Formula Atlantic 1985 « OldRacingCars.com

Formula Atlantic 1985

With the demise of the CASC series after 1983, Formula Atlantic in North America was divided into two regional series:

WCAR Formula Atlantic Championship in the west
ECAR Formula Atlantic Championship in the east

There were other related championships running in other parts of the world in 1985. Formula Pacific was still going strong in Australia, where John Bowe won the Australian Drivers' Championship in a Ralt RT4, and in New Zealand, where Ross Cheever took the International series and Kenny Smith won yet another Gold Star. The Japanese Formula Pacific title had been wound up after 1982 and the British Formula Atlantic series after 1983. The South African national championship had evolved away from Formula Atlantic with the introduction of the Mazda engine in 1979 and now used mainly ex-Formula 2 chassis.

WCAR Formula Atlantic

ECAR Formula Atlantic

The research

All North American Formula Atlantic results have been compiled by Chris Townsend. For the WCAR/ECAR period his primary sources have been On Track magazine, Sports Car (courtesy of Kevan McLurg), and Autoweek. Results sheets, entry lists and qualifying times have been kindly provided by the late Murray McLaren, Tim Fortner, ECAR Series Chief Steward John W. Bornholdt and Jerry Winker. We are also grateful for the help of series organiser Vicki O'Connor, and John Zimmermann.

Most of the cars to appear from 1983 to 1988 were Ralt RT4s but Ralt's production records usually only give the name of the agent. Swift build records, courtesy of the late Murray McLaren, give more detail. Second and subsequent owners have been determined from SCCA log books of owners too numerous to identify individually or from references in On Track to previous owners. More help is needed - if you owned one of these cars or raced in the series, please get in touch.

Please email Allen (allen@oldracingcars.com) if you have any additions, corrections or comments.