The Formula Car Challenge presented by Goodyear visited Portland International Raceway for a double header event this past weekend. Portland is one of the fastest tracks on the schedule, and the weekend was held inside of the SCCA U.S. Majors Tour. Portland International Raceway is a 12-turn, 1.97-mile circuit that sees lots of use throughout the year, including the return of the IndyCar series this summer.
After an overcast and cool test day, the FCC racers were ready to qualify for round seven. Jay Horak secured overall open wheel and Pro FM pole position with a time of 1:14.341. Courtney Crone secured the top spot in FormulaSPEED with a 1:15.582. In the Formula Mazda class, Bill Weaver claimed the fastest time with a lap of 1:17.53.
At the start of Saturday’s race a major incident at the festival chicane took out FM racer Mel Kemper, and also slightly damaged Weaver’s FM. Weaver had to pit later in the race due to a deflated tire from contact. Brad Drew stayed out of trouble, and was able to gain the race lead. Stew Tabak was in pursuit, and turned the fastest FM time of the race. Drew was able to hold off Tabak, and secure his first win of the 2018 season. The Pro FM and FormulaSPEED drivers were ahead of the incident at the start, and pole winners Horak and Crone both had control of the lead from wire-to-wire.
Round 7 Podium – Formula Mazda
1st – Brad Drew
2nd – Stew Tabak
3rd – Bruce Semler
Round 7 Podium – FormulaSPEED
1st – Courtney Crone
2nd – Rayce Dykstra
3rd – Bryson Lew
Round 7 Podium – Pro Formula Mazda
1st – Jay Horak
2nd – John Purcell
3rd – Sean Prewett
Track conditions on Sunday improved as did most of the lap times. John Purcell secured overall open wheel and Pro FM pole position with a blistering time of 1:13.443. Crone secured the FormulaSPEED pole position with a lap time of 1:16.266, and FM racer Brad Drew was fastest with a lap time of 1:19.316.
Crone’s perfect weekend abruptly changed at the start of round 8 when she got into the back of Pro FM racer Sean Prewett causing him to spin. Crone had to pit for replacement suspension, and was able to continue but was unable to regain the positions lost. Rayce Dykstra inherited the FormulaSPEED lead and fought to hold onto it until the checkered flag. Dykstra crossed the finish line first in class, and secured his first win of the 2018 season.
Purcell was able to command the Pro FM lead most of the race except for a late race side-by-side run through turn four with Jay Horak on the outside. Purcell held his position, and the lead for the class win.
The racing in the Formula Mazda class was excellent as always. Drew, Tabak, and Weaver battled with each other and with other cars outside their class. In the end, Weaver was able to secure both a new race time record, and the win.
Round 8 Podium – Formula Mazda
1st – Bill Weaver
2nd – Stew Tabak
3rd – Brad Drew
Round 8 Podium – FormulaSPEED
1st – Rayce Dykstra
2nd – Bryson Lew
3rd – Courtney Crone
Round 8 Podium – Pro Formula Mazda
1st – John Purcell
2nd – Jay Horak
3rd – Sean Prewett
During the weekend, FCC competitor Mel Kemper was awarded the Kimberley Cup at a special ceremony. The Kimberley Cup is awarded to the SCCA driver who has shown the greatest improvement in the past year. The winner is selected by the Club Racing Board. Past Kimberley Cup recipients include notable racers such as Mark Donohue, Roger Penske, and Peter Revson.
At every Formula Car Challenge event series partners provide additional awards to the competitors. At this event, select drivers were awarded complimentary Goodyear Racing tires. The next event for the Formula Car Challenge takes place at Sonoma Raceway June 29th-July 1st.
More information: