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champcarguru
Joined: 15 Mar 2004
Posts: 1195
Location: downtown street corner, Chicago
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 Posted: Wed Mar 03, 2010 5:38 pm Post subject: ATLANTICS FOLD !!! |
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| Auto123.com wrote: |
BREAKING NEWS: THE 2010 FORMULA ATLANTIC CHAMPIONSHIP IS CANCELLED !
By René Fagnan
Auto123.com has learned that the 2010 season of the Formula Atlantic Championship has been cancelled.
This is major news for the up-and-coming, young drivers who wanted to climb the motorsport ladder and follow the footsteps of the Villeneuves, the Rahals, Keke Rosberg, Danny Sullivan, Danica Patrick and others.
2010 would have represented the 37th season of competition of what was North America's longest-running open wheel driver development series.
Since 1974, the Atlantic Championship has been churning out drivers that have gone on to superstardom in various forms of motorsport all over the world.
Ben Johnston, the owner of the series and the team owners decided on Tuesday afternoon to cease operations for 2010.
An insider told Auto123.com that considerable efforts have been put during the recent months to keep the series alive. However, the poor state of the economy resulted in the cancellation of many sponsorship programmes and gave no chance to Johnston and his team.
"There were basically too many series and not enough money available," the insider told us.
"The Atlantic series will not disappear for good," the insider pointed out.
"We're taking 2010 off to seriously rethink the series. Mr. Johnston is seriously thinking about relaunching the series in 2011, and even to stage a short and affordable 'Winter Series' at one point."
The Atlantic series' officials were in final talks with the organisers of the Canadian Grand Prix for the presentation of the race in June. It will not happen, sadly. |
SAD, SAD, SAD !!!  
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Ligier_AL
champcarguru
Joined: 16 May 2006
Posts: 1902
Location: Mid-West
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| Posted: Wed Mar 03, 2010 9:44 pm Post subject: |
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Open wheel racing is on its death bed thanks to King George.
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Stools
champcaracer
Joined: 09 Jun 2005
Posts: 429
Location: Fargo, North Dakota... God's country! And a long fricken drive to any track worth going to!
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| Posted: Thu Mar 04, 2010 12:30 am Post subject: |
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And another historic OW series bites the dust. What a shame!
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 DIE EARL, DIE !!!  |
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Ruhiat.Ari
champcarguru
Joined: 27 Oct 2005
Posts: 1603
Location: Virginia Beach
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| Posted: Thu Mar 04, 2010 6:53 am Post subject: |
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| SPEEDtv wrote: |
Atlantics Cancelled For 2010
As was predicted by SPEEDtv.com on Tuesday, the Atlantic Championship has been forced to suspend their plans to hold the 2010 season of the storied open-wheel series.
The checkered flag has flown on the 2010 Atlantic season, and possibly for good. (LAT)
Despite a release on February 25th from the series titled "Atlantic Grid for Sebring Season-Opener Filling Up Fast," SPEEDtv.com learned that the claim was wide of the mark. The series confirmed today that their cars and drivers will not be a part of the 12 Hours of Sebring event or the rest of the 2010 calendar they had secured, stating:
Due to the downturn in the global economy and the subsequent shortage of funded drivers, the Cooper Tires Presents the Atlantic Championship Powered by Mazda will go on hiatus until global conditions improve. The Atlantic Championship has and always will be committed to providing the best driver development series available to the world's next generation of top-tier driving talent. Unfortunately however this experience cannot be upheld through 2010. Series officials will continue working throughout the year to develop new ideas for the future that will add value to drivers and also lower costs associated with competing in a world-class racing series like the Atlantic Championship.
"It is with a heavy heart and only after deep consideration that I have accepted the recommendations from the stakeholders in the Series to pause efforts related to the continuation of the 2010 Atlantic Championship season," said Ben Johnston, Owner, Atlantic Championship. "As a former Atlantic racer myself, the Atlantic Championship means a great deal to me personally. I know what this series means to the drivers of the world as well as the heritage that Atlantics carries with it and I will not devalue the world-class experience that each one of our drivers is entitled to just to save face during these tough economic times. I am committed to this series now as much as ever and will assure Atlantic fans that the Atlantic Championship office will be working during the down time in order to deliver an unparalleled racing offering when economic conditions allow."
Mazda, an ardent supporter of the Atlantic Championship, affirmed their continued presence in open-wheel, regardless of today's news.
"All of us at Mazda are disappointed that the Atlantic Championship will be on hiatus this year," said Robert Davis, Senior Vice President, Mazda North American Operations. "It was no doubt a very difficult decision made by the Atlantic management in conjunction with the teams. Mazda has greatly enjoyed the past four years of working with outstanding drivers, teams, and partners and we remain committed to our ongoing support of up-and-coming drivers in both open-wheel and sports car racing." |
Maybe they'll be back in a year or two. 
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Ligier_AL
champcarguru
Joined: 16 May 2006
Posts: 1902
Location: Mid-West
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| Posted: Thu Mar 04, 2010 10:00 am Post subject: |
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^ I doubt it!
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KlüstérFøk
champcarguru
Joined: 21 Jan 2007
Posts: 1024
Location: out there... in a frozen tundra... pissing against the wind...
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| Posted: Fri Mar 05, 2010 4:48 pm Post subject: |
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| Motorsport.com wrote: |
Atlantic Championship forced to take hiatus
By Nancy Knapp Schilke
One cannot say they did not see this coming with lack of entries, teams moving on to new ground and drivers searching for rides in other series. Today, the Atlantic Championship series shut its doors on what they hope will be just a hiatus for the 2010 season.
Atlantic drivers doing a rain dance on Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve in 2006. (Photo by Eric Gilbert)
"It is with a heavy heart and only after deep consideration that I have accepted the recommendations from the stakeholders in the Series to pause efforts related to the continuation of the 2010 Atlantic Championship season," said Ben Johnston, the owner of the Atlantic Championship.
From historic tracks to new venues, the series has delighted their fans with close racing on ovals, road course and temporary street circuits and at times, caused them to hold their breaths in wet conditions. Its history dates back to 1974 and the series has undergone several changes over the years, including ownership. However, since 1985, Vicki O'Connor has led the series and has been a major part of its ongoing development. She is known for her ability to stay strong with her leadership through thick and thin.
It seems like just yesterday O'Connor presented the then new Swift 016.a but in reality it was February, 2006. With the unveiling of the modern-era single-seater was also the news that they would return to their landmark standing starts. The announcement was also made on Mazda's involvement, including the 300-hp 2.3-liter 4-cylinder Mazda MZR engines.
"We are delighted to welcome Mazda to the Atlantic family," O'Connor said at the time. "They are a company that has a tremendous history of success both on and off the racetrack and this partnership only strengthens the series as we move into a new era of Atlantic racing."
Fast forward to 2008 at the season finale on the Road Atlanta circuit when a new owner of the popular series was announced. Atlanta businessman and race car driver Ben Johnston purchased the rights to the Atlantic Racing Series, LLC from the former Champ Car World Series owners Kevin Kalkhoven and Gerald Forsythe.
The former racer in the Atlantic series was excited about the future and on October 31st in 2008, Johnston commented, "It is very exciting to play a part in the future of such a historic racing series," Johnston said. "The Atlantic staff and teams are the best racing has to offer and we are honored to have the continued sponsorship of Cooper Tires and Mazda. It will be a fantastic season."
Road Atlanta first lap action, 2008. (Photo by Andy Sallee)
Now it's 2010, though, with a reality check after the series' small field in the 2009 season to notice that this year's start was looking dismal with teams having their own woes, some moving on to other racing series and not just open-wheel ones plus a lack of funding for the series, drivers and teams due to the economy. Add to the economy situation the fact that other series were looking for the same type of funding; yet at the same time, the Formula Two series that started in 2008 remains secured and the GP2 Series added a secondary series called GP3. One cannot forget that those two series are the main ladders for drivers heading to Formula One.
The Atlantic Championship is still under the Mazda driver development umbrella but for the American and Japanese-based manufacturer, they have seen their star drivers move up and on to other top series including last year's champion, John Edwards, will make his debut this weekend in the Grand-Am race at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
"All of us at Mazda are disappointed that the Atlantic Championship will be on hiatus this year," said Robert Davis, Senior Vice President, Mazda North American Operations. "It was no doubt a very difficult decision made by the Atlantic management in conjunction with the teams. Mazda has greatly enjoyed the past four years of working with outstanding drivers, teams, and partners and we remain committed to our ongoing support of up-and-coming drivers in both open-wheel and sports car racing."
The economy continues to effect racing, more in America and Asia than in Europe. "As a former Atlantic racer myself, the Atlantic Championship means a great deal to me personally. I know what this series means to the drivers of the world as well as the heritage that Atlantics carries with it and I will not devalue the world-class experience that each one of our drivers is entitled to just to save face during these tough economic times," Johnston said on the closing of the doors for the 2010 season.
Series owner Johnston did give hope for the future: "I am committed to this series now as much as ever and will assure Atlantic fans that the Atlantic Championship office will be working during the down time in order to deliver an unparalleled racing offering when economic conditions allow."
Past champions of note include Canadians Bill Brack, Gilles Villeneuve and his brother Jacques Villeneuve in the first ten years. American Howdy Holmes and Tom Gloy were among the title holders in the '70s. Others who left their mark in the series include IndyCar team owner Michael Andretti, broadcast announcers Scott Goodyear, Brian Till and Calvin Fish, who was the first non-American/Canadian to take the title.
Current sportscar racers who took the champion honors include Johnny O'Connell, Jon Fogarty and Simon Pagenaud. Buddy Rice and Brazil Raphael Matos took their crowns to IndyCar while AJ Allmendinger and Patrick Carpentier have moved from open-wheel into stockcar racing; mainly NASCAR.
The list of drivers that have moved up and on after competing in the Atlantic series is long but most recently there has been one racer who kept his dreams alive, no matter the odds. Jonathan Summerton became a fan favorite due to his sense-of-humor, his honesty and his desire to race.
"It was an amazing series. I had a ton of fun and well the series brought up many great talents," Summerton said in an exclusive quote to Motorsport.com. "It is a shame to see it go. I really enjoyed my time being a part of it." |
Sad story, but reality sucks, and Ben Johnston played us like suckers from day one - we've just got taken. 
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Ruhiat.Ari
champcarguru
Joined: 27 Oct 2005
Posts: 1603
Location: Virginia Beach
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| Posted: Wed Mar 10, 2010 8:36 pm Post subject: |
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| Robin Miller of SPEEDtv wrote: |
MILLER: Farewell To Formula Atlantic
The top of their web page says the season opener is set for 3/19 and there's a countdown clock still ticking. But, sadly, time has run out on Atlantics.
by Robin Miller
The legend of Gilles Villeneuve was established in Formula Atlantic long before his exploits in F1 with Ferrari. Like Villeneuve, the series launched the careers of countless stars. (LAT)
The top of the web page says the season opener is set for March 19 and there's a countdown clock still ticking.
But, sadly, time has run out on Formula Atlantic.
After 37 years of cranking out some of the top talent in North American open wheel racing, the Atlantics have closed down.
"I called everybody before I left in November and most everyone was prepared for this but it's still a very sad day," said Vicki O'Connor, whose run as Atlantics' boss began in 1985.
"There are so many great memories from something that was close to a lot of our hearts."
Sprouting from the roots of Formula B, Atlantics debuted in 1974 in Canada with support from Player's tobacco and was sanctioned by Canadian Automobile Sport Clubs. Toronto's Bill Brack won the first two titles but this category really took off in 1976 when Gilles Villeneuve stormed into the picture.
The favorite son of Montreal battled Bobby Rahal, Howdy Holes, Tom Gloy, Price Cobb and Elliott Forbes-Robinson along with future F1 mates Keke Rosberg, Patrick Tambay, James Hunt and Alan Jones to win back-to-back Player's Challenge Series championships.
"If you had a desire as a young guy to go to Formula One there was only series to be in and that was Formula Atlantic," said Rahal, whose performance launched a career in Indy cars, Can-Am and a brief fling in F1. "The competition was fierce and our first race in Edmonton we had 32 cars within two seconds of each other.
"Every year you got a shot at all the heroes from Europe at Three Rivers and it was just an amazing time. It got Gilles his break and I guess the rest of us also did pretty well."
During the past 30 years, Atlantics was the springboard to CART and Indy Cars (along with Indy Lights) and the list of graduates is impressive, to say the least.
It includes former CART, F1 and Indy champ Jacques Villeneuve, past CART champions Michael Andretti, Jimmy Vasser, Bobby Rahal, 2004 Indy 500 winner Buddy Rice, open wheel veterans Patrick Carpentier, Scott Goodyear, Mark Dismore, Kevin Cogan, Memo Gidley, Richie Hearn and Alex Barron along with current IndyCar regulars Ryan Hunter-Reay, Graham Rahal, Danica Patrick, Rafa Matos and rookie Simona De Silvestro. Two-time king Jon Fogarty is now a GRAND-AM sports car champion along with Alex Gurney and A.J. Allmendinger has moved on to NASCAR.
Dismore is the career leader in victories with 15, while Gilles earned the most pole positions (14).
A product of Formula Atlantic in his own right, Bobby Rahal later became a team owner, fielding entries for two-time champion Jon Fogarty and a certain female driver with Sprint Cup aspirations. (LAT)
Teams like Condor Motorsports, Jensen Motorsports, Polestar, DSTP and Lynx were loyal fixtures along with Toyota, Mazda, Swift and Cooper Tires. Ben Johnston purchased the series two years ago and tried to keep it going but couldn't.
"My first race in 1985 we struggled to get 15 cars to Summit Point, West Va. and in 2006 we had 28 Swift/Mazda Cosworths on the grid at Long Beach," said O'Connor.
"When Champ Car and the IRL got together it was the right thing but we were the casualty. With the right timing, it might be able to come back some day and I hope so because it's a valuable piece of history." |
Yep, we all shall miss Atlantics !!!
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thunderroad
champcarmanic
Joined: 13 Jan 2007
Posts: 918
Location: snowboarding in Manitoba
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| Posted: Thu Mar 11, 2010 12:23 am Post subject: |
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Well there's always Earl Light..  |
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