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51-485: The Atlantic Championship Series is an American open-wheel racing series with races throughout North America. It has previously been called Champ Car Atlantics , Toyota Atlantics (after its then engine supplier for sponsorship reasons), or just Atlantics . The series began in 1974 as a professional version of the Sports Car Club of America 's amateur Formula Atlantic classification and typically served as

102-602: A driver will compete before moving to Champ Car , 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. He promptly moved to Champ Car in 2007 to race for Walker Racing . The series champion for 2007, Raphael Matos , also won

153-620: 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 . A few women have chosen to participate in Atlantic racing under

204-443: A monetary pole position reward. Starting in 2006, the series has been run exclusively with Swift 016.a chassis powered by Mazda - Cosworth MZR 2300 cm (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

255-408: A new high-definition television package was announced on HDNet , 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." American open-wheel racing Too Many Requests If you report this error to

306-602: A popular historic category in Australia and New Zealand with the Tasman Revival Series running races in both countries. The S5000 Australian Drivers' Championship is marketed as a modern interpretation of Formula 5000, featuring a modern European-built open wheeler chassis fitted with a large-capacity V8 engine. The South African Formula One Championship was opened to Formula 5000 cars in 1968, with these racing against Formula One and Formula Two cars until

357-558: A race in Toronto, Canada and finished eleventh in points. Stephen Simpson competed in three races with his best finish of fifth place in Monterrey, Mexico. Christal was also the owner of sponsor Roadblock Protective Systems and Team Manager for BMW of Sterling Motorsports. Simona de Silvestro was an Atlantic Championship contender who led a large portion 2009 Atlantic Championship season , ultimately finishing third. In three years in

408-533: 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

459-638: A season. In 2005, she became the first woman in history to win a professional open wheel race in North America, at Long Beach, California . She then amassed two more wins in the same season and finished third overall in season results. Christal Waddy was the first African American female Motorsport Director in the United States for a professional motorsport team. In 2006 Christal campaigned a two car entry for car owner Bob Gelles of Gelles Racing sponsored by Western Union. Driver Robbie Pecorari won

510-502: A series of professional races for Atlantic cars on the U.S. west coast, with Al Brizzard as Chief Steward. WCAR had originally sprung up with the FIA's "Formula Mondial" championship and when that folded prematurely, WCAR became Atlantic racing in the United States. On the east coast, Vicki O'Connor decided to establish a similar series. Thus, East Coast Atlantic Racing - ECAR - was born. Simultaneously, Vicki established Pro-Motion Agency Ltd as

561-573: A significant number of continental drivers. The weak pound (a result of the energy crisis) and the increasing cost of importing Chevrolet V8 engines caused some concern and engine regulations for European F5000 were revised to permit engines other than the 5.0 litre pushrod V8s - the DOHC Cosworth GA V6 (based on a unit used in Group 2 Capris was permitted to race at a capacity of 3500cc. March 75A and Chevron B30 cars were successful with

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612-412: A stepping stone to the original Indy Lights series under Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART). After that series was ended in 2002, the Atlantic series became the official developmental series of CART successor Champ Car World Series until the merger of Champ Car with IndyCar in 2008. The series ran independently on 2009 under IMSA sanctioning but shut down following that season. Starting in 2012,

663-613: A tribute to Formula 5000 in 2008. At that time, the Wine Country Classic was a sister event to the popular Monterey Historic Automobile Races held at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, California . In 2014, the Rolex Monterey Reunion featured Formula 5000 cars as a featured race to conclude the weekend and the 2015 get together included Formula 5000 cars as well. 1971 SCCA Formula A Champion

714-857: 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 its 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,

765-652: The IMSA GT Championship in 1981, the old F5000 were now clumsy and slow compared to the new cars . In the UK, the arrival of the Cosworth DFV engine meant that many teams could now afford to build their own chassis around a good engine/transmission package, so Cooper , Lotus and Brabham stopped the production of customer Formula 1 cars. Unfortunately, smaller privateer teams and drivers that entered Britain's non-championship F1 events were left behind, and

816-752: The RAC quickly adopted the American F5000 regulations. A European championship was first run in 1969 as the Guards Formula 5000 Championship. This was renamed to Guards European Formula 5000 Championship in 1970, to Rothmans European Formula 5000 Championship in 1971 and then to ShellSport European Formula 5000 Championship in 1975. Unlike the American series, the European championship didn't attract many star names from Formula 1 and sports cars, and

867-643: 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

918-829: The 1970s Formula One had become more commercial and the Grand Prix stars no longer took part. The Tasman Series had become a competitive Australian/New Zealand local championship leaving the field to be dominated by the cream of "Down Under" drivers such as Frank Matich , Frank Gardner , Kevin Bartlett , Vern Schuppan , Graeme McRae , Graeme Lawrence , Warwick Brown , Johnnie Walker , John McCormack , Alan Jones , John Goss , Larry Perkins , John Bowe and Garrie Cooper racing against European and American drivers such as David Hobbs , Teddy Pilette , Mike Hailwood , Sam Posey , Richard Attwood and Peter Gethin . The four Australian Formula 5000 Tasman races continued (separate from

969-508: The Atlantic Championship by extending an engine contract that covers the series through the year 2011. 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

1020-767: The New Zealand races) as the Rothmans International Series from 1976 until 1979. Formula 5000 was also the main component of Australian Formula 1 from 1971 to 1981 and this formula was the primary category contesting the Australian Drivers' Championship during those years and the Australian Grand Prix until 1980. Although still called Australian Formula 1 until 1983, F5000 was replaced by Formula Pacific and Formula Mondial after 1981. While European cars such as

1071-770: 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 cm production-based twin-cam engines (initially dominated by Lotus-Ford Twin Cam -based dry-sump Cosworth Mk.XIII, then by Cosworth BDD when

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1122-758: 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

1173-549: The Toyota Atlantic or Atlantic Championship powered by Mazda banner. 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 score a win in two years of Atlantic competition. Katherine Legge also competed in Atlantic for

1224-577: 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

1275-700: The V6, the March in particular being little more than a 751 Formula One car with minor modifications for the new engine. However, the same problem that befell US F5000 happened in Europe, and in 1976 the European F5000 Championship evolved into the Shellsport Group 8 Championship. This was a British-based series for Formula 1 , Formula 2 , Formula 5000 and Formula Atlantic cars, forming

1326-577: The Wikimedia System Administrators, please include the details below. Request from 172.68.168.226 via cp1108 cp1108, Varnish XID 253774610 Upstream caches: cp1108 int Error: 429, Too Many Requests at Thu, 28 Nov 2024 11:05:15 GMT Formula 5000 In its declining years in North America Formula 5000 was modified into a closed wheel, but still single-seat sports car racing category. Formula 5000

1377-475: 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

1428-703: The basis of what would become the Aurora F1 Championship in 1978. The F1 Championship was open to Formula 1 and Formula 2 cars only, with Formula 5000 cars no longer eligible. Older F5000 cars continued to be used in the British Sprint Championship and were common in Formula Libre races well into the 1980s. In Australia and New Zealand, the Tasman Formula, defining cars eligible for the annual Tasman Series ,

1479-662: The cars will race exclusively on Hoosier tires. On December 21, 2012, it was announced that the 2013 schedule had been suspended. On October 1, 2013, it was announced that the series would return in 2014 with a twelve race, six weekend race calendar. For the 2017 Atlantic Championship , sanctioning transitioned from the SCCA to the United States Auto Club but Formula Race Promotions continued in their role as promoter. The series returned to SCCA sanctioning in 2019. Atlantic Championship races have previously been shown on multiple networks, including SPEED . For 2009,

1530-476: The class became Atlantic in the United States, however other engines like Alfa Romeo and BMW 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

1581-696: The down time in order to deliver an unparalleled racing offering when economic conditions allow." On December 29, 2011, Mike Rand, Bob Wright and Al Guibord Jr. of Formula Race Promotions, which operates the F1600 and F2000 Championship Series sanctioned by the Sports Car Club of America 's Pro Racing Division, announced the Atlantic Championship would be revived for the 2012 season with a schedule that will be held during three of their F1600 and F2000 series weekends - Road Atlanta (May 10–12), New Jersey Motorsports Park (June 28-July 1) and Summit Point Raceway (August 24–26). SCCA engine and chassis rules will apply and

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1632-446: 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

1683-492: The formula quickly lost its appeal after 1975. Older cars continued to be used in the SCCA national races, but the most competitive teams reconverted their cars with sports car bodyworks, in the resurrected Can-Am championship, starting in 1977. The formula worked initially, with a number of European drivers crossing the Atlantic to attend the SCCA-run championship, but when IMSA introduced the new GTP prototype regulations for

1734-433: 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

1785-519: The global acceptance of the formula it was briefly renamed Formula Mondial in 1983, but this series failed to materialize. Among Atlantic drivers in races through 1982 were Keke Rosberg , Gilles Villeneuve, Michael Andretti, Bobby Rahal , Howdy Holmes, Tom Gloy, Dave McMikllan, Kevin Cogan, Jacques Villeneuve Sr, Chris Kneifel and Roberto Moreno. In 1983, Jon Norman, Gudrun and Rick Shea and Tim Fortner, formed West Coast Atlantic Racing - WCAR - and ran

1836-660: The management of the Atlantic series the many years of experience she'd accumulated while working for Carl Haas in his Lola, Hewland and other racing equipment import business, and more directly, her involvement in Carl's race team management in the CanAm and other series. Vicki's biography as a member of the Road Racing Drivers Club reads in part "… the Toyota Atlantic Series which developed into

1887-579: The most successful and longest-running open-wheel driver development series in North America". The Toyota Atlantic Series ran on road courses, ovals, street courses and airports in the United States, Canada and Mexico. The success of the series brought it the sponsorship and engine development of Toyota Motor Corporation in 1989 under its North American competition division, Toyota Racing Development , led by Les Unger. Later races were sanctioned by CART (Championship Auto Racing Teams) when CART bought Pro-Motion Agency Ltd. When Champ Car succeeded CART in 2004,

1938-542: The new owners also bought Pro-Motion Agency, and Toyota Atlantic continued under their sanctioning. The series ended with the bankruptcy of Champ Car in 2007. The series raised to prominence a great number of drivers including Michael Andretti, Jacques Vlleneuve, Scott Goodyear, Joey Hand, Buddy Rice, Sam Hornish, Ryan Hunter-Reay, Brian Till, Dan Wheldon, Alex Tagliani, Calvin Fish, Danica Patrick, Simon Pagenaud, A. J. Allmendinger, Graham Rahal and Katherine Legge. The latest in

1989-530: The organizing and managing body to run the series and had SCCA as the sanctioning body. The first ECAR race was at Summit Point Motorsports Park in West Virginia on 07 Jul 1985. Incidentally, this race and all subsequent Atlantic series races except those on ovals, used a series signature standing start following a group warm-up lap. Both WCAR and ECAR ran races for a while until the two series were merged under Vicki's management in 1991. Vicki brought to

2040-548: 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 million 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 million in total prize money, which also features $ 50,000 for each race win, and other bonuses such as

2091-543: The series switched to Formula Atlantic from 1976 onwards. The category was revived in the late 2000s in New Zealand as an amateur historic racing category. In 2009/2010, a five round race series was held, the final round as a support race for the 2010 Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne, Australia. The annual Wine Country Classic, a historic automobile racing event held at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, California , had

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2142-406: The series was revived by Formula Race Promotions with SCCA Pro Racing sanctioning. FRP switched to USAC sanctioning in 2017, though in 2019 it returned to being sanctioned by SCCA Pro Racing. 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

2193-439: The series, she has bettered Katherine Legge's career mark of three wins, with one in 2008 and four in 2009. 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

2244-478: 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

2295-594: The various Lolas , McLarens and Chevrons were popular, locally made cars from Matich (Matich A50, A51, A52 and A53), Elfin ( Elfin MR5 , MR6, MR8 and the MR9, the only ground effects F5000 ever built) and McRae were also successful. The most popular engine used was the 5.0 L Chevrolet V8 , with the Australian made Repco Holden , based on the 5.0 L Holden V8 engine , also popular and successful. Formula 5000 remains

2346-482: Was dominated by drivers that were usually seen in Formula 2 or at the back of F1's World Championship grids. Peter Gethin managed to launch his F1 career thanks to his F5000 championship titles. While it was based in the United Kingdom, the series managed to spread across Europe, with races held at many international circuits, including Monza (Italy), Hockenheim (Germany) and Zandvoort (Netherlands), and attracted

2397-527: Was extended in 1970 to include Formula 5000 cars as well as the existing 2.5 litre cars. The Tasman Series ran during the Formula One off season in the European winter, and in the 1960s it had attracted the attention of the greatest names in Grand Prix racing, from locals Jack Brabham , Denny Hulme , Bruce McLaren and Chris Amon , to foreigners like Graham Hill , Jim Clark , Jackie Stewart , Phil Hill , Piers Courage and Jochen Rindt . However, by

2448-611: Was inspired by the success of the Can-Am Series, which featured unlimited formula sports cars fitted with very powerful engines derived from American V8s ; the idea was to replicate the concept using open wheel racing cars. F5000 enjoyed popularity in the early 1970s in the U.S. and featured drivers such as Mario Andretti , Al Unser , Bobby Unser , James Hunt , Jody Scheckter , Brian Redman , David Hobbs , Tony Adamowicz , Sam Posey , Ian Ashley , John Cannon and Eppie Wietzes . Increasing costs and Lola domination meant

2499-479: Was introduced in 1968 as a class within SCCA Formula A races, a series where single seaters from different origins were allowed to compete, but which rapidly came to be dominated by the cars equipped with production-based American V8s. The engines used were generally 5 litre, fuel injected Chevrolet engines with about 500 horsepower (370 kW) at 8000 rpm, although other makes were also used. The concept

2550-443: Was replaced by Cooper Tire and became title sponsor for the series. The history of Formula Atlantic begins with the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) Formula B class, created in 1965 for single-seat formula cars with engines not exceeding 1600 cm in capacity. Prior to Formula Atlantic, professional Formula B races were held in the United States from 1965 to 1972, first with the SCCA's poorly supported Formula A, then as part of

2601-519: 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

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