Champ Car Atlantic Championship
Encyclopedia
The Cooper Tires presents the Atlantic Championship Powered by Mazda
was a formula race car
series with races throughout North America. It is often colloquially referred to as the Atlantic Championship, Champ Car Atlantics (after its former name), Toyota Atlantics (due to the series' previous history of using Toyota-powered engines), or just Atlantics or Formula Atlantic, although the latter two terms risk confusion with the Sports Car Club of America
's amateur Formula Atlantics division. The series used to be sanctioned by the Champ Car World Series
before that series ceased operations in 2008, with most of its races being support races for the Champ Car World Series. Sanctioning by IMSA
was announced June 23, 2008.
As of March 3, 2010, the series is on hiatus, with its president citing difficult global economic conditions.
, or the highest levels of sports car racing such as American Le Mans. A US$
2 million prize was announced for the winner of the 2006 racing season and future seasons, with the restriction that it can only be used towards the cost of racing in the Champ Car World Series
. Simon Pagenaud
became champion in 2006 and claimed the first such prize, and he promptly moved to Champ Car in 2007 to race for Walker Racing
.
The series champion for 2007, Raphael Matos
, also won the $2 million prize towards a Champ Car ride. However, he elected not to accept it as he felt that without other sponsorship, he would be driving for a non-competitive team. Matos instead accepted an offer from the Andretti Green Racing
team in the developmental Firestone Indy Lights Series instead, where he was promised the chance to race in the Indy 500 and a future ride in the IndyCar Series
. 2007 runner-up, Franck Perera
, who finished on the podium eight times during the season and won three races ultimately signed to race with Champ Car team Conquest Racing. When Champ Car was purchased by IndyCar prior to the 2008 season, Conquest joined IndyCar with Perera.
As of 2009, the series offers an unrestricted $1,000,000 prize to the season champion, $500,000 to the runner-up, and $250,000 to the third place finisher on the season. These season rewards are part of total of $3,000,000 in total prize money, which also features $50,000 for each race win, and other bonuses such as a monetary pole position
reward.
016.a chassis powered by Mazda
-Cosworth
MZR 2300 cm³ (2.3 L) DOHC inline-4 engines producing 300 bhp (224 kW). The cars are capable of speeds in excess of 175 mph (280 km/h). The new formula has lowered the costs of running a full Atlantic season to around $500,000–$600,000. This reduction in costs, plus the addition of the aforementioned $2 million prize, had an immediate effect on increasing the number of competitors in the series (car count), which had dwindled over the previous few seasons. For example, the 2007 season featured 30 drivers.
Although the series had been run on Yokohama tires since 1991, the Japanese company elected to end its relationship with the series after the 2006 series, at which point it was replaced by Cooper Tire who are also the current title sponsor for the series.
The history of Formula Atlantic begins with the SCCA Formula B class, created in 1965 for single-seat formula cars with engines not exceeding 1600 cm³ in capacity. Prior to Formula Atlantic, professional Formula B races were held in the United States from 1965 to 1972, firstly with the SCCA's poorly-supported Formula A, then as part of the SCCA Formula Continental Championship in 1968 (when they were largely overshadowed by the V8-powered Formula 5000
cars) and then as an independent series from 1969 to 1972.
Formula Atlantic as a class evolved in the United Kingdom in 1971 from the US Formula B rules, with 1600 cm³ production-based twin-cam engines (initially Lotus-Ford twin-cams but then Cosworth BDA and BDD, however other engines like Alfa Romeo were also eligible). Conceived by John Webb of Brands Hatch
(who would later also develop the Sports 2000
class) as a category for national competitors with the performance near a Formula Two car but running costs at or below that of a contemporary Formula Three car. A single (Yellow Pages
championship ran in 1971–72, with a rival BP backed series appearing in 1973. 1974 saw the BP series changing sponsor to John Player
, and the Yellow Pages series becoming backed by John Webb's MCD organisation and Southern Organs; in practice most top drivers competed in both series and there were no date clashes. Only one series ran in 1975-76, in the final year taking the title Indylantic and adopting Indianapolis-style single-car qualifying. But the formula was under threat from Formula 3 and no series ran in 1977–78. The series returned in 1979 with backing (for one season only) from Hitachi
and continued to 1983, with diminishing grids and few new cars appearing.
As a result of its similarity to Formula 2 and Formula 3 in terms of chassis regulations, Formula Atlantic typically used chassis closely related to these cars—with performance somewhere in between the two—so most of the manufacturers were familiar from those classes, particularly the likes of Brabham, Lotus
, March
, Chevron
early on, with Ralt
and then Reynard
later. US manufacturer Swift
came to displace the British imports and dominate in North America. Several smaller marques also appeared.
The first professional races run under Formula Atlantic rules in North America were conducted in 1974 by the Canadian Automobile Sport Clubs
(CASC) in Canada (now ASN Canada), drawing much attention and large fields due to its national CTV
television coverage. IMSA
in the United States took advantage of the large number of teams and organized their own series in 1976.
During these years, the series attracted guest drivers from Europe, including Formula One, particularly at the Trois-Rivières
street race in Quebec, Canada. Guest drivers included James Hunt
, Jean-Pierre Jarier
, Riccardo Patrese
, Patrick Depailler
, Jacques Laffite
, Didier Pironi
and Vittorio Brambilla
.
In 1977, the SCCA sanctioned the US events and in 1978 the CASC and SCCA series merged, and conducted the series jointly until 1983, when it ran as the Formula Mondial North American Cup; Michael Andretti
won the championship. The series could not sustain the success of earlier seasons and was cancelled for 1984.
In its place a "Pacific" series was conducted exclusively on the US West Coast in 1985. This rebirth expanded to an East Coast "Atlantic" series the following year and the two ran concurrently through 1990. From 1990 to 2005, the series was sponsored by Toyota and the cars were powered by 1600 cc Toyota 4A-GE engines available in kit form from Toyota Racing Development
. With the support of Toyota, the two US series were reunited into a single North American championship and have remained so to this date.
The same rules were adopted as Formula Pacific
(not to be confused with the US Formula Atlantic Pacific Championship) and races were run in Australia
, and New Zealand
, where Formula Pacific became the top class of racing. For a few years the prestigious Macau Grand Prix
was run to Formula Pacific rules before becoming a Formula Three
race. South Africa also adopted Formula Atlantic rules, but later mandated that the cars were fitted with Mazda
Wankel engines.
In recognition of the global acceptance of the formula it was briefly renamed Formula Mondial
in 1983, but its peak of international popularity was some years past.
Former drivers in the series include legends such as Gilles Villeneuve
, Jacques Villeneuve
, Bobby Rahal
and Michael Andretti
, and many current and former IRL and Champ Car drivers including Jimmy Vasser
, Paul Tracy
, Calvin Fish
, A. J. Allmendinger
, Ryan Hunter-Reay
, Scott Harrington
, Robbie Buhl
, Andrew Ranger
, Ronnie Bremer
, Danica Patrick
, Alex Tagliani
, Patrick Carpentier
, Buddy Rice
, Dan Wheldon
, Sam Hornish, Jr.
, Raphael Matos
, Roger Yasukawa
, and Simona De Silvestro
.
The latest in a long line of television celebrities to enter this series—starting with Dick Smothers
at the very first race in 1968—was Frankie Muniz
of the Fox Network comedy "Malcolm in the Middle", making his debut in 2007. Sharing the dream of many American open wheel racers, Muniz stated his intention to use Champ Car Atlantics as a direct path to racing in the Champ Car World Series.
As mentioned in the list of former drivers, Danica Patrick
was an Atlantic competitor in 2003 and 2004. She was the first woman to score a pole position in the series, and the first woman to finish on the podium. She also led the 2004 season briefly before finishing third overall in season results, but did not notch a win in two years of Atlantic competition.
Katherine Legge
also competed in Atlantic for a season. In 2005, she became the first woman in history to win a professional open wheel race in North America, at Long Beach, CA
. She then amassed two more wins in the same season, and finished third overall in season results.
Simona De Silvestro
was an Atlantic Championship contender who led a large portion 2009 Atlantic Championship season
, ultimately finishing third. In three years in the series, she has bettered Katherine Legge's career mark of three wins, with one in 2008 and four in 2009.
, which features live coverage of certain events, and replays of others.
Web video of events has also historically been available on the series website, and the series also has its own official YouTube
channel under the username "AtlanticRacingSeries."
Despite these efforts, on March 3, 2010, series officials announced that the 2010 season had been put on hold. Robert Davis of Mazda North American Operations said, "all of us at Mazda are disappointed that the Atlantic Championship will be on hiatus this year." Series president Ben Johnston stated: "the Atlantic Championship office will be working during the down time in order to deliver an unparalleled racing offering when economic conditions allow."
Mazda
is a Japanese automotive manufacturer based in Fuchū, Aki District, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan.In 2007, Mazda produced almost 1.3 million vehicles for global sales...
was a formula race car
Formula racing
Formula racing is a term that refers to various forms of open wheeled single seater motorsport. Its origin lies in the nomenclature that was adopted by the FIA for all of its post-World War II single seater regulations, or formulae. The best known of these formulæ are Formula One, Formula Two, and...
series with races throughout North America. It is often colloquially referred to as the Atlantic Championship, Champ Car Atlantics (after its former name), Toyota Atlantics (due to the series' previous history of using Toyota-powered engines), or just Atlantics or Formula Atlantic, although the latter two terms risk confusion with the Sports Car Club of America
Sports Car Club of America
The Sports Car Club of America is a club and sanctioning body supporting road racing, rallying, and autocross in the United States. Formed in 1944, it runs many programs for both amateur and professional racers.-History:...
's amateur Formula Atlantics division. The series used to be sanctioned by the Champ Car World Series
Champ Car
Champ Car was the name for a class and specification of open wheel cars used in American Championship Car Racing for many decades, primarily for use in the Indianapolis 500 auto race...
before that series ceased operations in 2008, with most of its races being support races for the Champ Car World Series. Sanctioning by IMSA
International Motor Sports Association
The International Motor Sports Association is an American sports car auto racing sanctioning body based in Braselton, Georgia. It was started by John Bishop, a former employee of SCCA , and his wife Peggy in 1969 with help from Bill France, Sr...
was announced June 23, 2008.
As of March 3, 2010, the series is on hiatus, with its president citing difficult global economic conditions.
Series information
The Atlantics series is a developmental open-wheel racing series in North America, also called a "ladder series." In 2005, a new factor was announced to solidify this reputation as the last series in which a driver will compete before moving to Champ CarChamp Car
Champ Car was the name for a class and specification of open wheel cars used in American Championship Car Racing for many decades, primarily for use in the Indianapolis 500 auto race...
, or the highest levels of sports car racing such as American Le Mans. A US$
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
2 million prize was announced for the winner of the 2006 racing season and future seasons, with the restriction that it can only be used towards the cost of racing in the Champ Car World Series
Champ Car
Champ Car was the name for a class and specification of open wheel cars used in American Championship Car Racing for many decades, primarily for use in the Indianapolis 500 auto race...
. Simon Pagenaud
Simon Pagenaud
Simon Pagenaud is a French race car driver born in Poitiers. He currently races in the IZOD IndyCar Series with Dreyer & Reinbold Racing.-Career:...
became champion in 2006 and claimed the first such prize, and he promptly moved to Champ Car in 2007 to race for Walker Racing
Walker Racing
Walker Racing is a racing team founded by Derrick Walker in 1991 racing originally in the CART Championship Car series. Presently the team competes in the Firestone Indy Lights series.-Early success:...
.
The series champion for 2007, Raphael Matos
Raphael Matos
Raphael Matos is a Brazilian racing driver from Belo Horizonte. He currently participates in the IZOD IndyCar Series for AFS Racing. He was the 2008 Firestone Indy Lights Series champion and the 2007 Champ Car Atlantic Series champion...
, also won the $2 million prize towards a Champ Car ride. However, he elected not to accept it as he felt that without other sponsorship, he would be driving for a non-competitive team. Matos instead accepted an offer from the Andretti Green Racing
Andretti Green Racing
Andretti Autosport is an auto racing team that competes in the IndyCar Series, Firestone Indy Lights, Star Mazda Championship, and U.S. F2000 National Championship.-Current IndyCar Drivers and Cars:*7 Danica Patrick, GoDaddy.com*26 Marco Andretti...
team in the developmental Firestone Indy Lights Series instead, where he was promised the chance to race in the Indy 500 and a future ride in the IndyCar Series
IndyCar Series
The IZOD IndyCar Series is the premier level of American open wheel racing. The current championship, founded by Indianapolis Motor Speedway owner Tony George, began in 1996 as a competitor to CART known as the Indy Racing League . Citing CART's increasing reliance on expensive machinery and...
. 2007 runner-up, Franck Perera
Franck Perera
Franck Perera is a race car driver who has competed in a number of international open wheel racing championships.-Career:...
, who finished on the podium eight times during the season and won three races ultimately signed to race with Champ Car team Conquest Racing. When Champ Car was purchased by IndyCar prior to the 2008 season, Conquest joined IndyCar with Perera.
As of 2009, the series offers an unrestricted $1,000,000 prize to the season champion, $500,000 to the runner-up, and $250,000 to the third place finisher on the season. These season rewards are part of total of $3,000,000 in total prize money, which also features $50,000 for each race win, and other bonuses such as a monetary pole position
Pole position
The term "pole position", as used in motorsports, comes from the horse racing term where the number one starter starts on the inside next to the inside pole. The term made its way, along with several other customs, to auto racing. In circuit motorsports, a driver has pole position when he or she...
reward.
Race equipment
Starting in 2006, the series has been run exclusively with SwiftSwift Engineering
Swift Engineering is an American engineering firm, most notable for producing racing cars for a variety of open-wheel racing series, including Champ Car World Series, Formula Atlantic, and Formula Nippon.-History:...
016.a chassis powered by Mazda
Mazda
is a Japanese automotive manufacturer based in Fuchū, Aki District, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan.In 2007, Mazda produced almost 1.3 million vehicles for global sales...
-Cosworth
Cosworth
Cosworth is a high performance engineering company founded in London in 1958, specialising in engines and electronics for automobile racing , mainstream automotive and defence industries...
MZR 2300 cm³ (2.3 L) DOHC inline-4 engines producing 300 bhp (224 kW). The cars are capable of speeds in excess of 175 mph (280 km/h). The new formula has lowered the costs of running a full Atlantic season to around $500,000–$600,000. This reduction in costs, plus the addition of the aforementioned $2 million prize, had an immediate effect on increasing the number of competitors in the series (car count), which had dwindled over the previous few seasons. For example, the 2007 season featured 30 drivers.
Although the series had been run on Yokohama tires since 1991, the Japanese company elected to end its relationship with the series after the 2006 series, at which point it was replaced by Cooper Tire who are also the current title sponsor for the series.
Specifications
- Chassis: Swift 016.a, Carbon-fibre composite with kevlar, two roll-over structures. No change of chassis during an event.
- Engine Displacement: Cosworth Built Mazda 2.3 L (140 in³) MZR DOHCOverhead camshaftOverhead cam valvetrain configurations place the engine camshaft within the cylinder heads, above the combustion chambers, and drive the valves or lifters in a more direct manner compared to overhead valves and pushrods...
I-4Straight-4The inline-four engine or straight-four engine is an internal combustion engine with all four cylinders mounted in a straight line, or plane along the crankcase. The single bank of cylinders may be oriented in either a vertical or an inclined plane with all the pistons driving a common crankshaft....
. - Gearbox: Swift 5 Speed Sequential Manual TransmissionSequential manual transmissionA sequential manual transmission is a type of manual transmission used on motorcycles and high-performance cars for auto racing, where gears are selected in order, and direct access to specific gears is not possible....
(must have reverse). - Power Output: 280 hp @ 6500 rpm.
- Fuel: VP Racing Fuels 108 RONOctane ratingOctane rating or octane number is a standard measure of the anti-knock properties of a motor or aviation fuel. The higher the octane number, the more compression the fuel can withstand before detonating...
LeadedTetra-ethyl leadTetraethyllead , abbreviated TEL, is an organolead compound with the formula 4Pb. An inexpensive additive, its addition to gasoline from the 1920's allowed octane ratings and thus engine compression to be boosted significantly, increasing power and fuel economy...
gasolineGasolineGasoline , or petrol , is a toxic, translucent, petroleum-derived liquid that is primarily used as a fuel in internal combustion engines. It consists mostly of organic compounds obtained by the fractional distillation of petroleum, enhanced with a variety of additives. Some gasolines also contain...
, no refueling (similar to Formula 3Formula ThreeFormula Three, also called Formula 3 or F3, is a class of open-wheel formula racing. The various championships held in Europe, Australia, South America and Asia form an important step for many prospective Formula One drivers...
, GP2 SeriesGP2 SeriesThe GP2 Series, GP2 for short, is a form of open wheel motor racing introduced in 2005 following the discontinuation of the long-term Formula One feeder series, Formula 3000. The format was conceived by Bernie Ecclestone and Flavio Briatore, while Ecclestone also has the rights to the name GP1...
, GP3 SeriesGP3 SeriesThe GP3 Series, or GP3 for short, is a single seater motor racing series launched in 2010 as a feeder series for the GP2 Series, introduced by GP2 organiser Bruno Michel. It was initially thought that the GP3 series would merge with the International Formula Master series...
, Formula 1 and Formula RenaultFormula RenaultFormula Renault is a class of formula racing founded in 1971. It is popular in Europe and other countries. Regarded as an entry-level series to motor racing, it is a respected series where drivers can learn advanced racecraft before moving on to Formula Three, World Series by Renault, GP2 or...
s). - Fuel Tank: IMSAInternational Motor Sports AssociationThe International Motor Sports Association is an American sports car auto racing sanctioning body based in Braselton, Georgia. It was started by John Bishop, a former employee of SCCA , and his wife Peggy in 1969 with help from Bill France, Sr...
homologated rubber safety tank. - Fuel Delivery: Fuel injectionFuel injectionFuel injection is a system for admitting fuel into an internal combustion engine. It has become the primary fuel delivery system used in automotive petrol engines, having almost completely replaced carburetors in the late 1980s....
. - Aspiration: Naturally aspirated.
- Electronics/ECU: Cosworth Electronics Data: Pi Research Sigma/ECU - Pectel SQ6/Wiring - Performance Wiring Solutions wiring.
- Length: 4,498 mm (177.1 in).
- Width: 1,956 mm (77 in).
- Wheelbase: 2,776 mm (109.3 in).
- Weight: 643 kg (1,418 lb), with driver.
- Steering: Manual, rack and pinionRack and pinionA rack and pinion is a type of linear actuator that comprises a pair of gears which convert rotational motion into linear motion. A circular gear called "the pinion" engages teeth on a linear "gear" bar called "the rack"; rotational motion applied to the pinion causes the rack to move, thereby...
. - Drivetrain: 2WD only.
- Brakes: Performance Friction Brakes.
- Tires: Cooper Atlantic Championship racing slicks and rain tires.
- Wheel rims: BBS.
- Safety equipment: HANS deviceHANS deviceThe HANS device is a safety item compulsory in many car racing sports...
, Seat belt 6-point supplied by Sabelt. - Prohibitings: Active suspension, telemetry and traction control.
History
Formula 5000
Formula 5000 was an open wheel, single seater auto-racing formula that ran in different series in various regions around the world from 1968 to 1982. It was originally intended as a low-cost series aimed at open-wheel racing cars that no longer fit into any particular formula...
cars) and then as an independent series from 1969 to 1972.
Formula Atlantic as a class evolved in the United Kingdom in 1971 from the US Formula B rules, with 1600 cm³ production-based twin-cam engines (initially Lotus-Ford twin-cams but then Cosworth BDA and BDD, however other engines like Alfa Romeo were also eligible). Conceived by John Webb of Brands Hatch
Brands Hatch
Brands Hatch is a motor racing circuit near West Kingsdown in Kent, England. First used as a dirt track motorcycle circuit on farmland, it hosted 12 runnings of the British Grand Prix between 1964 and 1986 and currently holds many British and international racing events...
(who would later also develop the Sports 2000
Sports 2000
Sports 2000 is a restricted-rules class of two-seat, rear-engined, open-cockpit, full-bodied sports-prototype racecar used largely in amateur road racing. Sometimes known as S2000 or S2, the class was developed by John Webb, then of the Brands Hatch racing circuit in England, as an affordable form...
class) as a category for national competitors with the performance near a Formula Two car but running costs at or below that of a contemporary Formula Three car. A single (Yellow Pages
Yellow Pages
Yellow Pages refers to a telephone directory of businesses, organized by category, rather than alphabetically by business name and in which advertising is sold. As the name suggests, such directories were originally printed on yellow paper, as opposed to white pages for non-commercial listings...
championship ran in 1971–72, with a rival BP backed series appearing in 1973. 1974 saw the BP series changing sponsor to John Player
Imperial Tobacco
Imperial Tobacco is a global tobacco company headquartered in Bristol, United Kingdom. It is the world’s fourth-largest cigarette company measured by market share , and the world's largest producer of cigars, fine-cut tobacco and tobacco papers...
, and the Yellow Pages series becoming backed by John Webb's MCD organisation and Southern Organs; in practice most top drivers competed in both series and there were no date clashes. Only one series ran in 1975-76, in the final year taking the title Indylantic and adopting Indianapolis-style single-car qualifying. But the formula was under threat from Formula 3 and no series ran in 1977–78. The series returned in 1979 with backing (for one season only) from Hitachi
Hitachi, Ltd.
is a Japanese multinational conglomerate headquartered in Marunouchi 1-chome, Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan. The company is the parent of the Hitachi Group as part of the larger DKB Group companies...
and continued to 1983, with diminishing grids and few new cars appearing.
As a result of its similarity to Formula 2 and Formula 3 in terms of chassis regulations, Formula Atlantic typically used chassis closely related to these cars—with performance somewhere in between the two—so most of the manufacturers were familiar from those classes, particularly the likes of Brabham, Lotus
Team Lotus
Team Lotus was the motorsport sister company of English sports car manufacturer Lotus Cars. The team ran cars in many motorsport series including Formula One, Formula Two, Formula Ford, Formula Junior, IndyCar and sports car racing...
, March
March Engineering
March Engineering was a Formula One constructor and manufacturer of customer racing cars from the United Kingdom. Although only moderately successful in Grand Prix competition, March racing cars enjoyed much better achievement in other categories of competition including Formula Two, Formula Three,...
, Chevron
Chevron Cars Ltd
Chevron Cars Ltd. is a manufacturer of racing cars, founded by Derek Bennett in 1965. Following Bennett's death in 1978, the firm has remained active in various guises. The original company's designs and name continue to be utilized by Roger Andreason to build replacement parts and continuation...
early on, with Ralt
Ralt
RALT was a manufacturer of single-seater racing cars, founded by ex-Jack Brabham associate Ron Tauranac after he sold out his interest in Brabham to Bernie Ecclestone. Ron and his brother had built some specials in Australia in the 1950s under the RALT name...
and then Reynard
Reynard Motorsport
Reynard Motorsport was at one time the world's largest racing car manufacturer. Initially based at Bicester and latterly at Reynard Park, Brackley, England the company built successful cars in Formula Ford 1600, Formula Ford 2000, Formula Vauxhall Lotus, Formula Three, Formula 3000 and Indy...
later. US manufacturer Swift
Swift Engineering
Swift Engineering is an American engineering firm, most notable for producing racing cars for a variety of open-wheel racing series, including Champ Car World Series, Formula Atlantic, and Formula Nippon.-History:...
came to displace the British imports and dominate in North America. Several smaller marques also appeared.
The first professional races run under Formula Atlantic rules in North America were conducted in 1974 by the Canadian Automobile Sport Clubs
Canadian Automobile Sport Clubs
Canadian Automobile Sport Clubs was the national governing body for Canadian motorsport from 1958 to 1988.Its origins stretched back to 1951, when three independent car clubs met in Kingston, Ontario to found the Canadian Auto Sport Committee. The name was changed to the Canadian Automobile Sport...
(CASC) in Canada (now ASN Canada), drawing much attention and large fields due to its national CTV
CTV television network
CTV Television Network is a Canadian English language television network and is owned by Bell Media. It is Canada's largest privately-owned network, and has consistently placed as Canada's top-rated network in total viewers and in key demographics since 2002, after several years trailing the rival...
television coverage. IMSA
International Motor Sports Association
The International Motor Sports Association is an American sports car auto racing sanctioning body based in Braselton, Georgia. It was started by John Bishop, a former employee of SCCA , and his wife Peggy in 1969 with help from Bill France, Sr...
in the United States took advantage of the large number of teams and organized their own series in 1976.
During these years, the series attracted guest drivers from Europe, including Formula One, particularly at the Trois-Rivières
Trois-Rivières, Quebec
Trois-Rivières is a city in the Mauricie region of Quebec, Canada, located at the confluence of the Saint-Maurice and Saint Lawrence Rivers. It is situated in the Mauricie administrative region, on the north shore of the Saint Lawrence River across from the city of Bécancour...
street race in Quebec, Canada. Guest drivers included James Hunt
James Hunt
James Simon Wallis Hunt was a British racing driver from England who won the Formula One World Championship in . Hunt's often action packed exploits on track earned him the nickname "Hunt the Shunt." After retiring from driving, Hunt became a media commentator and businessman...
, Jean-Pierre Jarier
Jean-Pierre Jarier
Jean-Pierre Jacques Jarier is a French Grand Prix racing driver, now retired. He was born at Charenton-le-Pont, near Paris, and is regarded as one of the finest drivers never to win a Grand Prix....
, Riccardo Patrese
Riccardo Patrese
Riccardo Gabriele Patrese is an Italian former racing driver, who raced in Formula One from to .He became the first Formula One driver to achieve 200 Grand Prix starts when he appeared at the 1990 British Grand Prix, and the first to achieve 250 starts at the 1993 German Grand Prix...
, Patrick Depailler
Patrick Depailler
Patrick André Eugène Joseph Depailler was a racing driver from France. He participated in 95 World Championship Formula One Grands Prix, debuting on 2 July 1972. He also participated in several non-Championship Formula One races.Depailler was born in Clermont-Ferrand, Puy-de-Dôme. As a child, he...
, Jacques Laffite
Jacques Laffite
Jacques-Henri Laffite is a French former racing driver who competed in Formula One from to . He achieved six grand prix wins, all while driving for the Ligier team. He is now a TV commentator on French television TF1....
, Didier Pironi
Didier Pironi
Didier Joseph Louis Pironi was a racing driver from France. During his career he competed in 72 Formula One World Championship Grands Prix, driving for Tyrrell , Ligier and Ferrari...
and Vittorio Brambilla
Vittorio Brambilla
Vittorio Brambilla was a Formula One driver from Italy who raced for the March, Surtees and Alfa Romeo teams. Particularly adept at driving in wet conditions, his nickname was "The Monza Gorilla", due to his often overly aggressive driving style and sense of machismo.-Career:Born in the town of...
.
In 1977, the SCCA sanctioned the US events and in 1978 the CASC and SCCA series merged, and conducted the series jointly until 1983, when it ran as the Formula Mondial North American Cup; Michael Andretti
Michael Andretti
Michael Mario Andretti is a retired American CART and Formula One driver and owner of the Andretti Autosport team in the IndyCar Series. Andretti is the son of Mario Andretti. His son is Marco Andretti.-Early career:...
won the championship. The series could not sustain the success of earlier seasons and was cancelled for 1984.
In its place a "Pacific" series was conducted exclusively on the US West Coast in 1985. This rebirth expanded to an East Coast "Atlantic" series the following year and the two ran concurrently through 1990. From 1990 to 2005, the series was sponsored by Toyota and the cars were powered by 1600 cc Toyota 4A-GE engines available in kit form from Toyota Racing Development
Toyota Racing Development
Toyota Racing Development or TRD is the in-house tuning shop for all Toyota, Lexus, and Scion cars. TRD is responsible both for improving street cars for more performance and supporting Toyota's racing interests around the world. TRD produces various tuning products and accessories, including...
. With the support of Toyota, the two US series were reunited into a single North American championship and have remained so to this date.
The same rules were adopted as Formula Pacific
Formula Pacific
Formula Pacific was a motor racing category which was utilised in the Pacific Basin area from 1977 to 1982. It specified a single-seat, open-wheeler chassis powered by a production-based four-cylinder engine of under 1600cc capacity. The formula was based on Formula Atlantic, with provision made...
(not to be confused with the US Formula Atlantic Pacific Championship) and races were run in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, and New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, where Formula Pacific became the top class of racing. For a few years the prestigious Macau Grand Prix
Macau Grand Prix
The Macau Grand Prix is a motor-racing event held annually in Macau, one of China's Special Administrative Regions. It is known for being the only street circuit racing event in which both car and motorcycle races are held...
was run to Formula Pacific rules before becoming a Formula Three
Formula Three
Formula Three, also called Formula 3 or F3, is a class of open-wheel formula racing. The various championships held in Europe, Australia, South America and Asia form an important step for many prospective Formula One drivers...
race. South Africa also adopted Formula Atlantic rules, but later mandated that the cars were fitted with Mazda
Mazda
is a Japanese automotive manufacturer based in Fuchū, Aki District, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan.In 2007, Mazda produced almost 1.3 million vehicles for global sales...
Wankel engines.
In recognition of the global acceptance of the formula it was briefly renamed Formula Mondial
Formula Mondial
Formula Mondial was an international motor racing category which was introduced to replace both Formula Atlantic and the similar Formula Pacific in 1983....
in 1983, but its peak of international popularity was some years past.
Former drivers in the series include legends such as Gilles Villeneuve
Gilles Villeneuve
Joseph Gilles Henri Villeneuve, better known as Gilles Villeneuve , was a Canadian racing driver. An enthusiast of cars and fast driving from an early age, he started his professional career in snowmobile racing in his native province of Quebec...
, Jacques Villeneuve
Jacques Villeneuve
Jacques Joseph Charles Villeneuve, , is a Canadian musician and automobile racing driver. He is the son of the late Formula One driver Gilles Villeneuve, and is the namesake of his uncle...
, Bobby Rahal
Bobby Rahal
Robert "Bobby" Woodward Rahal is an American auto racing driver and team owner. As a driver, he won three championships and 24 races in the CART open-wheel series, including the 1986 Indianapolis 500...
and Michael Andretti
Michael Andretti
Michael Mario Andretti is a retired American CART and Formula One driver and owner of the Andretti Autosport team in the IndyCar Series. Andretti is the son of Mario Andretti. His son is Marco Andretti.-Early career:...
, and many current and former IRL and Champ Car drivers including Jimmy Vasser
Jimmy Vasser
Jimmy Vasser is a retired American racing driver and current co-owner of KV Racing Technology. Vasser won the 1996 IndyCar season championship with Chip Ganassi Racing, and scored ten victories in the series...
, Paul Tracy
Paul Tracy
Paul Tracy is a professional automobile racer who has competed in CART, the ChampCar World Series and the IndyCar Series...
, Calvin Fish
Calvin Fish
Calvin Fish is an English television announcer for the Speed Channel and a former race car driver.Fish began his career in karts at 13. He then moved to Formula Ford in 1979 at age 18 and then British Formula Three. He then came to the United States and competed in various classes of SCCA...
, A. J. Allmendinger
A. J. Allmendinger
Allmendinger again failed to qualify for the 2008 Daytona 500. After three failures to qualify in 2 attempts , he was replaced by veteran driver Mike Skinner on a temporary basis. Allmendinger returned to the Cup series at Talladega...
, Ryan Hunter-Reay
Ryan Hunter-Reay
Ryan Hunter-Reay is a professional American race car driver best known as the only driver to have won races in each of North America's top open wheel formulas, CART the ChampCar World Series and the IndyCar Series...
, Scott Harrington
Scott Harrington
Scott Harrington is a former driver in the Indy Racing League. Starting out on two wheels, Harrington won a number of championships and achieved much success in the world of AMA Motocross and Supercross. In 1986 Sports Car Magazine picked Harrington as one of the three most promising drivers in...
, Robbie Buhl
Robbie Buhl
Robbie Buhl is a former Indy Racing League competitor and current team-owner, with the Dreyer & Reinbold Racing team in the IRL's IndyCar Series...
, Andrew Ranger
Andrew Ranger
Andrew Ranger is a Canadian racing driver driving in the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series in the #27 Ford Fusion for Jacombs racing and the #35 Waste Management Chevy in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East...
, Ronnie Bremer
Ronnie Bremer
Ronnie Bremer is a Danish racecar driver who has driven in the Champ Car World Series.Bremer won three consecutive Danish Formula A karting championships from 1998 to 2000, before racing in British Formula Ford and Formula 3...
, Danica Patrick
Danica Patrick
Danica Sue Patrick is an American auto racing driver, model and advertising spokeswoman. She is the most successful woman in the history of American open-wheel racing, being the only woman to win in the IndyCar Series as well as holding the highest finish by a woman at the Indianapolis 500 of 3rd...
, Alex Tagliani
Alex Tagliani
Alexandre Tagliani is a Canadian auto racing driver from Montreal, Quebec, Canada. He currently competes in the IZOD IndyCar Series, driving the #77 entry for Sam Schmidt Motorsports.-Champ Car career:...
, Patrick Carpentier
Patrick Carpentier
Patrick Carpentier is a retired Canadian race car driver. He is best known for his career in the Champ Car World Series and the IndyCar Series. In 2009, Patrick shared the #36 of Tommy Baldwin Racing with Mike Skinner and ran Michael Waltrip's #55 Toyota Camry in the road course races in the...
, Buddy Rice
Buddy Rice
Buddy Rice is an American racecar driver. He is best known for winning the 2004 Indianapolis 500 while driving for Rahal Letterman Racing, and the 2009 24 Hours of Daytona for Brumos Racing.-Early career:...
, Dan Wheldon
Dan Wheldon
Daniel Clive "Dan" Wheldon was a British racing driver from England. He was the 2005 Indy Racing League IndyCar Series champion, and winner of the Indianapolis 500 in both 2005 and 2011...
, Sam Hornish, Jr.
Sam Hornish, Jr.
Racing League]] championships. He currently drives the #12 Alliance Truck Parts Dodge Challenger for Penske Racing part-time in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. He also drives the #38 Front Row Motorsports Ford when Travis Kvapil is unable to drive the car....
, Raphael Matos
Raphael Matos
Raphael Matos is a Brazilian racing driver from Belo Horizonte. He currently participates in the IZOD IndyCar Series for AFS Racing. He was the 2008 Firestone Indy Lights Series champion and the 2007 Champ Car Atlantic Series champion...
, Roger Yasukawa
Roger Yasukawa
Roger Yasukawa is a Japanese-American auto racing driver.Yasukawa started karting in Southern California, winning the California State Championship in 1991 in Junior Sportsman. He then moved to Italy to compete in JICA...
, and Simona De Silvestro
Simona de Silvestro
Simona de Silvestro is a Swiss race car driver from Thun, Switzerland. She is currently competing for HVM Racing in the IZOD IndyCar Series...
.
The latest in a long line of television celebrities to enter this series—starting with Dick Smothers
Dick Smothers
Richard Remick "Dick" Smothers is an American actor, comedian, composer and musician. He is best known for being half of the musical comedy team, the Smothers Brothers, with his older brother Tom.-Life and career:...
at the very first race in 1968—was Frankie Muniz
Frankie Muniz
Francisco "Frankie" Muniz IV is an American actor, musician, writer, producer, and racecar driver. He is known primarily as the star of the FOX television family sitcom Malcolm in the Middle. In 2003, he was considered "one of Hollywood's most bankable teens". In 2008, he put his acting career...
of the Fox Network comedy "Malcolm in the Middle", making his debut in 2007. Sharing the dream of many American open wheel racers, Muniz stated his intention to use Champ Car Atlantics as a direct path to racing in the Champ Car World Series.
Women in the Atlantic Championship
A few women have chosen to participate in Atlantic racing under the Toyota Atlantic or Atlantic Championship powered by Mazda banner.As mentioned in the list of former drivers, Danica Patrick
Danica Patrick
Danica Sue Patrick is an American auto racing driver, model and advertising spokeswoman. She is the most successful woman in the history of American open-wheel racing, being the only woman to win in the IndyCar Series as well as holding the highest finish by a woman at the Indianapolis 500 of 3rd...
was an Atlantic competitor in 2003 and 2004. She was the first woman to score a pole position in the series, and the first woman to finish on the podium. She also led the 2004 season briefly before finishing third overall in season results, but did not notch a win in two years of Atlantic competition.
Katherine Legge
Katherine Legge
Katherine Legge is a British auto racing driver, formerly racing in the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters.-Early racing and Atlantics:Prior to joining the Toyota Atlantic series, she raced in several developmental open-wheel series in Britain, including Formula Three, Formula Renault and Formula Ford....
also competed in Atlantic for a season. In 2005, she became the first woman in history to win a professional open wheel race in North America, at Long Beach, CA
Long Beach Grand Prix
The Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach is an open-wheel race held on a street circuit in Long Beach, California. Christopher Pook is the founder and promoter which began as a vision while working at a travel agency in downtown Long Beach. It was the premier circuit in the Champ Car from 1996, and...
. She then amassed two more wins in the same season, and finished third overall in season results.
Simona De Silvestro
Simona de Silvestro
Simona de Silvestro is a Swiss race car driver from Thun, Switzerland. She is currently competing for HVM Racing in the IZOD IndyCar Series...
was an Atlantic Championship contender who led a large portion 2009 Atlantic Championship season
2009 Atlantic Championship season
The 2009 IMSA Cooper Tires Atlantic Championship season was the thirty-sixth Atlantic Championship season. It was the first full season of the Championship under the sanctioning of the International Motor Sports Association...
, ultimately finishing third. In three years in the series, she has bettered Katherine Legge's career mark of three wins, with one in 2008 and four in 2009.
Series ownership and sponsor commitments
On October 31, 2008, an official announcement was made that the Atlantic Championship series had been purchased by Ben Johnston, an Atlanta area businessman and one-time Atlantic racer. At the same time, Mazda and Cooper Tires also announced a continuing commitment to the series. Then, in 2009, Mazda recommitted its support to the Atlantic Championship by extending an engine contract that covers the series through the year 2011.Television and other video
Atlantic Championship races have previously been shown on multiple networks, including SPEED. For 2009, a new high definition television package was announced on HDNetHDNet
HDNet is a men's interest television channel in the United States, broadcasting exclusively in high-definition format and available via cable and satellite television...
, which features live coverage of certain events, and replays of others.
Web video of events has also historically been available on the series website, and the series also has its own official YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
channel under the username "AtlanticRacingSeries."
Current status of series
In early 2010, Atlantic Championship personnel publicized several features intended to attract new drivers and retain existing racers and teams. One was to brand the series as the "Road to F1," announcing that "at least one current European F1 team manager" would be in attendance to monitor a test for interested racers. Another was to announce prize money that would be paid directly to drivers, rather than to teams. Another press release listed teams that were committed to the series.Despite these efforts, on March 3, 2010, series officials announced that the 2010 season had been put on hold. Robert Davis of Mazda North American Operations said, "all of us at Mazda are disappointed that the Atlantic Championship will be on hiatus this year." Series president Ben Johnston stated: "the Atlantic Championship office will be working during the down time in order to deliver an unparalleled racing offering when economic conditions allow."
Champions
| Season | Champion | Team Champion | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Formula Atlantic | ||||
| 1974 |  Bill BrackBill Brack William Brack is a former racing driver. He originally became involved in auto racing in the early 1960s, in the form of ice-racing Minis in Huntsville, Ontario... |
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| 1975 1975 Formula Atlantic season The 1975 Player's Canadian Formula Atlantic Series season was contested over 6 rounds. In this one-make engine formula all drivers had to utilize Ford engines.-Calendar:-Driver:... |
Bill Brack Bill Brack William Brack is a former racing driver. He originally became involved in auto racing in the early 1960s, in the form of ice-racing Minis in Huntsville, Ontario... |
 Scott Racing |
||
| 1976 CASC 1976 Formula Atlantic season CASC The 1976 CASC Formula Atlantic Players Championship Series season was contested over 6 rounds. In this one-make engine formula all drivers had to utilize Ford engines.-Calendar:-Driver:... |
Gilles Villeneuve Gilles Villeneuve Joseph Gilles Henri Villeneuve, better known as Gilles Villeneuve , was a Canadian racing driver. An enthusiast of cars and fast driving from an early age, he started his professional career in snowmobile racing in his native province of Quebec... (CASC) |
Ecurie Canada |
||
| 1976 IMSA 1976 Formula Atlantic season IMSA The 1976 IMSA Formula Atlantic Players Championship Series season was contested over 6 rounds. In this one-make engine formula all drivers had to utilize Ford engines.-Calendar:-Driver:... |
Gilles Villeneuve Gilles Villeneuve Joseph Gilles Henri Villeneuve, better known as Gilles Villeneuve , was a Canadian racing driver. An enthusiast of cars and fast driving from an early age, he started his professional career in snowmobile racing in his native province of Quebec... (IMSA International Motor Sports Association The International Motor Sports Association is an American sports car auto racing sanctioning body based in Braselton, Georgia. It was started by John Bishop, a former employee of SCCA , and his wife Peggy in 1969 with help from Bill France, Sr... ) |
Ecurie Canada |
||
| 1977 1977 Formula Atlantic season The 1977 CASC Formula Atlantic Labatts Championship Series season was contested over 7 rounds. In this one-make engine formula all drivers had to utilize Ford engines... |
Gilles Villeneuve Gilles Villeneuve Joseph Gilles Henri Villeneuve, better known as Gilles Villeneuve , was a Canadian racing driver. An enthusiast of cars and fast driving from an early age, he started his professional career in snowmobile racing in his native province of Quebec... |
Ecurie Canada |
||
| 1978 1978 Formula Atlantic season The 1978 Formula Atlantic Labatts Championship Series season was contested over 7 rounds. In this one-make engine formula all drivers had to utilize Ford engines.-Calendar:-Driver:... |
Howdy Holmes Howdy Holmes Howdy S. Holmes , is a former driver in the CART Championship Car series. He began racing in the early 1970s and was based in Stockbridge, Michigan, about northeast of Chelsea.... |
Shierson Racing |
||
| 1979 | Tom Gloy Tom Gloy Tom Gloy , is a former driver in the CART Championship Car series. He raced in the 1980 and 1984 seasons, with 6 career starts, including the 1984 Indianapolis 500. Despite competing in only 3 events in 1980, he finished 14th in points, a result of finishing each race in the top ten.In 1979, Gloy... |
|||
| 1980 | Jacques Villeneuve Jacques Villeneuve (elder) Jacques Villeneuve Sr. also known as Jacquo or Uncle Jacques is a Canadian racer. He is the younger brother of the late Gilles Villeneuve, and uncle to Jacques Villeneuve . He was born in the small town of Berthierville, Quebec, Canada. He is now frequently known as Uncle Jacques because of the... |
|||
| 1981 | Jacques Villeneuve Jacques Villeneuve (elder) Jacques Villeneuve Sr. also known as Jacquo or Uncle Jacques is a Canadian racer. He is the younger brother of the late Gilles Villeneuve, and uncle to Jacques Villeneuve . He was born in the small town of Berthierville, Quebec, Canada. He is now frequently known as Uncle Jacques because of the... |
|||
| 1982 |  Dave McMillanDave McMillan (racing driver) Dave McMillan is a New Zealand former racing driver.Throughout the 1970s, McMillan raced Formula Fords in his native New Zealand during the northern winter and raced Super Vees in America in the northern summer. In 1979 he placed 9th in the USAC Mini Indy Super Vee series 8th in the SCCA Formula... |
|||
| 1983 1983 Formula Atlantic season The 1983 Formula Mondial North American Cup season was contested over 9 rounds. In this one-make engine formula all cars had to utilize Ford BDD engines... |
Michael Andretti Michael Andretti Michael Mario Andretti is a retired American CART and Formula One driver and owner of the Andretti Autosport team in the IndyCar Series. Andretti is the son of Mario Andretti. His son is Marco Andretti.-Early career:... |
Conte Racing |
||
| 1984 | Dan Marvin Dan Marvin Dan Marvin is a former American racing driver.Marvin primarily competed in CASC North American Atlantic Championship competition from 1981 to 1984 and won the series title in 1984... |
|||
| 1985 East | Michael Angus (Atlantic) |
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| 1985 West | Jeff Wood (Pacific) |
|||
| 1986 East | Scott Goodyear Scott Goodyear Scott Goodyear is a former race car driver from Newmarket, Ontario, Canada. Goodyear ran the IRL and Champ Car series during his career from 1987, winning the Michigan 500 in 1992 and 1994... (Atlantic) |
|||
| 1986 West | Ted Prappas Ted Prappas Ted Prappas , is a former driver in the CART Championship Car series. He raced in the 1991-1992 seasons with 26 career starts, including the 1992 Indianapolis 500. He finished in the top ten 4 times and his best career finish was in 6th position at the 1991 Grand Prix of Long Beach... (Pacific) |
|||
| 1987 East |  Calvin FishCalvin Fish Calvin Fish is an English television announcer for the Speed Channel and a former race car driver.Fish began his career in karts at 13. He then moved to Formula Ford in 1979 at age 18 and then British Formula Three. He then came to the United States and competed in various classes of SCCA... (Atlantic) |
|||
| 1987 West | Johnny O'Connell Johnny O'Connell Johnny O'Connell , is a GM factory racecar driver from United States, currently residing in Flowery Branch, Georgia... (Pacific) |
|||
| 1988 East | Steve Shelton Steve Shelton Steve Shelton is an American former racing driver from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He raced in the SCCA/ECAR Formula Atlantic Championship from 1985 to 1990. He won in his first start which was that particular incarnation of the Atlantic series' first race. He captured five race wins and won the... (Atlantic) |
|||
| 1988 West | Dean Hall Dean Hall Dean Hall , is a former driver in the CART Championship Car series. He raced in the 1990, 1991, and 1995 seasons with 21 career starts, including the 1990 Indianapolis 500... (Pacific) |
|||
| Toyota Atlantic Championship | ||||
| 1989 East | Jocko Cunningham Jocko Cunningham James Oliver "Jocko" Cunningham is a former racing driver who competed in the SCCA/ECAR Formula Atlantic series from 1986 to 1990. He finished second in the championship in 1988 and won the championship in 1989. Among his 7 race victories was the series' first oval race on the Milwaukee Mile in... (Atlantic) |
|||
| 1989 West |  Hiro MatsushitaHiro Matsushita , is a former driver in the Champ Car series. He is the grandson of Konosuke Matsushita, founder of Matsushita Electric Industrial Co.. The family relationship has allowed him to receive financial backing from Panasonic throughout his racing career.-Early career:... (Pacific) |
|||
| 1990 East | Brian Till Brian Till Brian Till , is a racecar driver who formerly competed in the CART Championship Car series. He raced in the 1992-1995 seasons with 20 career starts, including the 1994 Indianapolis 500, where he finished in 12th position. He finished in the top ten 3 times in CART races.Earlier in his career, he... (Atlantic) |
|||
| 1990 West | Mark Dismore Mark Dismore Mark Dismore is a former driver in the Indy Racing League and the 1990 Toyota Pacific champion as well as the winner of the 1993 24 Hours of Daytona with Dan Gurney's All American Racers in a Toyota GTP car with co-drivers Rocky Moran and P. J. Jones... (Pacific) |
|||
| 1991 1991 Atlantic Championship season The 1991 Toyota Atlantic Championship season was contested over 13 rounds. There were also two non-championship events at Race City Speedway in Calgary. The SCCA Toyota Atlantic Championship Drivers' Champion was Jovy Marcelo.-Races:... |
 Jovy MarceloJovy Marcelo Edward Jovy Marcelo was a Filipino race car driver from Quezon City, Philippines, who was killed in practice for the 1992 Indianapolis 500.... |
Marcelo Group |
||
| 1992 1992 Atlantic Championship season The 1992 Toyota Atlantic Championship season was contested over 14 rounds. The SCCA Toyota Atlantic Championship Drivers' Champion was Chris Smith.-Races:- Final driver standings :-External links:*... |
Chris Smith |
|||
| 1993 1993 Atlantic Championship season The 1993 Toyota Atlantic Championship season was contested over 15 rounds. The Player's Toyota Atlantic Championship Drivers' Champion was David Empringham driving for Canaska Racing.- Races :- Final driver standings :-External links:*... |
David Empringham David Empringham David Empringham , is a Canadian auto racing driver. David is a two-time Toyota Atlantic and one-time Indy Lights champion. Most recently, Empringham won the 2005 Grand-Am Cup GS division drivers title, competing for Multimatic Motorsports.Empringham began his racing career in 1987, competing in... |
Canaska Racing |
||
| 1994 1994 Atlantic Championship season The 1994 Toyota Atlantic Championship season was contested over 11 rounds. The Player's Toyota Atlantic Championship Drivers' Champion was David Empringham.- Races :- Final driver standings :- Final driver standings C2 Class :... |
David Empringham David Empringham David Empringham , is a Canadian auto racing driver. David is a two-time Toyota Atlantic and one-time Indy Lights champion. Most recently, Empringham won the 2005 Grand-Am Cup GS division drivers title, competing for Multimatic Motorsports.Empringham began his racing career in 1987, competing in... |
|||
| 1995 1995 Atlantic Championship season The 1995 Toyota Atlantic Championship season was the 22nd season of the Atlantic Championship. It was contested over 12 races between March 4 and September 9, 1995... |
Richie Hearn Richie Hearn Richie Hearn , is an American IndyCar racing driver.Hearn was born in Glendale, California. He ran in the Toyota Atlantic championship for two seasons, winning the title in 1995. In 1996, he began driving for John Della Penna in both the IRL and Champ Car ranks... |
|||
| 1996 | Patrick Carpentier Patrick Carpentier Patrick Carpentier is a retired Canadian race car driver. He is best known for his career in the Champ Car World Series and the IndyCar Series. In 2009, Patrick shared the #36 of Tommy Baldwin Racing with Mike Skinner and ran Michael Waltrip's #55 Toyota Camry in the road course races in the... |
Lynx Racing |
||
| 1997 | Alex Barron |
Lynx Racing |
||
| 1998 | Lee Bentham Lee Bentham Lee Bentham is a Canadian former racing driver from Richmond Hill, Ontario. In 1990 and 1992 he competed in the Formula K karting World Championship series. He moved to cars in the Toyota Atlantic series in 1995 in a successful partial-season program that managed to place Bentham on the podium... |
Forsythe Racing |
||
| 1999 | Anthony Lazzaro |
PPI Motorsports PPI Motorsports PPI Motorsports was a race team which competed in CART, NASCAR, and various off-road racing circuits. The team had one of the few remaining single car operations in NASCAR.-Early years:... |
||
| 2000 | Buddy Rice Buddy Rice Buddy Rice is an American racecar driver. He is best known for winning the 2004 Indianapolis 500 while driving for Rahal Letterman Racing, and the 2009 24 Hours of Daytona for Brumos Racing.-Early career:... |
PPI Motorsports PPI Motorsports PPI Motorsports was a race team which competed in CART, NASCAR, and various off-road racing circuits. The team had one of the few remaining single car operations in NASCAR.-Early years:... |
||
| 2001 |  Hoover OrsiHoover Orsi Hoover Orsi Pereira Martins is a Brazilian race car driver. He began his professional career in 1998 in the European Formula Renault series where he captured 4th place. He returned to South America where he was the South American Formula 3 champion in 1999... |
P-1 Racing |
||
| 2002 | Jon Fogarty Jon Fogarty Jon Fogarty is an American professional auto racing driver . Fogarty currently drives the No. 99 GAINSCO Auto Insurance Daytona Prototype for GAINSCO/Bob Stallings Racing in the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series. He won his first Grand-Am race, the 2007 Mexico City 400k, in March 2007... |
Dorricott Racing |
||
| 2003 | A. J. Allmendinger A. J. Allmendinger Allmendinger again failed to qualify for the 2008 Daytona 500. After three failures to qualify in 2 attempts , he was replaced by veteran driver Mike Skinner on a temporary basis. Allmendinger returned to the Cup series at Talladega... |
RuSPORT RuSPORT RuSPORT was an auto racing team that competed in the Champ Car World Series. It was founded in September 2002 by Carl Russo.Russo drove for the team then known as Performance Development and Racing based in Fort Collins, Colorado which was owned by Steve Wulff... |
||
| 2004 | Jon Fogarty Jon Fogarty Jon Fogarty is an American professional auto racing driver . Fogarty currently drives the No. 99 GAINSCO Auto Insurance Daytona Prototype for GAINSCO/Bob Stallings Racing in the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series. He won his first Grand-Am race, the 2007 Mexico City 400k, in March 2007... |
Sierra Sierra Racing |
||
| 2005 |  Charles ZwolsmanCharles Zwolsman Charles Zwolsman Jr. is a race car driver who formerly competed in the Champ Car World Series. He is the son of former sports car racing driver and career criminal, Charles Zwolsman, Sr., who competed in the late 1980s and early 1990s.Zwolsman started racing go karts before competing in Formula... |
Polestar Racing Group Polestar Racing Group Polestar Racing Group is an American motorsport team based in Chardon, Ohio, which competes in the Atlantic Championship. It was founded in 2001 and is owned by husband and wife team Jim and Pam Griffith, and Bruce Potter.... |
||
| Champ Car Atlantic | ||||
| 2006 |  Simon PagenaudSimon Pagenaud Simon Pagenaud is a French race car driver born in Poitiers. He currently races in the IZOD IndyCar Series with Dreyer & Reinbold Racing.-Career:... |
Team Australia Team Australia Team Australia was an Auto racing team competing in the V8 Supercars and Champ Car World Series. It was created in early 2005 when two Australian businessmen bought into Derrick Walker's Walker Racing operation... |
||
| 2007 | Raphael Matos Raphael Matos Raphael Matos is a Brazilian racing driver from Belo Horizonte. He currently participates in the IZOD IndyCar Series for AFS Racing. He was the 2008 Firestone Indy Lights Series champion and the 2007 Champ Car Atlantic Series champion... |
Sierra Sierra Enterprises |
||
| Atlantic Championship | ||||
| 2008 2008 Atlantic Championship season The 2008 Atlantic Championship season was the thirty-fifth Atlantic Championship season. It began on April 20, 2008 and ended on October 4, 2008. Despite the merger of Champ Car's premier series with the Indy Racing League, the Champ Car owners will continue to own and operate the series under a... |
 Markus NiemeläMarkus Niemelä Markus Niemelä is a Finnish race car driver, currently in the Atlantic Championship series in North America. He is the 2008 series champion after winning the final round at Road Atlanta... |
Brooks Associates Racing Brooks Associates Racing Brooks Associates Racing is an American motorsport team based in Tucson, Arizona, which competes in the Indy Lights series. It previously competed in the Atlantic Championship where it won the 2008 season championship.... |
||
| 2009 2009 Atlantic Championship season The 2009 IMSA Cooper Tires Atlantic Championship season was the thirty-sixth Atlantic Championship season. It was the first full season of the Championship under the sanctioning of the International Motor Sports Association... |
John Edwards John Edwards (racing driver) John Michael Edwards is an American racing driver.Edwards began racing cars at the young age of 12 in 2003 in the Skip Barber Series... |
Newman Wachs Racing Newman Wachs Racing Newman Wachs Racing is an auto racing team owned by Eddie Wachs and, until his death, Paul Newman. NWR is based outside of Chicago in Mundelein, Illinois. Newman and Wachs met when they both competed in Can-Am series in the mid-1970s and over the years talked about joining forces to create a... |
||
| 2010 2010 Atlantic Championship season The 2010 IMSA Cooper Tires Atlantic Championship season was due to be the 37th Atlantic Championship season, and the second one under the sanctioning of the International Motor Sports Association... |
not held | |||