@ToyoTiresF1600 •@CTMPOfficial • @VARACBoD •BOWMANVILLE, ON (June 20, 2016) – Hot sunny skies and large crowds greeted the Toyo Tires F1600 Series competitors as they rolled in to Canadian Tire Motorsport Park this past weekend as part of the popular VARAC Canadian Historic Grand Prix.
A combined event, with points being awarded for the Toyo Series and the F1600 Super Series, saw 26 competitors take to the high speed circuit over 3 days.
Several drivers were making their series debut this weekend including Trenton Estep all the way from Texas, John Valerio, James Britnell and Brent McPhail. Tony Cove also had a competitor from England, Ross Drybrough, race his car on the Saturday.
Michael Adams earned the pole for Race 1 in a tight battle with Estep and Britain West Mygale teammate Gord Ross. Former B Class champion Craig Willis made a surprise move to the Brian Graham Racing Piper stable and would qualify 3rd. His teammates Roman DeAngelis, the rookie who had an outstanding debut in the series’ last outing would start 4th and Ben Hurst starting 5th.
The B Class would be hotly contested. Graham Lobban would start on pole with Steve Bodrug alongside and his brother Keith Lobban slotted into the 3rd starting position.
Following qualifying Trenton Estep was assessed a penalty for a blend line infraction and would be forced to start his Exclusive Autosport Spectrum in 13th.
At the drop of the green Adams took the early lead while Willis, Ross and DeAngelis waged a battle for the remaining podium positions. Trenton Estep was on a charge and made quick work of a number of competitors early and set his sights on the leaders.
Remarkably he made his way to the gearbox of Adams and made a valiant effort to take the lead at the end of the back straight, only to be passed back by Adams on the last corner of the last lap, the two leaders touching briefly in one of the most exciting finishes in quite some time.
Gord Ross would eventually come out on top of his race long battle and grab the final step on the podium. Willis and DeAngelis would round out the top 5.
The B Class put on one of the best races in recent memory as well. Graham Lobban fought off a hard charging brother Keith Lobban to win and former champ Stephen Adams nabbed the final podium spot.
Things picked up right where they left off for Race 2 Sunday morning with Estep on pole based on his fastest lap in the first race. Adams would start alongside and the two made multiple, bold passes lap after lap to the delight of the large crowds in attendance. At some points in the race there were 3 wide passing opportunities as Ross and Willis took their turns at the front as well. Adams would grab a very narrow win over Estep, his 2nd of the weekend. Ross cruised home in 3rd when Willis made a rare mistake and spun, but recovered well to bring the car home in 5th. Ben Hurst had an impressive drive to 4th.
Roman DeAngelis suffered a rare mechanical failure on the first lap with a broken master switch killing the power to the engine and ending his day without a timed lap, forcing him to start dead last in Race 3.
The B Class put on another epic battle but this time Stephen Adams came out on top over Graham Lobban and Keith Lobban. It was a popular victory as both father (Stephen) and son (Michael) stood on the victory podium together on Father’s Day.
Race 3 didn’t disappoint. Estep’s pace had him on the pole once again with Adams alongside and Ross starting in 3rd.
The race got off to a clean start and the passing back and forth followed shortly thereafter. The two young stars fought hard all race long with Adams and Estep changing the lead almost every lap. The checkered flag was thrown one lap early as the car of Kieran Murphy lay on the edge of the track after striking the wall in corner 9. Adams grabbed his 3rd victory of the weekend over Estep with Gord Ross nabbing his 3rd podium finishing position of the event as well. His outstanding efforts saw him awarded the Master’s drive of the event as well.
Willis had another solid drive with a new team and brought is car home 4th ahead of an incredible drive by Roman DeAngelis in 5th – making up 20 positions after starting dead last due to his Race 2 misfortune.
The B Class was hotly contested again with the lead changing regularly. Graham Lobban eventually came out on top over Stephen Adams and a hard charging Steve Bodrug.
Next up for the Toyo Tires F1600 Championship is the twists and turns of Shannonville Motorsport Park, July 16, 17.
SERIES CONTACT: Jason Sharpe, (416) 557-5451 or jasons@movemotorsports.com, Twitter: @jasonsharpe
The Toyo Tires F1600 Championship Series is the premiere open wheel series in Ontario, sanctioned by CASC Ontario Region and proudly supported by Toyo Tires, Honda HPD, Lincoln Electric and MK Technologies. The series is comprised of a six event, double-header format and competes at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, Shannonville Motorsport Park and Calabogie Motorsports Park
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