#formula 1600

Ayrton asked me to explain to the mechanics that he wanted more pressure on the tyres, but they didn't want to do it without the go ahead of Ralph Firman (Van Diemen's team principal). And he really didn't want to, but Ayrton insisted and the two argued. In the end they did what Ayrton wanted. We all had the driving technique (whist in the rain) similar to a rally, like Gilles Villeneuve, like Ronnie Peterson. Suddenly I realised there was a driver who was half a second faster than me and they told me it was Ayrton da Silva. On the first curve, the "Paddock", I though he had gone off the line, but no, he was putting the car on the outside of the tack and I couldn't understand it. When we finished practice I asked him why he was risking it, why he was going through the outside when all the others were on the inside. He explained to me that on the outside the track was "green", there was no oil, it was much cleaner. And on that day I understood that motorsport had changed. Everyone stopped driving sideways and started doing the lines Ayrton was on.

F1600 - Preliminar da Formula Truck

Fast Red: Canadian racer Amy Castell talks about why she races

Waterloo, Ontario resident Amy Castell races in the growing Toyo Tires F1600 Championship series for 1,600 cc open wheel racing. In this fantastic short by KarmaComa Studio Inc. Castell talks about what it is like to be a woman racing real race cars and what she would like to see more of in Canadian racing.

“What I’d really love to see in Canadian racing in general, and particularly in the…

F1600 Series to Make New at the Canadian Motorsports Expo

The Canadian Racing Season Begins February 7, 8, & 9, 2014 at Toronto’s International Centre.

The revitalization of Ontario’s Formula 1600 Championship continues as the series announces it will be making its Canadian Motorsports Expo debut in 2014. The eighth edition of the Canadian Motorsports Expo Powered by Inside Track Motorsport News runs February 7, 8 & 9 in Hall 5 of Toronto’s International Centre.

As part of its display at the CME – which will feature a Van Diemen F1600 race car – the series’ booth will be staffed by representatives eager to answer questions about the series and their companies’ involvement in Canadian motorsports, including chassis manufacturers and an engine expert from Honda HPD in the US.

“This is where our race season gets up to speed,” explains Jason Sharpe of Move Motorsports Management, promoters of the Toyo Tires F1600 Championship. “It’s the show that all the racers come to, but it’s also very ‘fan-centric.’ We’re here to increase awareness of the series, to show exactly what kind of competition and excitement the series has to offer.”

For over 45 years, this open-wheeled, entry-level division has been the launching pad for many of the world’s top racers. Canadian stars such as Gilles Villeneuve, Greg Moore, Scott Goodyear, Paul Tracy and Kyle Marcelli all spent time behind the wheels of Formula 1600 cars. The list of recent Toyo Tires F1600 participants includes Canadians Garrett Grist and Scott Hargrove, and American drivers Conor Daly and Trent Hindman. All of them are currently advancing their careers in other racing divisions south of the border.

“This series is totally dedicated to developing young race drivers and to getting Canada back to being a powerhouse in motorsports,” continues Sharpe, who will also take part in the Road Racing Panel discussion, on the CME Stage, on Sunday, February 9.

“You just have to look at the list of talented drivers who have flocked to this series to see the benefits of racing here.”

Sharpe reveals that the F1600 Championship will use the Canadian Motorsports Expo as a forum to detail new developments, including sponsorship news, information on the new, inter-provincial F1600 Super Series, and to confirm details surrounding the new Fuel MediaLab television broadcast package.

Sharpe also hints at a “special, surprise development” he’s hoping to unveil at the CME.

Notes Sharpe, “I expect that almost all of our registered drivers will be at the show over the course of the weekend to meet and greet the fans. We’ll have videos of our recent races running throughout the CME, and we’re going to be running some contests with lots of prize giveaways for the fans.”

He concludes, “Everyone is totally re-energized and looking forward to the start of the season. We’ve got some great races on our schedule, and I truly believe that we’re going to see huge fields, and some incredible racing, the likes of which we haven’t seen in years.”

ABOUT THE TOYO TIRES FORMULA 1600 CHAMPIONSHIP: This entry-level racing division is recognized worldwide as a premiere step in a racer’s career development. The Toyo Tires F1600 Championship features custom-built open-wheeled cars powered by normally aspirated 1600 c.c. motors, manufactured by either Ford or Honda. The regular 2014 schedule includes six doubleheader events with four optional Super Series races. In Ontario, the series will contest multiple events on the four-kilometer Canadian Tire Motorsport Park course, with single visits slated for Calabogie Motorsports Park and the Honda Indy Toronto. For further information on the Toyo Tires F1600 Championship series, visit their website, www.formula1600.com, or follow them on the Canadian Automobile Sport Clubs site, www.casc.on.ca.

ABOUT THE CME: The 8th Annual Canadian Motorsports Expo Powered by Inside Track Motorsport News takes place February 7, 8 & 9, 2014 at Toronto’s International Centre, adjacent to Pearson International Airport. The show features motorsport content geared to racers, fans and automotive enthusiasts. NASCAR Sprint Cup racer Ryan Newman will be at the CME on Saturday, February 8. For information about the show, including news, exhibitor and sponsorship opportunities, call (416) 962-7223, or email [email protected]. The CME’s website is located at www.CanadianMotorsportsExpo.com.

  SERIES CONTACT: Jason Sharpe, (416) 557-5451 or [email protected], Twitter: @jasonsharpe

  If photographs are required please contact Jason Sharpe (416) 557-5451 or [email protected]

AVR Motorsports Moves Up to F1600 for 2014

AVR Signs Reid Arnold and Andre du Preez to compete in F1600 for the 2014 season.

AVR Motorsports will be campaigning two ex-BGR Piper Hondas in the Toyo Tires F1600 Series. This will be the team’s first attempt at competing in the F1600 series after successfully graduating from the entry level Formula 1200 series.

The plans for the step up have been in making for some time and team directors, Shane Viccary and Sam Ashtiani, are thrilled and keen on conquering more podiums.

“We have been wanting to make this move for a number of years, and we believe this is the perfect time. The Toyo Tires F1600 Series has quickly become an extremely competitive series, and we can’t wait to take part in the competition,” said Shane, veteran FV and F1200 driver, and team owner.

AVR will be working very closely with BGR throughout the 2014 season in order to get a kick start into the super competitive series. “BGR’s contribution will be a huge kick start for us, however the ultimate goal is to have both, AVR and BGR reap benefits from such co-operation. Both teams will be able to improve together and gain access to greater resources.” Said Sam, AVR director and founding partner.

Driving for AVR Motorsports this season will be series rookies 18 year old Reid Arnold and 17 year old Andre Du Preez Jr. Reid has been driving for AVR for the past two seasons in the F1200 series, finishing his final race off with his first race win. Reid comes from a very successful background in karting. Reid will be racing the DGPI Piper Honda. Andre raced for AVR in 2012 in the F1200 series as a 15 year old straight out of karting in South Africa. Andre will be racing the Horne Group Piper Honda. Both drivers will be looking to compete for the Rookie of the Year honors in 2014.

Thus far, AVR has had success in the Formula 1200 series for the past 4 years, including two Master’s Championships, Rookie of the Year, 2nd overall in the CASC-OR championship and numerous race wins and podiums throughout the years.

  AVR MOTORSPORTS CONTACT: [email protected]

  SERIES CONTACT: Jason Sharpe, (416) 557-5451 or [email protected], Twitter: @jasonsharpe

  If photographs are required please contact Jason Sharpe (416) 557-5451 or [email protected]

Fuel Media Lab Partners with Move Motorsports Management to Provide F1600 Broadcast

Move Motorsports Management has partnered with Fuel MediaLab to broadcast Formula 1600 racing to fans across Canada. Announced today, the intense wheel-to-wheel action of Formula 1600 racing will be broadcast nationally by Move Motorsports and Fuel MediaLab. Jason Sharpe of Move Motorsports (promoters of both the Toyo Tires F1600 Championship and Formula 1600 Super Series) and Joel Robinson of Fuel MediaLab (producers of the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series on TSN) have reached an agreement to produce a number of shows to be broadcast nationally during the 2014 season.

The broadcasts will cover a select number of events showcasing the entry-level formula to a large and passionate audience. It will include a high percentage of the on-track action but will also get behind the scenes in an effort to learn more about Canada’s next wave of international racing superstars.

“Formula 1600 is the first step on the ladder to a career in racing,” said Jason Sharpe of Move Motorsports. “Half of our competitors are under the age of 18 and right out of karts. They are fearless and hungry for nothing other than victory. The other half have been doing this for years and their experience behind the wheel sometimes baffles the rookies and is the recipe for some epic battles. Canadians will be incredibly entertained by this show and as a bonus are getting the first look at the new breed of racing stars,” he added.

“In the twenty-five years I have been involved in televised auto racing, the Formula 1600 series has been one of the most exciting to watch,” said Joel Robinson of Fuel MediaLab. “It doesn’t get better than seeing that group of thirty to thirty-five cars racing five-wide into turn one. I look forward to working with Jason and the team at Move Motorsports Management and showcasing this country's racing prospects to Canadian racing fans,” he added.

The events to be televised, network and broadcast schedule will be released early in the New Year.

The Toyo Tires F1600 Series is the premiere entry-level formula car racing series, based in Ontario, Canada. The cars are technically advanced, sleek and fast and provide a cost effective platform for aspiring youngsters and veteran drivers alike. The Series races at the famed Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, Calabogie Motorsport Park and new this year the Honda Indy Toronto.

Fuel MediaLab is an industry leader in the televising and live streaming of auto racing in Canada. Fuel has created programming for broadcast partners SPORTSNET, TSN, RDS and Speed Channel showcasing series’ including NASCAR, Touring Car, Formula 1600, Star Mazda, Indy Lights, Mazda MX-5 Cup and Rally.

SERIES CONTACT: Jason Sharpe, (416) 557-5451 or [email protected], Twitter: @jasonsharpe