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Next Stop: Calabogie for the CASC-OR Formula Classic Round

Next Stop: Calabogie for the CASC-OR Formula Classic Round

F4 Canada is headed to Calabogie Motorsport Park this weekend, August 22-23, for the 2026 Calabogie Summer Classic — the fifth round of the CASC-OR RaceOntario season and the next stop on the CASC-OR Formula Classic Race Series calendar. It’s billed as the biggest race weekend of the year at the circuit, and with good reason: the Summer Classic pulls together a full grid of CASC-OR regional series — Formula Classic, Formula Prototype Sprints, Miata Canada Cup, Pirelli Grand Touring and Super Touring, the Toyo Tire F1600 Series, and VARAC — for two days of racing on Canada’s longest road course.

Calabogie itself is part of the draw. At 5.05 km (3.138 miles), the circuit’s sweeping elevation changes and high-speed sections make it a proper test for an F4 car, and a nice change of scenery after our last outing at CTMP for the BARC-OC Open Wheel Invitational in July.

Picking up after Mosport

That Mosport weekend didn’t end the way we wanted. James Morton was our lone CDN F4 entry on track — two other registered F4 cars weren’t able to finish repairs from earlier testing incidents in time to make the trip. Morton ran competitively through Saturday’s Race One, but a crack found in the frame near the engine bay (traced back after an oil-pressure warning light forced him to park the car on the final lap) ended the car’s weekend before Race Two and Three.

The good news: the Gamma Tercero is back and confirmed on the entry list for Calabogie, with Morton entered in the Formula Libre class. Nineteen cars make up the combined Formula Classic entry across F1200, FC70, FC90, Formula Libre, and HFV, so it’s a full grid to race into.

Mike MacNeil is also entered this weekend, in FC90 aboard his 2004 Van Diemen — the same car that blew a motor in qualifying at Mosport, forcing him to borrow Dr. Michael Cross’s Van Diemen F2000 for Race One, which then also expired before the finish. Good to see MacNeil’s own car back and repaired for Calabogie. Cross himself is also entered in that same F2000, hoping for a solid finish of his own this time.

The other two Gamma F4s that missed Mosport while finishing repairs are expected as late entries at Calabogie — worth watching the entry list in the days leading up to the weekend.

Also on the FC90 entry list: Paul Subject in his #77 Formula Mazda. Subject is always a strong contender in this class, so expect him near the front all weekend.

What’s on the schedule

The weekend kicks off with a test day on Friday, August 21, with open-wheel sessions (including Formula Classic/F1200) running through the morning and afternoon in 20-minute blocks. Race weekend itself runs Saturday and Sunday, August 22-23:

  • Saturday: registration and scrutineering from 7:00 am, drivers’ meeting at 8:30, then a full day of practice, qualifying, and Race #1 for every group — Formula Classic/F1200/Formula Libre practice and qualifying run alongside VARAC, Toyo Tire F1600, Miata Canada Cup, Formula Prototype Challenge, and the Pirelli GT groups, with Race #1 for the Formula Classic group in the afternoon.
  • Sunday: Race #2 in the morning and Race #3 after the lunch break, with the same running order across all groups.

Full supplementary regulations, the official schedule, and spectator ticket/camping info are posted on the CASC-OR event page and at calabogiemotorsports.com.

Check back after the weekend for the full recap.

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Open Wheel Only: F4 Canada at the Inaugural BARC-OC Open Wheel Invitational

The 2026 CASC-OR road racing season rolled on this past weekend with something Ontario open-wheel racers have been asking for: a weekend with no tin-tops on the entry list. The inaugural Open Wheel Invitational, presented by the British Automobile Racing Club – Ontario Centre (BARC-OC) and run in cooperation with CASC-OR and VARAC, took over Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (Mosport) July 24–26. An optional test day ran on the 24th, Saturday the 25th brought practice, qualifying, and Race One for every group, and Races Two and Three followed on Sunday the 26th.

F4 Canada cars ran as part of Group 2 – Formula Libre, sharing the grid with F1000 and Indy Lights  — a genuine open-wheel mixed bag, and a good measuring stick for where our cars stack up against faster company. Only one F4 car made it to the grid this time: James Morton was the lone Canadian F4 runner, after two other registered F4 cars couldn’t complete repairs from earlier testing incidents in time for the race weekend.

How it went

  • Saturday (practice, qualifying, Race One): James Morton, the sole Canadian F4 entrant on the weekend, had a dramatic end to Race One. On the last lap, coming up the back straight, an oil level warning light lit up on the Gamma car’s dash. Worried about a possible oil leak, oil starvation, or engine damage, Morton immediately shut the engine off and coasted into the pits rather than push on. [Confirm: official Race One classification/result.] Once back in the paddock, no oil leak was found and the oil level checked out fine — but the team discovered a crack in the frame in the engine bay, right near the sensor/gauge wiring. The working theory: flex from the cracked cross-member was enough to trip the warning. Either way, that was it for Morton’s and the Gamma car’s weekend — loaded onto the trailer and off home for repairs ahead of the next event. Mark Brannon (Indy Lights) topped the overall Group 2 result in Race One. Mike MacNeil, originally entered in his own Elan F1000, had already blown that motor in qualifying — he borrowed Dr. Michael Cross’ Van Diemen F2000 (Cross himself was entered in a different run group) to take the Race One start, then blew that motor too before the finish.
  • Sunday (Race Two & Three): No Canadian F4 entry on track — Morton and the Gamma car were already homeward bound for repairs. Marc Giroux (Indy Lights) topped Group 2 overall in Race Two, and Mark Brannon (Indy Lights) topped it again in Race Three.

Morton’s fastest lap of the day was: 01:23.653.
By comparison, the Indy Lights fastest lap was 01:17.355

The weekend at large

Beyond our own class, the event delivered on its “open-wheel only” promise — five run groups covering everything from vintage Formula Ford and Monoposto classics to the Toyo Tires F1600 Championship and F1200s, plus a visiting U.S. Challenge Cup Series contingent. Event organizer and race director Paul Subject called it a strong debut for the format, and drivers who made the trip in from out of town were impressed with what CTMP’s 3.957 km, 10-turn layout asks of an open-wheel car.

It was genuinely awesome to see so many varieties of open-wheel machinery on track together. The FV/F1200 field was especially strong, mixing Canadian and American rulesets on the same grid for some great racing. The Toyo Tires F1600 Championship put on great races, as it always does. There were some wickedly cool FB and Club Formula Ford cars out there too — Stephen Adams was turning lap times that would have had him running at the front of the F1600 field. And it was very cool to see classic/vintage Formula Atlantics out on track as well. Good times were had by all — hopefully this becomes an annual fixture on the calendar.

Looking ahead

The Formula Classic Race Series heads to Calabogie Motorsports Park August 22–23 for the Calabogie Summer Classic, hosted by the Ottawa SportsCar Club. It’s shaping up as a big weekend on the CMP road course, sharing the bill with the Formula Prototype Sprints, Miata Canada Cup, Pirelli Grand Touring/Super Touring, the Toyo Tires F1600 Series, and VARAC. [Add: which F4 drivers/cars are planning to run, championship implications, anything else worth flagging.]

In paddock news, Graham Dewhurst has put his Gamma F4 up for sale —

email: f4canada@gmail.com for more info.

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The Official F4 Canada & TQLA Merch Drop is Live! 🏎️🇨🇦

The long winter wait is officially behind us, the grids are forming, and we now have the ultimate way for you to show your open-wheel pride in the paddock.

We are thrilled to announce that the official F4 Canada E-Store is officially live!

Whether you are deep into the 1:22 brackets at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (Mosport), turning wrenches at Shannonville, or just a die-hard purist of grassroots Canadian formula racing, this collection was built to represent our unique history.

📦 Inside the Collection: Real Gear for the Grid

We’ve curated a mix of premium tees, heavy-blend hoodies, and custom two-tone accent mugs spanning the three core pillars of our community: F4 Canada, The Three Quarter Litre Association (TQLA), and the engineering marvel that is the Gamma F4.

1. F4 Canada & Gamma Series

  • Gamma F4 Race Car Graphic Tee ($29.76): A lightweight formula racing t-shirt featuring the clean, sharp “F4 Gamma” silhouette. Available in white, black, and heather mauve.

  • F4 Canada Racing Tee ($29.95): The staple of the collection. A classic open-wheel motorsport graphic tee built for hot afternoons in the pit lane.

  • F4 Gamma Unisex Heavy Blend™ Hoodie ($39.95): The definitive paddock layer for cold morning track load-ins, available in clean black, white, and ash.

  • Gamma F4 Accent Mug ($8.48): Grab a quick hit of caffeine before qualifying with this 11oz ceramic cup featuring bold colored handles and interiors (Red, Black, or Yellow).

2. TQLA Vintage & Heritage Collection

  • Three Quarter Litre Association Retro Ringer ($42.90): A premium vintage-style ringer tee honoring the official roots of our racing class. Features the signature retro red-and-black circle design on high-contrast white trim.

  • 3/4 Litre Association Retro Accent Mug ($24.95): A timeless 11oz desk piece featuring the original Three Quarter Litre Association logo.

3. Bonus Vintage Formula Ford & Libre Additions

The store also pays homage to the golden era of Canadian road racing with exclusive historical prints:

  • Mosport 1974 “Vintage Bulova” Tee ($29.95) & Mug ($19.95): Throwing it back over 50 years to the historic 1974 Bulova Formula Ford Championship races at Mosport, Ontario.

  • Vintage Formula Libre Car Series ($29.95): Perfect for the open-wheel history buff, celebrating the unconstrained spirit of regional Libre competition.

🛠️ Built for the Paddock

Quality Check: Every single shirt in this drop features high-quality garment construction designed to survive tire rubber, grease, and plenty of laundry cycles without cracking or fading.

Item Category Price Range Best For
Graphic Tees & Ringers $29.76 – $42.90 Pit crew style & warm race days
Heavy Blend Hoodies $39.95 – $44.95 Early morning grid walks
Accent & Racing Mugs $8.48 – $29.95 Shop coffee & winter sim-sessions

🛒 Gear Up for Next Weekend

Everything is printed to order and shipped directly to your door. Support local, grassroots Canadian motorsport engineering, and look sharp doing it.

👉 Click here to browse the full product lineup on the F4 Canada Shop!

See you at the track! 🏁

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Drama, Speed, and True Camaraderie: The Formula Classic Grid at the 2026 VARAC Vintage GP

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.
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Season Opener at CTMP: Wings, History, and Drama at the 2026 BEMC Spring Trophy Races

Season Opener at CTMP: Wings, History, and Drama at the 2026 BEMC Spring Trophy Races
The off-season development is officially over, and the grid has spoken. Over the May 9–10 weekend, the 74th running of the BEMC Spring Trophy Races launched the 2026 CASC-OR regional road racing calendar at the legendary Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (CTMP).
Competitors shook off the winter rust to tackle the iconic 3.957 km Grand Prix circuit. The weekend served up a spectacular mix of dramatic multi-class battles, tactical drafting, and mechanical heartbreak.
While the production cars and sports prototypes put on an incredible show, the true crown jewel of pure open-wheel momentum belonged to the Formula Classic Series group.
Feature Spotlight: Inside the Formula Classic Series Grid
To the untrained eye, the timing sheets for this multi-class grid only tell half the story. The paddock brought an incredible engineering diversity to the CTMP tarmac, featuring an intricate mix of legacy classes, historical spec machinery, and modern high-downforce wings.
To understand the on-track action, you have to understand how this unique grid shakes out:
  • Formula Libre (FL): The ultimate catch-all, “run-what-you-brung” class for formula cars without a dedicated home. Running everything from winged slicks to treaded tires, it regularly inherits cars from other series. For example, Jenson Raybould’s #3 Piper DL7/Honda—a car that normally contests the Toyo Tires FF1600 class—campaigned in FL for the weekend.
  • Canadian Formula Four (F4): While F4 is no longer a recognized, trophy-scoring class under the official CASC banner, the spirit of the division is alive and well. The 3/4 Litre Association (F4 Canada) independently organizes and tracks its own championship points. On the official CASC sheets, all Canadian F4 cars enter under the FL designation.
  • Formula Classic 90 (FC90): A haven for formula cars built up to and throughout the 1990s, frequently drawing out Formula Mazdas (FM) and various F1000/FB machinery.
  • Club Formula Ford (CFF): Dedicated to classic Formula Fords generally built between 1973 and 1981, preserved under strict vintage-regulations with plenty of historic exceptions.
  • Formula 1200 (F1200): Globally recognized as Formula Vee (FV), this pure momentum spec class relies on air-cooled engines and slipstream tactics.

Qualifying: An F4 Inter-Generational Front Row
The weekend’s narrative was forged during Saturday morning’s qualifying session. James Morton put the entire grid on notice by capturing the overall pole position with a blistering lap time of 1:24.275. Morton was piloting his ultra-quick #11 2015 Gamma F4 car (listed under FL).
Adding a layer of deep paddock history to the front row, Mike MacNeil closely pursued with a 1:26.820 behind the wheel of his #55 2004 Van Diemen (FC90). The F4 storyline didn’t stop there; Jamie Kay timed in with a 1:39.996 in a matching Gamma F4 chassis. In a brilliant display of the community’s roots, Kay’s Gamma actually used to belong to Mike MacNeil, and before that, it was originally built and raced by pole-sitter James Morton himself.
How the rest of the classes timed in:
  • Formula Libre: Tony Shen (#27 Van Diemen RF95) clocked a 1:31.918.
  • Classic Formula Ford: Jim Holtom anchored the vintage contingent with a solid 1:35.745 in his Crossle 40F.
  • Formula 1200: Jason Abrams topped a dense, highly competitive field with a 1:46.943.

Race 1: Gamma F4 Mastery & Slipstream Circuses
Saturday afternoon’s Race 1 saw James Morton exploit his aerodynamic and qualifying advantage perfectly. He drove away from the field to secure the overall and FL/F4 victory with a best lap of 1:23.679. Jamie Kay brought his ex-Morton Gamma F4 home safely to secure crucial independent F4 Canada championship points.
Behind the leading wings, Mike MacNeil held off a charging Jenson Raybould in the cross-entered Piper DL7 to secure the FC90 class win. In Classic Formula Ford, Jim Holtom successfully navigated his Crossle 40F to the class victory.
Meanwhile, the Formula 1200 tier stole the crowd’s attention with an absolute slipstream circus. Shepherd Aubry (#15 BRD) crossed the line first to take a hard-earned class win, leading a nose-to-tail pack of matching air-cooled machinery that saw Robert Patterson finish 2nd and pole-sitter Jason Abrams claim 3rd.
Race 2: Attrition and Paddock Shakeups
Sunday morning brought cool track temperatures and tactical tire-management challenges. Up front, Morton repeated his overall victory, stopping the clocks with a 1:23.686 fast lap.
However, the podium dynamic shifted wildly behind him. Front-row standout Mike MacNeil suffered severe mechanical heartbreak, completing only 7 laps in his Van Diemen before retiring early. This cleared the way for Tony Shen to step up, maximizing his pace to secure a brilliant 2nd place overall finish in FL.
In FC90, Kim Mackenzie (#76 Mazda Formula) capitalized on MacNeil’s retirement to secure the class win. Formula 1200 saw another spectacular drafting match through Clayton Corners, but Shepherd Aubry doubled down on his Saturday success, taking his second consecutive F1200 victory over a charging Amanda Allen.
Race 3: The Hat-Trick and Clean Sweeps
The final open-wheel sprint of the weekend solidified a weekend of absolute dominance for the class leaders. James Morton completed a flawless weekend sweep, taking his third consecutive overall and Formula Libre/F4 victory to maximize his 3/4 Litre Association title defense. Tony Shen rounded out an excellent recovery weekend with another 2nd-place finish in FL, followed closely by Jenson Raybould’s Formula Ford in 3rd.
Kim Mackenzie secured a second consecutive FC90 trophy to cap off her strong Sunday performance. Meanwhile, Shepherd Aubry proved completely unbeatable in Formula 1200. He successfully fended off Robert Patterson and Jason Abrams through CTMP’s high-speed momentum corners, officially securing his own perfect weekend hat-trick.
## Around the Paddock: Quick Hits From Other Divisions
The action was just as fierce across the rest of the BEMC Spring Trophy fields:
  • CASC Formula Prototype Series: The category featured a stellar mix of open and closed-cockpit cars. Vaughn Glace dominated Saturday’s Race 1 in his closed-cockpit 2018 Ligier LMP3, running a 1:14.838 lap time. Attrition shook up Sunday’s grid, allowing Robert Burgess to step into the spotlight and claim a dramatic Race 2 overall victory in his #1 2016 Ligier JS P315. Daniel Earle (#39) put on a clinic in the spec Radical SR3 category, sweeping class honors across both days.
  • Pirelli GT Super Touring (GT1, GTU, GT2): Saturday belonged to Misha Goikhberg, who guided his 2026 Toyota Camry to a Race 1 win with a weekend-best GT time of 1:16.829. Sunday shifted in favor of the sportscars; Rocco Marciello steered his #53 BMW M235iR to back-to-back overall victories in Races 2 and 3. Mark Busscher (GTU) and Doug Phillips (GT2) split the remaining class hardware.
  • Pirelli GT Grand Touring (GT3, GT4, GT5): The production-based sprint groups provided the closest finishes of the weekend. Allan Lewis (#251 BMW M3) narrowly edged out Daria Khachi by 0.385 seconds to secure Saturday’s GT3 victory, repeating the feat on Sunday morning. By afternoon, Tom Kwok broke the streak, taking the final race victory in his Honda Civic SI. Peter Griesbach achieved a perfect weekend sweep in GT4 driving his Chevrolet Pinty’s car.
  • Miata Canada Cup: The spec Miata field put on a masterclass in momentum racing. Shawn Shuiskiy (#14) was the class of the field, executing flawless defensive drives to capture a clean sweep of all three feature races. Owen Clarke and Matt Gauthier kept him under pressure all weekend, swapping 2nd and 3rd place podium spots across the triple-header.
  • VARAC Vintage Historic (VH+): Classic motorsport soul was on full display in the Closed Wheel vintage grids. Guy Tremblay commanded the field from start to finish, piloting his beautiful #996 1999 Porsche 911 to a dominant clean sweep of the Vintage Historic weekend. Del Bruce consistently brought the muscle behind him, securing a trio of CL-1 class wins in his roaring 1971 Chevrolet Corvette.
Next Up: The Crown Jewel of Historic Racing at CTMP
With the BEMC opener successfully in the rearview mirror, teams are already thrashing in the workshops to prepare for the biggest weekend on the Canadian vintage calendar. From June 18–21, 2026, VARAC will host the highly anticipated 46th running of the VARAC Vintage Grand Prix on the legendary CTMP Grand Prix circuit. This year marks a momentous milestone as the club officially celebrates the 50th Anniversary of VARAC.
The four-day festival promises absolute grid overloads across Vintage, Historic, Classic, and Modern Classic production brackets. For open-wheel purists, the Formula Classic group will return to action alongside the highly competitive Toyo Tires F1600 Championship Series.
Adding to the massive schedule, the event will welcome the Kastner Cup as a special guest. This renowned all-Triumph feature race shifts to a different premier North American track every year. For 2026, it lands right here in Ontario, bringing out a historic reunion of race-prepared Triumph machinery that you won’t want to miss.
The weekend will also play host to The Ludwig Heimrath Open Wheel Challenge—a spectacular “all-comers” shootout that will pitch wings, slicks, and historic open-wheel variants directly against each other. Whether you are hunting for F4 championship points, sorting out a new vintage formula car setup, or looking to catch a massive Father’s Day field, the VARAC Vintage Grand Prix is the place to be. Registration is filling up fast, so ensure your license and entries are locked in early!
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Green Flag Season: Getting Grid-Ready for the BEMC Spring Trophy Races

Green Flag Season: Getting Grid-Ready for the BEMC Spring Trophy Races
The long winter wait is officially over. In just a few days, the silence at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park will be broken by the high-revving symphony of the CASC-OR season opener.
For the Formula Four field and our friends in the broader Formula Libre and open-wheel community, the BEMC Spring Trophy Races (May 9–10) isn’t just another event—it’s the benchmark. It’s where the off-season wrenches meet the pavement, and where we see who spent their winter perfecting their setup.
The Last-Minute Checklist
We’ve all been there: it’s Thursday night, and you’re still hunting for a 10mm socket. As you prep your car this week, keep these often-overlooked details at the top of your list:
    • The Paperwork Scramble: Ensure your CASC-OR regional license is active and your medicals are up to date. Don’t wait until you’re at the gates of CTMP to realize your MotorsportReg profile is missing a waiver.
    • Safety Tech: Check the expiry dates on your harness and fire bottle. Scrutineering opens at 3:00 PM on Friday, May 8—get through early so you can focus on the track.
    • Fluid & Nut/Bolt Check: CTMP is a high-load, high-speed circuit. Re-torque your suspension components after your first heat cycle and double-check those oil lines. A small leak at Mossie’s Corner is a big problem.
    • The “Rust” Factor: If you aren’t doing the Friday Test Day, take your first few laps of Saturday practice to bed in new pads and, more importantly, recalibrate your brain to the speed of the Grand Prix circuit.

Looking Ahead: A Big Year for Formula Cars
The 2026 calendar is shaping up to be one of our most competitive yet. From the technical challenges of Calabogie to the pure adrenaline of Canadian Tire Motorsports Park (Mosport), we have a full summer of regional racing ahead.
The Formula Four community continues to be the backbone of affordable, high-performance open-wheel racing in Ontario. Whether you’re campaigning a classic Xpit or a modern Gamma F4 chassis, the camaraderie in our paddock is what makes this series special. We aren’t just racing against each other; we’re keeping the spirit of amateur formula racing alive in Canada.
See You in the Paddock
Load the trailers, pack the extra rain tires and Toques  (it is May in Ontario, after all), and get ready. We’ll see you at the BEMC  event.
Drop a comment below or tag us on socials to let us know you’re coming out! Who’s taking the first podium of the year?
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Opening Weekend: 2021

Well, it took awhile to happen — understandably so.

The Opening weekend for F4 Canada took place at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, July 16-18.

Saturday rained all day, so not much happened in the F4 Field.

Sunday: Mike McNeil won both races.  #34 Bob Long, #11 Jim Morton, and #9 Richard Walker all struggled with mechanical difficulties.

Next race is August 21-22 at Calabogie Motorsports Park.

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Round 1: Complete

Round 1 of the 2019 F4 Canada schedule is in the books.  It was a chilly and damp opening weekend at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park.  We had a small entry for the season opening, but most importantly, every car went home in one piece.

Friday night talk at the track focused on not if it would rain,  but when it would rain, and if the temperature would hit double digits.

Saturday morning’s practice session was red flagged on the out lap, as an Italian F4 spun on the pit exit, blocking it, and trapping many of the Formula Libre cars in the pits.  This was actually good news for the #11 Gamma F4 of J. Morton, who had a Zeus Fastener malfunction, and lost his rear bodywork in turn 2.  A quick check of the car in the pits ensured the rest of the bodywork was okay, and when the session resume, he was able to set some laps.

During the qualifying session, troubles continue for James Morton’s Gamma F4.  Out on a flyer, he felt a very unstable rear end, and limped back to the pits.  Driving up the pit lane, the crew noticed the Left Rear wheel was drastically askew, and quickly signaled him to shut down the car.  Upon inspection, the lower radius arm had come unfastened from the hub, resulting in bending the upper radius arm and the push-rod.  The crew pushed the car back to the paddock in order to attempt repairs in time for the afternoon race.  Before his incident, however, Morton still managed to set the fastest lap to qualify P1 for F4, followed by # 34 R. Long in P2, and # 55 M. MacNeil in P3.

Morton and crew managed to get the parts replace and the car back together in the for race 1 Saturday afternoon.   For Saturday’s race, FL (formula libre), Radical Cup, and F4 race in the same group.  On the Green Flag, Morton’s #11 had a typical great start, passing many of the Radical Cup cars going into turn 1.  Unfortunately, #34 Rober Long’s Gamma F4 had a vastly different experience.  He developed a rather obvious misfire on the pace lap, backfired down the front straight on the start moving to the back of the field, and retired at the end of the first lap.  A very untypical race for the meticulously prepared race car of Mr. Long, who is know for his car’s reliability, and high percentage finishing rate.  At the end, #11 Morton won the season opening F4 race, with a best lap time of 1:23.290, finishing 6th overall behind one V6 Radical, and 5 1500cc Radicals.  #55 MacNeil finsihed 2nd in the F4 class.

Saturday night, and early Sunday morning rain, made for a damp and cool track Sunday morning. For Sunday’s races, the Radicals had enough car entries to have their own race group, leaving just the FLs & F4s together.  #11 Morton started outside pole overall beside the new Ford GT powered Radical.  Robert Long’s #34 F4 seemed to have the fuel-injection issue solved in time to start the race from the back of the grid, while #55 MacNeil was to started 2nd in class, 4th overall.  Once again, #11 had a lightening start, taking the lead into turn 1.  #31 Matt Graham in the exotic Radical managed to take the lead back going up the back straight, not to be seen nor heard from again, dropping into the 1:17s.  Morton ran an uneventful race to take 2nd overall in FL, 1st in F4, with a fastest lap of 1:24.517.  #34 Long finished 2nd in F4, followed by #55 of MacNeil.  All drivers spoke of the track being slick, and the lack of grip compared to the previous day.

The rains started shortly after the race, and kept raining off and on for the rest of the day.  The temperature stayed single digit all day, so combined with the rain, and slick track, all the FLibre and F4 drivers decided not to go out for their second race Sunday.

Overall, a fun and successful season opener for F4 Canada the the Three-Quarter Litre Association.  Next event is June 29th & 30th at Shannonville Motorsports Park, as part of the CTCC (Canadian Touring Car Championship) event.

One final comment.  John Bondar and Corner2 racing, organizers of the CTCC are tryng to get a FIA F4 series started in Canada, calling it the F4 Cup Canada.  We wish Bondar & Corner2 success in promoting open wheel racing in Canada.