Formula Atlantic 1986 « OldRacingCars.com

Formula Atlantic 1986

In 1986, Formula Atlantic in North America was still divided into two regional series either side of the Rockies:

WCAR Formula Atlantic Championship in the west
ECAR Formula Atlantic Championship in the east

Of the other related championships running elsewhere in the world, Formula Mondial was still in use in Australia but was about to be phased out and replaced with Australian Formula 2 for 1987. Graham Watson won the last Formula Mondial Australian Drivers' Championship, predictably in a Ralt RT4. Formula Pacific also continued in New Zealand, where American FSV driver Jeff MacPherson took the International series. The South African national championship was also in the last season of its Mazda-powered championship and Wayne Taylor won the final title in yet another Ralt RT4. The Japanese Formula Pacific title had been wound up after 1982 and the British Formula Atlantic series after 1983.

WCAR Formula Atlantic

ECAR Formula Atlantic

The research

All North American Formula Atlantic results have been compiled by Chris Townsend. For the WCAR/ECAR period his primary sources have been On Track magazine, Sports Car (courtesy of Kevan McLurg), and Autoweek. Results sheets, entry lists and qualifying times have been kindly provided by the late Murray McLaren, Tim Fortner, ECAR Series Chief Steward John W. Bornholdt and Jerry Winker. We are also grateful for the help of series organiser Vicki O'Connor, and John Zimmermann.

Most of the cars to appear from 1983 to 1988 were Ralt RT4s but Ralt's production records usually only give the name of the agent. Swift build records, courtesy of the late Murray McLaren, give more detail. Second and subsequent owners have been determined from SCCA log books of owners too numerous to identify individually or from references in On Track to previous owners. More help is needed - if you owned one of these cars or raced in the series, please get in touch.

Please email Allen (allen@oldracingcars.com) if you have any additions, corrections or comments.