Auto123.com has learned that the 2010 season of the Formula Atlantic Championship has been cancelled.
This is major news for the up-and-coming, young drivers who wanted to climb the motorsport ladder and follow the footsteps of the Villeneuves, the Rahals, Keke Rosberg, Danny Sullivan, Danica Patrick and others.
2010 would have represented the 37th season of competition of what was North America's longest-running open wheel driver development series.
Since 1974, the Atlantic Championship has been churning out drivers that have gone on to superstardom in various forms of motorsport all over the world.
Ben Johnston, the owner of the series and the team owners decided on Tuesday afternoon to cease operations for 2010.
An insider told Auto123.com that considerable efforts have been put during the recent months to keep the series alive. However, the poor state of the economy resulted in the cancellation of many sponsorship programmes and gave no chance to Johnston and his team.
“There were basically too many series and not enough money available,” the insider told us.
“The Atlantic series will not disappear for good,” the insider pointed out.
“We’re taking 2010 off to seriously rethink the series. Mr. Johnston is seriously thinking about relaunching the series in 2011, and even to stage a short and affordable “Winter Series” at one point.”
The Atlantic series’ officials were in final talks with the organisers of the Canadian Grand Prix for the presentation of the race in June. It will not happen, sadly.
photo:Philippe Champoux - Auto123.com
This is major news for the up-and-coming, young drivers who wanted to climb the motorsport ladder and follow the footsteps of the Villeneuves, the Rahals, Keke Rosberg, Danny Sullivan, Danica Patrick and others.
2010 would have represented the 37th season of competition of what was North America's longest-running open wheel driver development series.
Since 1974, the Atlantic Championship has been churning out drivers that have gone on to superstardom in various forms of motorsport all over the world.
Ben Johnston, the owner of the series and the team owners decided on Tuesday afternoon to cease operations for 2010.
An insider told Auto123.com that considerable efforts have been put during the recent months to keep the series alive. However, the poor state of the economy resulted in the cancellation of many sponsorship programmes and gave no chance to Johnston and his team.
“There were basically too many series and not enough money available,” the insider told us.
“The Atlantic series will not disappear for good,” the insider pointed out.
“We’re taking 2010 off to seriously rethink the series. Mr. Johnston is seriously thinking about relaunching the series in 2011, and even to stage a short and affordable “Winter Series” at one point.”
The Atlantic series’ officials were in final talks with the organisers of the Canadian Grand Prix for the presentation of the race in June. It will not happen, sadly.
photo:Philippe Champoux - Auto123.com