CASC-OR SEASON PREVIEW

Busy season planned with events at CTMP, Shannonville and Calabogie

Story by Samantha Parsons

Preparations are well underway for the 2023 CASC-OR Road Racing Series. The schedule has been posted, rules updated, and sponsors renewed. By all accounts, things are looking positive for a great season at a wide variety of venues.

With events at the Mosport Grand Prix Track at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (CTMP), both the Pro and Long track configurations at Shannonville Motorsports Park, and the challenging and popular full course at Calabogie Motorsport Park, there is something for every type of racing enthusiast at CASC-OR events.

New for 2023, CASC-OR is welcoming a brand-new road racing series, called Formula Prototype Challenge Canada (FPCC). The group will debut at the BEMC Spring Trophy Races on May 6 & 7 and will return to action at the Calabogie Summer Classic (Aug. 18-20) and at CTMP’s Celebration of Motorsport on Sept. 30 and Oct. 1.

To participate in FPCC events, competitors must have prior approval and be able to turn a minimum lap time of 1:25 at CTMP. Specifically suited for high-speed formula and prototype cars, organizers expect to draw Revolutions, Formula Renaults, and Radicals – to name a few – for FPCC events.

In other CASC-OR news, Pirelli Tire has extended its sponsorship of the sanctioning body through 2026 and will have its name on the Pirelli Super Touring (GT 1-2) and the Pirelli Grand Touring (GT 3-4-5) series this season.

Also featured are the Toyo Tire F1600 Championship and the various VARAC-run groups: Vintage Historic (pre-1972 cars), Classic (1972 - 1996 cars), Modern Classics (1997 - 2003) cars and the Formula Classic group.

The run groups for 2023 include:

• The Pirelli Tire Super Touring Group –the fastest closed wheel cars running in GT1 (lap times under 1:27 at CTMP) and GT2 (lap times under 1:31 at CTMP).

• The Pirelli Tire Grand Touring Group –for GT3 (under 1:35), GT4 (under 1:40) and GT5 cars.

• Formula Libre – Formula Classic – for open wheeled cars ranging from F1200s right up to F2000s and Formula Mazdas. This group is made up primarily of VARAC members driving formula cars manufactured before the year 2000.

• Formula Prototype Challenge Canada – See above.

• Toyo Tire F1600 Championship – the always popular FF run group is divided into two classes, 1600A for the newest and most refined chassis and 1600B for cars manufactured in 1994 or earlier.

• VARAC’s Classic Division – cars as raced prior to 1999, prepared to a specific rule set and grouped in time brackets. Porsche, BMW, Corvettes, are a few of the participating marques.

• VARAC’s Vintage Historic Division – cars as raced prior to 1973, prepared to historic standards. The cars of yesteryear still raced like they were 50+ years ago.

The FEL Motorsports Emzone Radical Canada Cup as presented by Michelin will also be joining CASC-OR for a couple events in 2023, and the popular Super Production Challenge Series will be part of the Shannonville Cup on June 3 & 4.

Finally, congratulations to Antonio Costantino, the recipient of the 2023 Bob McCallum Scholarship. Antonio will be running with BGR in the 2023 Toyo Tires F1600 Championship. With a background in karting, Antonio is making the move into cars and is very excited to get started. Look for him amongst the field.

For the full 2023 schedule and additional information, go to www.casc.on.ca. IT

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