Formula Atlantic
The Formula Atlantic is a motorsport -Rennklasse.
The history of Formula Atlantic began in 1965 as Formula B of the SCCA (Sports Car Club of America). These races were held until 1968 under the patronage of the SCCA with vehicles whose engines were not allowed to have a displacement of more than 1.6 liters. From 1969 to 1972 Formula Atlantic was an independent racing series and from 1973 had different organizers. In 1971, races with Formula Atlantic racing cars were also held in Great Britain for the first time. This resulted in British racing series from 1972, which were organized according to the respective rules of the formula. Formula Atlantic could not establish itself permanently in Great Britain because it was always under the pressure of Formula 3 . The last British Formula Atlantic Championship took place in 1983.
The series also had an eventful history in the USA and Canada. So there was an east and west coast championship from 1985, with the east coast series, also known as the Pacific series , made the leap to Oceania and is now also in Australia and New Zealand .
Formula Atlantic was a popular field of activity for manufacturers. The technical regulations were closely related to those of Formula 3 and Formula 2 . Formula Atlantic was in between and it was possible to adapt racing cars with little effort. At the beginning it was companies like Brabham , Lotus , March and Chevron who rebuilt their chassis, later Ralt and Reynard were added. The US racing car manufacturer Swift Engineering has been supplying standard chassis for a number of years . The engines come from Mazda .
The series drew a plethora of European guest drivers to North America in the 1970s and 1980s. Drivers like Derek Bell , James Hunt , Riccardo Patrese , Didier Pironi , Keke Rosberg and many others competed in the Formula Atlantic. Some well-known pilots were able to win the North American championship. In 1974 and 1975 William Brack won , in 1976, 1977 and 1978 Gilles Villeneuve , in 1981 and 1982 his brother Jacques . In 1983 the title went to Michael Andretti and the last champion in 2009 was the American John Edwards .
From 1976 to 1986, the South African Formula Atlantic Championship was held in South Africa , which in individual aspects followed separate regulations.
literature
- Peter Higham: International Motor Racing - A Complete Reference from Formula 1 to Touring Car . Guinness Publishing Ltd., London 1995, ISBN 0-85112-642-1 .