Toyota Atlantic Championship

The Toyota Atlantic Championship is an auto racing series with races throughout North America. The series is often considered the top developmental open-wheel racing series in North America, typically the last series a driver will compete in before moving to Champ Car or the Indy Racing League. Current cars are a Swift chassis powered by Toyota 4A-GE engines. The series is sanctioned by Champ Car, and most of its races are support races for the Champ Car World Series.

Related Topics:
North America - Open-wheel - Champ Car - Indy Racing League - Swift - 4A-GE

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

While Toyota will not return as a title sponsor and engine supplier in 2006, the series will live on, with a new spec chassis from Swift, a new 2.3L Cosworth engine and a new name, the Champ Car Atlantic Championship. The new formula is expected to lower the costs of running a full Atlantics season to around $500,000-$600,000. In addition, Champ Car will award a $2 million sponsorship prize for the 2006 champion towards a ride in the Champ Car World Series. These changes are expected to increase car counts, which have dwindled since the early 2000's.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Former drivers in the series include legends such as Gilles Villeneuve and Michael Andretti, and many current IRL and Champ Car drivers including Jimmy Vasser, A.J. Allmendinger, Ryan Hunter-Reay, Andrew Ranger, Ronnie Bremer, Danica Patrick, Alex Tagliani, Patrick Carpentier, Buddy Rice, Dan Wheldon, Sam Hornish, Jr. and Roger Yasukawa.

Related Topics:
Gilles Villeneuve - Michael Andretti - Jimmy Vasser - A.J. Allmendinger - Ryan Hunter-Reay - Andrew Ranger - Ronnie Bremer - Danica Patrick - Alex Tagliani - Patrick Carpentier - Buddy Rice - Dan Wheldon - Sam Hornish, Jr. - Roger Yasukawa

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~