#zach robichon

[valmontheights]

Dudu is literally in love with ALL his teammates at THOR.

[formula1600]

Toyo Tires F1600 Series is back at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park this Weekend;  the A-Class battle heats up.

The Toyo Tires F1600 Series heads back to CTMP for rounds 11 & 12 on September 14/15; The "A" Class fight heats up between Robichon and Mitchell, Jr.

The Toyo Tires F1600 Championship Series is back at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park for the BEMC Indian Summer races, rounds 11 and 12 of the Championship.

The Title fight for A Class honours has two combatants nearly neck-and-neck at the top of the points with only 4 races remaining.

Zach Robichon of Ottawa, Ontario and Jack Mitchell, Jr., of Clarendon Hills, Illinois have almost equal statistics on paper at this point in the season. Before drops Robichon is the points leader based on his consistent finishing record and 3 wins. Mitchell, Jr. is on top of the points after drops so far based on his outright pace and 4 trips to the top step of the podium.

After missing the Calabogie round 4th place Shane Jantzi returns and will be very strong. It is not known at this time whether 3rd place Jesse Lazare will be competing as he just finished up back-to-back weekends in Calabogie with F1600 and last weekend in USF2000 at Laguna Seca.

Wisconson’s Max Hanratty could be the dark horse in A Class as his pace and confidence have risen steadily as the season has worn on. He was very strong last time out at CTMP and was in contention for a win. This could be his weekend to break through. He will be joined by teammate Thomas McGregor in a Spectrum Honda.

We are excited that Bob Perona, an Indycar mechanic from Indiana will be taking advantage of an off weekend and making the trip north with his Piper and competing in this weekend’s event. Marc Bishara will also be entered in his Van Diemen.

Craig Willis has been smashing records all season long and sits atop the “B” Class Championship points standings with a comfortable margin over Rookie Connor Wagland and Mike Lee.

Willis may not have all things his way this weekend as ultra-quick Andrew Mason is entered and will be looking for nothing but a win.

A surprise entry is Stephen Adams, a former Esso Protec series front runner and father of last season’s A Class champion Michael Adams. He has made it clear he is just out for some fun but suspicions are he will be a great storyline once the green flag is waved.

Steve Bodrug, Bruce Kitchen and Bill Tebbut will also be back to compete in the always intense B Class battle.

“This season has seen some of the closest racing action I can remember,” said series promoter Jason Sharpe. “In the last 4 rounds you could have thrown a blanket over the top 4 or 5 cars at the end of every race and that is a real testament to the talent these racers are displaying and the quality of the cars they are competing in,” he added. “Canadian Tire Motorsport Park is a very fast circuit and ideally suited to Formula 1600 cars. We marvel at the start finish line every lap as we see a new leader and sometimes forget that these drivers are making several passes per lap for position. I personally enjoy watching all of the drivers emerge from their cars after the race as there are always lots of happy faces and some great stories. I suspect this weekend will be no different.”

Cars will hit the track on Friday for a full day of testing and the racing will begin with Round 1 on Saturday and Round 2 on Sunday afternoon.

RACE: BEMC Indian Summer Trophy Races

TRACK: Canadian Tire Motorsport Park

DATE: Saturday September 14 & Sunday September 15, 2013

TWITTER: @ToyoTiresF1600

SERIES CONTACT: Jason Sharpe, [phone] or [email protected] This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , Twitter: @jasonsharpe

  If photographs are required please contact Jason Sharpe [phone] or [email protected] This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

  NOTABLE FACTS

The Race: This is round 11 and 12 in the Championship.

The Format: Both A and B Class cars race together, with an equalization package for the Honda and Ford motors. There is one practice and one qualifying session for each of the weekend’s races.

Gaining Momentum: With a renewed enthusiasm and new marketing partners the Series is enjoying a large increase in grid size and exposure. There are several competitors returning to the series and over the next few rounds several new competitors will make their series’ debut.

Smashing Records: At the last event, the Ted Powell Memorial races at Calabogie Motorsport Park, all new track records were set in both classes. Jack Mitchell, Jr., set new A Class qualifying and race records in his Spectrum Honda and Craig Willis smashed the B Class qualifying and race records.

[formula1600]

The final race of the DAC Trillium Trophy Races at Shannonville Motorsport Park saw a close battle between A Class competitors Zacharie Robichon and Shane Jantzi.

“Shane had a good jump on the start and managed to get out in front. I knew I had to stay behind him and force him into a mistake so that I could spring by,” said Zacharie Robichon. “Going into the corner four laps in, Shane got up on a curb and lost a bit of traction coming out of it. I managed to squeeze by and gain the lead, but he kept me honest throughout the whole race. Overall it was a really good race, and I had a lot of fun out there.”

“I started the race off pole again, but was able to get a great start and got ahead of Andrew on corner one,” said Craig Willis. “He kept the pressure on for quite a few laps, and managed to get past me on the back straight. I knew I had to keep on him, and when his car had some issues that made him pull off, I kept my composure and was really happy to end it with a win.”

Photo by Michael Haley