time to take on a second job to save up to buy her first race car and the rest, as they say, is history.
Chalkias’s racing career is adorned with a string of impressive accomplishments that underscore her talent, dedication, and spirit on the racetrack. In 2018, she soared to victory in her home-built race car as the CASC Pirelli GT4 Sprint Champion, followed by clinching the title of CASC Pirelli GT3 Sprint Champion in 2020 – the first female to win both championships. Her success continued in 2023, when she took home an admirable second-place finish in the FEL Motorsports Sports Car Championship in Canada, piloting the Mercedes AMG-GT4. Now, poised for the international stage, Chalkias is racing with JMF Motorsports for the 2024 season, where she will once again showcase her skill behind the wheel of the #34 AMG-GT4 in the SRO Pirelli GT4 America series. Proudly embracing her Greek heritage, Demi has incorporated a meaningful touch into her racing gear for the 2024 season by adding a Greek evil eye symbol to her helmet, symbolizing protection and warding off negative energy as she embarks to race toward victory.
In addition to her remarkable achievements on the track, Demi has also faced personal challenges that have tested her resolve and determination. In the spring of 2021, she was diagnosed with tenosynovial giant cell tumour (TGCT), a rare condition that attacks the body’s joints and threatened to derail her racing career. Undeterred by this formidable opponent, Chalkias tackled her diagnosis with the same tenacity and resilience that she brings to the racetrack. Through surgery and rigorous rehabilitation, she fought her way back to health, refusing to let her illness define her or hold her back from pursuing her passion for racing. Her dedication to recovery serves as a testament to her strength of character and unwavering determination to overcome any obstacle in her path, both on and off the track.
Chalkias’ racing journey will soon be released in a full-length documentary set to debut during the Montreal F1 weekend in June. The Mercedes-Benz doc focuses on the next generation of Canadian women in motorsport, where, alongside two other esteemed female racers, the documentary will offer an intimate glimpse into Chalkias’ racing career, celebrating her achievements and highlighting the challenges she has overcome along the way.
Beyond her achievements on the track and on-screen, Chalkias is a tireless advocate for diversity and inclusion in motorsports. As a devoted mentor to the next generation of racers, she continues to use her platform to inspire positive change within the racing community through speaking engagements, mentorship programs, charity events and community outreach initiatives. Chalkias is committed to nurturing talent and fostering inclusivity in motorsports, ensuring that aspiring racers from all backgrounds have the opportunity to pursue their dreams just as she did.
The evening with Demi was an opportunity for UCR members to hear firsthand accounts of her experiences and to interact with her on a personal level. As she mingled with guests, exchanging stories and sharing her passion for racing, it became evident that her love for the sport extended far beyond the track. Watching her interact with the young children in the crowd who were enamoured to chat and take photos with her was especially touching.
With her mom, Crystal, proudly looking on from the crowd, Demi smiled with admiration as she spoke of the support and guidance that has propelled her to where she is today.
“My parents always taught my sisters and me the importance of goal setting, accomplishing tasks, taking pride in our work and always being grateful for what we had. These are life lessons that I’ve carried with me my entire life, and I strongly believe they formed the base of all my success.”
The evening left it evident to UCR members that Demi has carved out a name for herself in a sport traditionally dominated by men, and is shattering stereotypes along the way. When Demi is not racing, she teaches advanced driving, conducts public speaking events and works with charitable organizations. She is also the proud aunt to her nieces and nephews, many of whom also inherited the racing gene and are making strides in the karting world.
As Demi Chalkias continues to push the boundaries of what’s possible in the world of motorsports, her journey serves as a powerful reminder of the transformative power of passion, perseverance, and purpose, and the possibilities of acting on thoughts of “if not now, when”. With each victory, she not only cements her own legacy but also paves the way for future generations of racers to follow in her footsteps. Be sure to keep up with Demi on Instagram and Facebook to watch and cheer her along as she pursues continued success. </>
Photography by Eshel Zweig
