Bowmanville, ON – The 44th annual VARAC Vintage Grand Prix took over Canadian Tire Motorsport Park for its traditional Father’s Day weekend schedule, featuring VARAC classes, touring series and special races, alongside off-track festivities.
Sunny skies and seasonable temperatures welcomed fans and teams on Sunday, when most groups had their feature race – the weekend finale where the top-three class finishers get recognized on the infield podium. The All Porsche Race and Rudy Bartling Nation’s Cup also took place, while a variety of vehicles from the Field of Dreams car show paced the track during the lunch break.
To learn more about the event itself, check out the official event program here. A brief recap of each group’s races can be found below.
Group 1 & 2A – Vintage Historic with lap times under 1:47.5
Steve Gidman claimed the feature race win in Group 1 & 2A, representing the fastest of the Vintage Historic classes. The Scarborough, ON driver took his 1963 Ginetta G4R to the VH-1 class win in the weekend opener, before a DNF in race two. He battled back to record the fastest lap and finish third overall in race three, before leading every lap in his finale victory.
Gidman recorded the fastest lap in all three races where he completed a circuit. Due to an upcoming race in another group, he was unable to take part in the podium presentations, where his wife stepped in to accept the honours.
Race 1 Winners: Steve Gidman (VH-1), Craig Chima (VH-2/overall), Francois Audette (VH-3), Jeff Tapolci (VH-4), Russ Bond (VH-X)
Race 2 Winners: John Hawkes (VH-1), Craig Chima (VH-2/overall), Henry Frye (VH-3), Jeff Tapolci (VH-4), Russ Bond (VH-X)
Race 3 Winners: John Hawkes (VH-1/overall), Craig Chima (VH-2), Henry Frye (VH-3), Jeff Tapolci (VH-4), Russ Bond (VH-X)
Feature Race Winners: Steve Gidman (VH-1/overall), Brian MacEachern (VH-2), Henry Frye (VH-3), Dave Good (VH-4), Russ Bond (VH-X)
Group 2B & 2C – Vintage Historic with lap times over 1:47.5
Christie Marks came back from early issues to claim the feature race victory in Group 2B & 2C. The Brockville, ON driver was unable to qualify her 1972 Mazda RX3 due to a pair of mechanical issues early in the weekend, forcing her to start near the back of the 40-plus car field in race one; she gained 25 spots to finish 12th overall.
Marks continued her charge towards the front, gaining four positions to finish eighth overall in race two, before a second-place finish, with the fastest lap, in race three. She took the lead on the opening lap and didn’t look back en route to victory in the weekend finale.
Marks said that she had a really fast car and knew she had to get going and pull away, with a fast teammate behind her.
Race 1 Winners: Pierpaolo Petrucci (CL-4), Steve Gidman (CL-5), Ted Michalos (VH-4/overall), Mirco Peretto (VH-5)
Race 2 Winners: Bryan Rashleigh (CL-4), Steve Gidman (CL-5), Tony Cove (VH-4/overall), Mirco Peretto (VH-5)
Race 3 Winners: Pierpaolo Petrucci (CL-4), Larry Caruso (CL-5), William Bartlett (VH-4/overall), Duncan Taylor (VH-5)
Feature Race Winners: Stefan Wiesen (CL-3), Bryan Rashleigh (CL-4), Christie Marks (VH-4/overall), Duncan Taylor (VH-5)
Group 3 – Classic/Modern Classic with lap times over 1:35
Russ Bond went 2-for-4 in Classic competition, with a feature race victory concluding on-track activity for Group 3. Bond narrowly missed the top step of the podium in the opener, finishing 0.273 seconds behind Robert Attrell, before claiming the race two win. A close 0.725-second runner-up to Dave Bagshaw in the Sunday opener was followed by the feature win.
While the Brockville, ON driver recorded the big victory in his 1975 Mazda RX3 Fahren, it didn’t come comfortably.
“I broke the exhaust five laps in and started burning my back so I stopped right at the start-finish line,” said Bond. “It was a good race, looked like those guys behind me were having a good race…(the weekend was) 50-50 because we have two broken cars and two good ones, (but) we’re fine. It’s great, they put on a great event here, thanks to all the marshals and support staff who make this all possible.”
Race 1 Winners: Robert Attrell (CL-2/overall), Bruno Vendittelli (CL-3), E Kayaalp/N Coker (CL-5), Peter Griesbach (MC-2), Jean-Pierre Ouimet (VH-D)
Race 2 Winners: Benoit Laflamme (CL-1), Russ Bond (CL-2/overall), Bruno Vendittelli (CL-3), Edwin Beliveau (CL-5), Peter Griesbach (MC-2), Jean-Pierre Ouimet (VH-D)
Race 3 Winners: Benoit Laflamme (CL-1), Dave Bagshaw (CL-2/overall), Perry Mason (CL-3), Edwin Beliveau (CL-5), Max Haverkate (MC-2), Paul Bissonnette (VH-D)
Feature Race Winners: Russ Bond (CL-1/overall), Dave Bagshaw (CL-2), Krisjan Berzins (CL-3), Edwin Beliveau (CL-4), Peter Griesbach (MC-2), Paul Bissonnette (VH-D)
Group 4 – Classic/Modern Classic with lap times under 1:35, plus VH heavy
Reg Akers picked up the win in the Group 4 feature race. Akers’ 1999 Ford Taurus stock car was no match for the 2002 Pontiac Grand Prix stock car of Michael Murillo for most of the weekend, finishing runner-up in the first three races. But fresh tires helped the Newcastle, ON driver take the lead on the opening lap of the finale, before a lap two caution froze the field. The race would ultimately end under the yellow flag.
“Any other race of the year and I’d be annoyed that we didn’t get to finish it,” said Akers. “That’s the first lap I’ve led all weekend; this one, I was singing in my helmet going ‘yeah baby, god’s smiling on me.'”
Akers stayed side-by-side on the outside of turn one and kept on the gas, giving him the advantage to take the lead off of turn two, as Murillo’s tires got up to speed. He says the new tires cost him a couple grand but that he knew the time to make a move was at the start; while he’s won at the Vintage GP once before, he bought the Ford Taurus to get back to victory lane.
“I’m not sure I could’ve sustained that for 20 minutes, I’m willing to bet,” said Akers. “I want to race (Murillo) and it’s going to be fun, because he’s bringing me to a whole new level, but I stole one on him today…I bought this car to do that; I’ve had the highest of highs (but) the year that I should’ve won, the motor blew on me, so it has a way of equaling out.”
Race 1 Winners: Lain Vendittelli (CL-1), Tim Sanderson (CL-A), Gregg Clifton (CL-B), Guy Tremblay (MC-1), Patrick Cyr (MC-A), Michael Murillo (MC-B/overall), Matthew Gidman (VH-D)
Race 2 Winners: Daria Khachi (CL-1), Goran Nyberg (CL-3), Tim Sanderson (CL-A), Rocco Marciello (CL-B), Guy Tremblay (MC-1), Patrick Cyr (MC-A), Michael Murillo (MC-B/overall), Matthew Gidman (VH-D)
Race 3 Winners: Goran Nyberg (CL-1), Tim Sanderson (CL-A), Gregg Clifton (CL-B), Guy Tremblay (MC-1), Patrick Cyr (MC-A), Michael Murillo (MC-B/overall), Matthew Gidman (VH-D)
Feature Race Winners: Daria Khachi (CL-1), Steve Hummel (CL-A), Gregg Clifton (CL-B), Guy Tremblay (MC-1), Patrick Cyr (MC-A), Reg Akers (MC-B/overall), Matthew Gidman (VH-D)
Group 5A – Formula Classic (except Formula Ford classes)
It was a weekend sweep for Stephen Sutherland in Group 5A, with the FC90 and overall victories in each race. The Newmarket, ON driver recorded the fastest lap all four times in his 1995 Van Diemen RF95; he led flag-to-flag in the feature race, which was slowed once by a caution from laps two to five.
“We had a bunch of time under the safety car but we had a really good restart and Paul (Subject) was challenging, everybody was on it,” said Sutherland. “This is my first event running this for this year, so a bit of a late start to the year for me, but was happy to be able to get back into shape, back into form. It’s a ton of fun, sun’s been shining all weekend, so it’s been awesome.”
Race 1 Winners: Robert Murray (F1200), Ed Luce (FB), Tom Pixley (FC70), Stephen Sutherland (FC90/overall), Doug Durrell (FV), David Cluett (HFF)
Race 2 Winners: Robert Murray (F1200), Tom Pixley (FC70), Stephen Sutherland (FC90/overall), Doug Durrell (FV)
Race 3 Winners: Jason Abrams (F1200), Ed Luce (FB), Tom Pixley (FC70), Stephen Sutherland (FC90/overall), Doug Durrell (FV), David Cluett (HFF)
Feature Race Winners: Jason Abrams (F1200), Ed Luce (FB), Robert Wager (FC70), Stephen Sutherland (FC90/overall), Peter Viccary (FV), David Cluett (HFF)
Group 5B – Formula Ford Challenge Series
The Formula Ford Challenge Series was this year’s visiting tour, holding four races between Friday afternoon and Sunday morning. Their feature race was held on Saturday afternoon, where a pair of local drivers put on a show. Courtice, ON’s Stephen Adams and Toronto’s Daniel Burkett traded the lead seven times, with Adams leading the last two laps to beat polesitter Burkett.
Adams swept the weekend races, with all-Canadian podiums in each event for the tour, which is making its only Canadian stop of the season. Hockessin, Delaware’s Stefan Vapaa was the top finishing American in three of the races.
“It was kind of tense, we were close a few times for Daniel and I; he’s a really hard racer but a really fair and clean racer, and that’s the best kind of racing there is,” said Adams. “It was great that the Formula Ford Challenge Series came up this year, they’re a great group of people. We’ve raced down there at Watkins Glen and Summit Point the last couple years…I’m really glad they came up and it’s kind of nice to show that Canadians know our way around here.”
Race 1 Podium: Stephen Adams (Courtice, ON), Daniel Burkett (Toronto), Gord Ross (Ingersoll, ON)
Race 2 Podium: Adams, Burkett, Ross
Feature Race Podium: Adams, Burkett, Doug Beatty (Ajax, ON)
Race 4 Podium: Adams, Ross, Beatty
Special Race – Ludwig Heimrath Open Wheel Challenge
The third running of the Ludwig Heimrath Open Wheel Challenge was held on Saturday afternoon. The race is named in honour of Heimrath, the legendary Canadian driver who was inducted into the Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame in the Class of 2000.
Burlington, ON’s Paul Subject (1998 Formula Mazda) started fifth and took the lead on the opening lap, going on to win by a dominant 68 seconds over Daniel Burkett (1978 Van Diemen RF78). This is Subject’s first win in the special race; he missed the entire Vintage GP last year after being sidelined by a mechanical issue.
“Ludwig was an icon for Canadian motorsports and I think it’s a great honour for me to be able to carry on this trophy,” said Subject. “Vintage GP has a special place in my heart. To be here and race here amongst all of these champions from across Canada and the United States, it’s a real honour just to be here.”
Special Race – All Porsche Race
As the featured marque for this year’s Vintage GP, Porsche was centre stage in a pair of special races on Sunday. The All Porsche Race saw drivers compete against others with the same make, with a grid of 20 Porsches taking the green flag. Tim Sanderson and Robert Offley traded the lead early, before Sanderson pulled away in his 1982 Porsche 911SC; the Toronto driver taking the victory.
“It was awesome to see so many Porsches out there at one time, in the same field together,” said Sanderson. “A lot of discrepancy between hardware and engine displacement and everything else, but it was a good race.”
Sanderson also talked about the appeal of racing a Porsche.
“They’re the most amazing vehicles,” he said. “The way they handle on the track, all of the weight in the back of the car, the way you can move them around and set the car up in certain corners. The one we have has just got an amazing set-up and an amazing displacement and power…they’re hard work, but it’s a pleasure to drive.”
All Porsche Race Podium: Tim Sanderson (1982 Porsche 911SC), Robert Offley (1972 Porsche 911), Martino Beretta (1982 Porsche 911 SC)
Special Race – Rudy Bartling Nation’s Cup
The Rudy Bartling Nation’s Cup featured Porsche drivers teaming up to battle other manufacturers, with points awarded to the top-ten finishers (descending from 10 points for the winner) and the team with the most points taking the victory. The race is named in honour of Rudy Bartling, a road racer inducted in the Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame’s Class of 2011.
With just three Porsche’s in the 15-car field, the odds were stacked against them; Mirabel, QC’s Eric Ouellet led the charge for competing manufacturers as ‘the world’ beat the featured marque for the first time in the three-year history of the Nation’s Cup.
“It’s really great to win in front of Porsche because these are great cars and normally they’re fast,” said Ouellet. “It’s fun to race against a lot of brands and types of cars.”
Toronto’s Tammy Moore was the top Porsche finisher in eighth overall.
“It was an incredibly exciting race; I got to start on pole, I felt all the pressure because it’s Porsche versus the rest of the world,” said Moore. “It was great (teaming up with other Porsches) because we’ve been battling back-and-forth all weekend, so then we knew how we were going to pull it together in this. We had so much fun, I really loved racing with these guys.”
Rest Of World Podium: Eric Ouellet (first overall, 1988 Mazda RX7), Derek Young (second overall, 1971 Datsun 240Z), Henry Frye (third overall, 1968 Triumph TR250)
Porsche Podium: Tammy Moore (eighth overall, 1970 Porsche 911 ST), Jeff Gardner (ninth overall, 1987 Porsche 944), Bertrand Dupuis (14th overall, 1973 Porsche 911)
F1600 & Other Races
The Toyo Tires F1600 Championship held three races during the Vintage GP. Connor Clubine continued his early season dominance, sweeping the overall victories to make it nine straight wins to start the season. Antonio Costantino (two second-place finishes) and Henderson Knox (one runner-up) completed the overall and Class A podium in each race. Steve Bodrug won all three races in Class B.
A pair of special races were held on Friday. Summerfield, NC’s Goran Nyberg (1966 Volvo P1800) won the All Volvo Race, ahead of Jim Perry and Vintage GP Director Peter Lambrinos. In the MG-Triumph Challenge, North Granby, CT’s Henry Frye took the overall victory, in his 1968 Triumph TR250, while Lorraine, QC’s Phil Cooper was the highest-finishing MG driver, crossing the line third overall in his 1974 MG B Roadster.
