ST. CATHARINES, ON — FEL Motorsports is proud to announce the F1600 Pathway Award, a new initiative that will grant one standout driver from the Ontario F1600 Championship a complimentary full-season entry into the 2027 Emzone Radical Cup Canada presented by Michelin (RCC). While the Ontario and Quebec F1600 championships serve as the award’s primary series, all F1600 drivers competing across Canada are eligible. The award reinforces the RCC’s role as a proven next step for young Canadian talent and continues FEL Motorsports’ long-standing commitment to building a clear, accessible pathway up the motorsport ladder.
The recipient will be chosen based on a variety of criteria that extend beyond championship standings and points. On track, the selection will weigh talent, potential, racecraft, and overall performance throughout the season. Off track, it will consider the character, professionalism, and dedication that define a driver capable of succeeding at the next level. The goal is to recognize the complete package, and to help remove one of the financial barriers that too often slows a young driver’s career progression.
F1600 has long been regarded as one of the finest proving grounds in the world for developing driver fundamentals. With non-winged cars that rely purely on mechanical grip, F1600 forces drivers to master momentum, car control, and close wheel-to-wheel racecraft, the exact skills that carry directly into every form of car racing. It is a discipline that rewards precision over power, and it has launched the careers of champions around the globe. As a longtime supporter of F1600 in Canada, FEL Motorsports has seen firsthand how effectively the category prepares drivers for what comes next.
FEL Motorsports has a proven track record of F1600 graduates finding success within its paddock. Jake Cowden won the 2022 Ontario F1600 Championship before claiming the 2023 RCC title in his rookie season. Jonathan Woolridge moved from F1600 into the RCC, won the 2022 championship, and has since gone on to win races in LMP3 competition. Zachary Vanier and Jack Polito both came through F1600 before capturing GT4 championships in the Sports Car Championship Canada presented by Michelin.
“F1600 is one of the best forms of motorsport for a young driver to build fundamentals. Time and again we have watched its graduates come straight into our paddock and win,” said Chris Bye, President of FEL Motorsports. “With the F1600 Pathway Award, we want to reward a driver who has the talent on track and the character off track to take that next step, and make it easier for them to do it. This is what FEL Motorsports is all about: recognizing Canadian talent and giving it a clear path up the ladder.”
The F1600 Pathway Award continues FEL Motorsports’ mission of creating meaningful opportunities for Canadian drivers and further solidifies the RCC as a critical step on the road to professional motorsport.
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About FEL Motorsports
FEL Motorsports grew out of a deep base of automotive roots from FEL Automotive Learning and Promotion. FEL, the parent company of FEL Motorsports, has over three decades of experience in the automotive event industry working within Canada and the U.S. By combining the expertise gained from working with luxury automotive brands with some of Canada’s most experienced motorsport personnel, FEL Motorsports executes premium race event weekends at tracks in Ontario and Quebec. FEL Motorsports is focused on growth and sustainability in the Canadian Motorsports landscape by giving back to its teams through prizing and prize money. For further information on FEL Motorsports visit felmotorsports.com.
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