The 46th annual VARAC Vintage Grand Prix at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (CTMP) was an exceptional milestone for open-wheel racing. Marking VARAC’s 50th anniversary, the long weekend was seamlessly organized from paddock load-in to the final checkered flags. Off the track, the social side of the event stole the show, featuring fantastic food, cold drinks, and legendary stories during the major paddock dinners hosted each night.For open-wheel purists, the mixed Formula Classic group was an inclusive, thrilling showcase. It brought together a spectacular cross-section of eras, technologies, and passionate racers running wheel-to-wheel down the 3.957 km circuit.
High Stakes and Mechanical Heartbreak
True to the unpredictable nature of motorsport, early-weekend drama reshaped the sharp end of the field before the final race even went green:
-
- Jamie Kay brought out the #4 Gamma F4 chassis built by Jim Morton and previously raced by Mike MacNeil. Regrettably, Kay blew an oil hose during qualifying. The resulting minor engine bay fire forced a tough withdrawal from the remainder of the weekend.
- In another shocking blow to the front row, multi-time Formula Classic Champion and pre-weekend favorite Paul Subject suffered a catastrophic blown motor in his #77 Formula Mazda, sidelining him before racing commenced.
- Jim Morton carried the flag for the Canadian F4 cars alone, proving to be the absolute benchmark for raw speed. Driving his #11 2015 Gamma Tercero, powered by a high-revving Suzuki GSX-R750 motorcycle engine, Morton put on an absolute masterclass in Race 3. On Lap 6, he dropped the hammer to record a blistering fastest lap of 1:22.7, taking the overall victory.
- Mike MacNeil pushed him the entire way in his #55 Van Diemen converted to an Elan F1000 specification. Powered by a screaming Suzuki GSX-R1000 powerplant, MacNeil matched Morton’s intensity stride-for-stride on that exact same 6th lap, turning in an incredible 1:23.8 to claim the Open Wheel Classic (OWC) class win.
Class-by-Class Paddock Review
Open Wheel Classic (OWC) & Formula Classic 90 (FC90)
This high-downforce, high-rpm division served as the absolute vanguard of speed over the weekend. Featuring a brilliant tactical clash between high-revving motorcycle powerplants and classic rotary engineering, the class gave fans a beautiful look at modern racing evolution. Jim Morton and Mike MacNeil traded sectors at a relentless pace up front, dipping deep into the 1:22 and 1:23 brackets. Behind them, the rumble of the Star Formula Mazda machinery kept the pressure high, with Lewis Mackenzie running a flawless race to secure a solid second place in class over Steve McCamus and Kim Mackenzie.
Club Ford (CF)
The Club Ford division delivered what was arguably the most captivating pure driving showcase of the entire event. Stripped of wings and complex aerodynamics, these traditional 1600cc Kent-powered machines forced drivers to rely on absolute momentum, slipstreaming, and mechanical grip. Stephen Adams drove a defensive masterpiece to lead the field home, but he had mirrors full of Daniel Burkett and Shane Viccary the entire distance. The top four finishers crossed the line on the exact same lap, separated by mere car lengths in a true testament to the skill level inside this legacy tier.
Formula 1200 & Formula Vee (F1200 / FV)
Proving that grassroots motorsport produces some of the closest pack-racing on earth, the F1200 and Formula Vee entries put on a spectacular drafting clinic. Utilizing restricted 1200cc air-cooled Volkswagen powerplants, these lightweight single-seaters engaged in a non-stop game of chess down the long Andretti Straight. Shepherd Aubry and Jason Abrams put on a phenomenal display at the front, crossing the line nose-to-tail with identical best lap times of 1:46.1. Doug Durrell carried the flag beautifully for his 1966 Bobsy Vanguard, showing great consistency to round out an impressive group performance.
Historic Formula Ford, Formula Historic, & FC70
This grouping represented the rich living history and engineering pedigree of the open-wheel community. From classic late-60s cigar-shaped chassis to early-70s sports racers, the field brought historical elegance to the pavement. Tom Pixley maximized his 2.0L Volkswagen engine package to steer his unique 1978 Wheeler FSV chassis to the top of the FC70 podium with a stellar 1:32.0 pace. He was joined in the winner’s circle by Ed Luce, who coaxed a beautiful mechanical song out of his iconic 1968 Lotus Type 41C Twin Cam to pick up the Formula Historic class victory.
Final Race Results: Formula Classic Roster & Standings
The unverified, unofficial classification, chassis/engine platforms, and best lap times from the Race 3 data sheet are recorded below:
Open Wheel Classic (OWC) & Formula Classic 90 (FC90)
-
- 1st Place (FC90 / Overall Winner): James Morton (#11) — 2015 Gamma Tercero (Suzuki GSX-R750) (Best Lap: 1:22.7)
- 1st Place (OWC): Mike MacNeil (#55) — 2004 Van Diemen Elan F1000 (Suzuki GSX-R1000) (Class Winner — Best Lap: 1:23.8)
- 2nd Place (FC90): Lewis Mackenzie (#8) — 1997 Mazda Formula Mazda Sports Racer (Rotary) (Best Lap: 1:30.3)
- 3rd Place (FC90): Steve McCamus (#112) — 1998 Star Formula Mazda (13B Rotary) (Best Lap: 1:35.7)
- 4th Place (FC90): Kim Mackenzie (#76) — 1991 Mazda Formula Mazda (13B Rotary) (Best Lap: 1:38.8)
- DNS: Adam Reisdorf (#51) — 1991 Alfa Romeo Formula 3 (Withdrew)
- DNS: Michael Cross (#29) — 1999 Van Diemen RF99Z Formula Continental (Ford Zetec)
- DNS: Paul Subject (#77) — 1998 Mazda Formula Mazda (13B Rotary) (Withdrew)
- DNS: Jamie Kay (#4) — 2005 Gamma F4 (Suzuki GSX-R750) (Withdrew)
Club Ford (CF)
-
- 1st Place: Stephen Adams (#59) — 1980 Lola T540 (Ford Cortina 1600cc) (Class Winner — Best Lap: 1:31.7)
- 2nd Place: Daniel Burkett (#32) — 1978 Van Diemen RF78 (Ford Cortina 1600cc) (Best Lap: 1:31.8)
- 3rd Place: Shane Viccary (#27) — 1981 Citation Zink Z16 (Ford Cortina 1600cc) (Best Lap: 1:32.5)
- 4th Place: Jim Holtom (#81) — 1980 Crossle 40F (Ford Cortina 1600cc) (Best Lap: 1:34.4)
- 5th Place: Kieran Murphy (#9) — 1980 Crossle 40F (Ford Cortina 1600cc) (Best Lap: 1:38.2)
- 6th Place: Jim Hallman (#18) — 1980 Crossle 40F (Ford Cortina 1600cc) (1:22.2 – Transponder Glitch)
- DNF: Shane Bawa (#66) — 1981 Crossle 45F (Ford Cortina 1600cc) (Best Lap: 1:36.7)
- DNS: Doug Beatty (#47) — 1981 Crossle 45F (Ford Cortina 1600cc)
Formula 1200 & Formula Vee (F1200 / FV)
-
- 1st Place (F1200): Shepherd Aubry (#15) — 1998 BRD F1200 (Volkswagen 1200cc) (Class Winner — Best Lap: 1:46.1)
- 2nd Place (F1200): Jason Abrams (#19) — 1999 BRD F1200 (Volkswagen 1200cc) (Best Lap: 1:46.1)
- 3rd Place (F1200): Dhora Lee (#10) — 1999 BRD F1200 (Volkswagen 1200cc) (Best Lap: 1:49.6)
- 4th Place (F1200): Robert Patterson (#38) — 1997 BRD Formula 1200 (Volkswagen 1200cc) (Best Lap: 1:46.7)
- 5th Place (F1200): Robert Sombach (#31) — 1995 BRD F1200 (Volkswagen 1200cc) (Best Lap: 1:51.9)
- 6th Place (F1200): Ryan Brooks (#24) — 1994 BRD F1200 (Volkswagen 1200cc) (Best Lap: 1:54.8)
- 7th Place (F1200): Robert Murray (#88) — 1998 RBM 01 Formula 1200 (Volkswagen 1200cc) (Best Lap: 1:54.8)
- 8th Place (F1200): Gerry Catena (#25) — 1995 VW Formula 1200 (Volkswagen 1200cc) (Best Lap: 1:56.3)
- 1st Place (FV): Doug Durrell (#67) — 1966 Bobsy Vanguard Formula Vee (Volkswagen 1200cc) (Class Winner — Best Lap: 1:59.4)
- DNS: Ella Martin (#6) — 1996 BRD F1200 (Volkswagen 1200cc)
Historic Formula Ford, Formula Historic, & FC70
-
- 1st Place (FC70): Tom Pixley (#7) — 1978 Wheeler FSV (Volkswagen 2.0L) (Class Winner — Best Lap: 1:32.0)
- 1st Place (FH): Ed Luce (#5) — 1968 Lotus Type 41C (Ford Twin Cam) (Class Winner — Best Lap: 1:34.6)
- 2nd Place (FC70): Alex Zeller (#41) — 1972 Mallock MK12 (Ford 1600cc) (Best Lap: 1:38.3)
- DNS: Murray Burkett (#3) — 1969 Chinook MK IX (Historic Formula Ford – Ford Cortina)
- DNS: Nigel Cass (#491) — 1985 Van Diemen RF85 (Post Formula Ford – Ford Cortina)
- DNS: Kevin Young (#60) — 1971 Crossle 20F (Historic Formula Ford – Ford Cortina)
Looking Ahead: The Open Wheel Invitational
While the VARAC Vintage Grand Prix provided an unforgettable celebration of where we have been, the focus now pivots directly to the future of regional open-wheel racing. The momentum built over this historic weekend is carrying straight into Ontario’s premier dedicated single-seater showcase: the upcoming Open Wheel Invitational.
This highly anticipated event promises to pack the paddocks with the largest gathering of purpose-built formula machinery seen all season. We are strongly encouraging all competitors, crew, and enthusiasts to finalize their technical preparations and lock in their entries early. Let’s keep these grids full, the camaraderie loud, and the racing close!
For official licensing, region-wide schedules, and registration details, make sure to visit the official CASC Motor Sport Ontario (CASC-OR) portal. To track class updates and team profiles, keep your browsers locked on F4 Canada – official site of the Three Quarter Litre Association.