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In 1974, the Canadian Auto Sport Clubs (CASC) formed the first professional Formula Atlantic series in North America.
Prior to this, the Canadian drivers’ championship was determined using Formula 5000 cars - (originally named Formula A).
But the grids were small and supplemented by a healthy supply of Formula Atlantic machinery - (called Formula B at the time).
With a healthy sponsorship package from Players cigarettes and television coverage, the series flourished.
It became a route to Formula One and attracted drivers such as Gilles Villeneuve and Keke Rosberg.
By 1978, the CASC and Sports Car Club of America joined forces to sanction events in Canada and the United States. The chassis’ used in the series are similar or the same as those used in Formula 2 and Formula 3. They are produced by race car manufacturers such as Ralt, March, Lola and Chevron. The major difference between these different Formula categories is the engine. Competitors in Formula Atlantic initially used the double-overhead camshaft Lotus cylinder head with a 1.6-liter Ford Kent engine block. However, a more powerful version was developed by Cosworth Engineering, called Ford Cosworth BDA. Later, Cosworth developed the BDN and BDD. The 1982 North American Formula Atlantic Series opened on the streets of Long Beach, California, in early April. Next, the championship travelled south of the border for an event at Mexico City, followed by a trip to Canada and a visit to Mosport Park and Montreal as a support race for the Canadian Grand Prix. Upon returning to the United States, race weekends were held at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course and Road America. The remaining three rounds would be conducted in Canada, starting in the west with Westwood. The penultimate round was held at Trois-Rivieres, with the finale Mosport. Mosport Park hosted the final round of the eight race 1982 North American Formula Atlantic Championship. Eight competitors had a mathematical chance of securing the title. A forty-lap contest around the ten turn 2.459-mile road course would determine the new series champion.
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The start of the final round for the 1982 North American Formula Atlantic Championship at Mosport Park. On the pole is the No. 34 Ralt America Ralt RT-4 of Roberto Moreno. On the outside of Moreno is the second-fastest qualifier and the winner of the June event, Whitney Ganz, driving the No. 13 Rainbow Racing Ralt RT-4. Behind the leaders in the No. 12 Lane Motorsports Ralt RT-4 of Norm Hunter, who started third. |
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Whitney Ganz won the series first 1982 visit to Mosport Park this season. He qualified second fastest for the championship’s final event in the No. 13 Rainbow Racing Ralt RT-4. At the start of the forty-lap contest, Ganz was passed by the third-place starter Norm Hunter. However, Hunter had to pit with a flat tire and the race leader Roberto Moreno stopped on track, allowing Ganz to cruise to his second victory of 1982. |
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Entering the final weekend of the series, Norm Hunter was second in the title chase, just nine points behind the leader Dave McMillan. He qualified third, one position in front of McMillan. The driver of the No, 12 Lane Motorsports Ralt RT-4 moved into second on the opening circuit. On lap-27, Hunter had to pit for a flat tire. He charged through the field and finished third, but it was not enough for the championship. |
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Dave McMillan’s season included three visits to the podium, one of which was a victory at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. Top ten results at the other events allowed him to lead points standing entering the series finale. McMillan was gridded fourth in the No. 41 Centerline Ralt RT-4. He fell to fifth place during the race, but the retirement of the race leader, Roberto Moreno, gave him a fourth-place result and the title. |
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Formula Atlantic veteran campaigner Dan Marvin raced the No. 7 Norman Racing / Boerner International Ralt RT-4. The highlight of Marvin’s season was a runner-up finish at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, but the low point was an accident in round one at Long Beach. During the qualifying session at the series finale, Marvin was seventh fastest and finished the year with a fifth-place finish. |
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Roberto Moreno made a couple of appearances in the 1982 North American Formula Atlantic Championship. Moreno finished second to Geoff Brabham in the first race of the year at Long Beach. He didn’t return to the series until the penultimate round at Trois-Rivieres, which he won. At Mosport, Moreno put the No. 34 Ralt American of the pole and led the race handily until the car stopped on lap-33 with an ignition issue. |
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| FINISH | START | DRIVER | CAR | LAPS | RETIREMENTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | Whitney Ganz | Ralt RT-4 | 40 | - |
| 2 | 6 | Josele Garza | Ralt RT-4 | 40 | - |
| 3 | 3 | Norm Hunter | Ralt RT-4 | 40 | - |
| 4 | 4 | Dave McMillan | Ralt RT-4 | 40 | - |
| 5 | 7 | Dan Marvin | Ralt RT-4 | 40 | - |
| 6 | 5 | John David Briggs | Ralt RT-4 | 40 | - |
| 7 | 11 | Allen Berg | March 82A | 40 | - |
| 8 | 12 | Mark Moore | Ralt RT-4 | 40 | - |
| 9 | 1 | Roberto Moreno | Ralt RT-4 | 33 | - |
| 10 | 14 | Ed Midgley | March 80A | 23 | - |
| 11 | 15 | Seann Burgess | March 73B | 22 | - |
| 12 | 8 | Hubert Phipps | Tiga FA82 | 10 | - |
| 13 | 9 | Price Cobb | Ralt RT-4 | 1 | - |
| 14 | 13 | Tom Phillips | Ralt RT-4 | 0 | - |
| - | 10 | Jim Crawford | Ralt RT-4 | 0 | Did Not Start |
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