Eformulacarnews.com

Anytime you schedule a race at Mosport International Raceway during the month of October, you’re rolling the dice a little. There is certainly a chance of enjoying a beautifully sunny fall weekend, but the possibility of cold rain is always there on the sidelines. This year’s eFormulaCarNews.com CanAm Cup featured a little bit of everything, and while Sunday morning dawned cool and cloudy, the precipitation that sprinkled just before the green flag thankfully held off for the full 22-minute event. As always, a strong pack of drivers set about fighting for the win and once again, for the fourth straight year, Ayr, Ontario’s Shane Jantzi took the huge season-ending victory when the checkered flag flew. It was easy to see his passion for this race when he pulled to a stop in victory lane, having achieved his primary goal for the season.

Things got interesting during the morning warm-up when both of the front-row starters encountered issues. Polesitter Mikhail Goikhberg had a minor water leak from the radiator cap on his Brian Graham Racing Van Diemen RF01, billowing steam out from under the engine cowling late in the session. Fellow front-row starter David Clubine’s issues were more serious, as he lost the left rear CV joint on his Crossle 45F, luckily staying out of trouble when the part failed going into the hard-braking turn five at the back part of the course. Clubine was able to keep the car out of the drivers in front of him when his left rear locked up upon entering the corner. Both cars were repaired for the main event, setting the stage for what was an amazing race.

Dean Baker turned in yet another front-running performance, coming up just short this year after getting held up by lapped traffic

This year’s CanAm Cup was positioned as the feature race of the weekend, rolling on track right after the lunch break. With the cars presented on Mosport’s front straightaway, EFCN’s Rob Howden completed the car-by-car driver introductions before sending them off on their warm-up lap. When the race went green, the lead trio was formed early as Goikhberg took the point, only to lose it before the end of the lap when Dean Baker (Van Diemen RF01) slipped inside the Russian visitor in Turn 10, taking hold of the lead. Baker would then pace Jantzi and Goikhberg for the next few laps, before Jantzi completed his run to the front, putting his Maizex Seeds Van Diemen RF02 into P1. From there, he would not be denied in his bid to keep the CanAm Cup in his personal trophy case, using lapped traffic to build a gap between himself and Baker. At the line, the margin of victory was 0.570 seconds, but in the history books, Jantzi’s apparent domination of this race has continued.

Goikhberg appeared to have a car to challenge for the win after slipping back in the early going, falling to just over a second behind the lead duo. The series rookie would reel them back in, however, only to see them pull away when he dropped two wheels off at the exit of turn three. Forced to fight to keep the car on the track, he lost touch with Jantzi and Baker, out of the pull of the draft up the long Andretti Straight. He would complete the CanAm Cup podium with a solid third place finish.

Eric Nielson made an impressive '09 debut at the CanAm Cup, winning the B Class with an impressive race for fourth overall

In the B Class, Eric Nielson (Van Diemen RF91) turned in an outstanding performance to finish fourth overall. Nielson stayed out of trouble and laid down some quick times, impressive considering the fact that this was his first race of the season. After repairing a carburetor issues that restored full throttle, Nielson rocketed to the lead in the B Class and was able to stretch away from his primary challenger, Steve Bodrug (Van Diemen RF93). Veteran driver Ivan Graham (Crossle 65F) capped the B Class podium in third, running what is being hinted as his final competitive event. Graham has been a long-time fixture in the Ontario Formula Ford community and, as the father of team owner Brian Graham, is not expected to stray to far from the paddock.

Fifth overall and first in the C Class was front-row starter David Clubine. His Crossle 45F just doesn’t have what it takes to run with the series’ fastest pilots, but Clubine pushed throughout the race nonetheless, eventually getting overtaken in the late going. Former Ontario Formula Ford Challenge C Class champion Mike Lee (Lola T540) was second this time out, tenth overall, while Howard Freeman completed the top-three in his beautiful Merlyn Mk11.

CanAm Cup winner Shane Jantzi was awarded the prestigious trophy by EFCN Publisher Rob Howden (r) and Managing Editor Allan Craighead (l)

This year’s eFormulaCarNews.com CanAm Cup was once again highlighted by incredible racing and a grid of driver’s committed to supporting Formula Ford racing in this province. The community gathered on Saturday evening for a ‘Happy Hour’ party at Brian Graham Racing’s pit area, where appetizers and libations were distributed as freely as the camaraderie. Graham then proceeded to dole out the long list of door prizes to the assembly of drivers and crew members. It was an impressive decision to an event that was enjoyed by all.

Plans for the fifth edition of the CanAm Cup will begin on Monday morning, with an eye on bringing even more to the table for Ontario Formula Ford racing.