2003 Canadian Formula Ford Championship

Lime Rock Park Grand Prix added to 2003 Canadian Formula Ford Calendar

(March 19, 2003 – Montreal) -- Berman Motorsport Group, promoters of the Canadian Formula Ford Championship presented by Deringer, announced today that they have signed on to hold a race at the Mohegan Sun presents the Lime Rock Park Grand Prix event on Memorial Day Weekend, May 23-26. It marks the first time the series has been to Lime Rock Park (Lakeville, CT) since Rob MacDonald won there in July of 1996.

The Canadian Formula Fords will support the Trans-Am Series and the Speed World Challenge Touring and GT class races.
“We’re excited to be back at Lime Rock Park. It’s a beautiful place, a terrific venue and a demanding racetrack that I know our drivers will appreciate,” said Eric Berman, series director. “As a development series we feel it’s important to expose our young drivers to a variety of tracks, and so expansion into the US was a natural progression. We were simply waiting for the timing to be right for us to take part in a high profile spectator event in the northeast US, so travel distance would be reasonable for our Canadian teams. The Lime Rock Park Grand Prix was the ideal venue. We also hope this race will attract some US Formula Ford teams and drivers to challenge our first rate Canadian entries.”

The Canadian Formula Ford Championship presented by Deringer is an 8 race national professional championship for Formula Ford 1600cc race cars. Rules are almost identical to SCCA National Formula Ford regulations, except the Canadian cars run on treaded Hankook radial tires and use a “standing start” like in Formula 1. The series, now in its 15th consecutive season, is responsible for launching the careers of current ChampCar stars Paul Tracy and Alex Tagliani, among other notables. Series sponsors include Ford of Canada, Deringer customs brokers and freight forwarders, Mobil1, Esso, and Hankook Tire.

“Lime Rock is pleased to host the Canadian Formula Ford Championship during the Mohegan Sun Presents the Lime Rock Grand Prix weekend. Lime Rock provides the Canadian Formula Ford Championship an ideal U.S. location, venue and event as part of their championship. Furthermore, I believe our Memorial Day weekend fans will greatly appreciate the high level of competition that the Canadian Formula Ford Championship is well known for within the racing community. In fact, many of our die-hard Lime Rock fans remember the last time the Canadian Formula Ford Championship raced at the track—this speaks well of the series considering the last race was held here in 1996!” said Michael Johnson, General Manager of Lime Rock Park.

Mohegan Sun Presents the Lime Rock Park Grand Prix will host round 2 of the Canadian Formula Ford Championship 2003 season. Qualifying will take place on Friday, May 23 while the race is scheduled for Saturday afternoon, May 24. The series opener takes place the previous weekend at Mosport International Raceway, also in conjunction with a Trans-Am series race.

For information on Lime Rock Park and to order tickets, visit www.limerock.com, or call 1-800-RACE-LRP.

more information :

http://www.formulaford1600.com

Eric Berman
BMG
(514) 487-6900 x 239
[email protected]