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The 2017 Atlantic Championship is an open-wheel series for Formula Atlantic race cars organized by Formula Race Promotions.
Formula Race Promotions was formed in 2006, with their race weekends sanctioned by USAC.
This most popular car in the Atlantic Championship Series is the Swift 016.a chassis. Swift Engineering introduced this model in 2006. The cars are powered by a 2.3-liter DOHC four-cylinder Mazda Cosworth MZR engine, which produces 300-horsepower. The transmission is a Swift/Hewland sequential shift with five forward speeds and a single reverse gear. Finally, Hoosier tires are mounted on 15" X10" front and 15" X14" rear wheels. In addition to Hoosier Tires, the championship receives support from Mazda, Polestar Motor Racing, Anze Suspension, K-Hill Motorsports, Atlantic Creations, Robert Talbot and Mathisen Media. The championship consists of seven doubleheader weekends, each contested on road courses. The season begins in April at Virginia International Raceway and ends with the final two races at New Jersey Motorsports Park.
The 2017 Atlantic Championship Series opening rounds were held at Virginia International Raceway. Drivers would compete in two races around the seventeen-turn 3.270-mile road course.
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Driving the No. 40 Polestar Motor Racing prepared Formula Atlantic Swift 016.a was Keith Grant. Grant was the 2015 series champion. He qualified on the outside of the front row for the season opener, but a late race caution allowed Grant to move from third to first-place and score the victory. The following day, he was gridded in the third position and earned the final spot on the podium. |
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Peter Portante moved to Formula Atlantic after finishing second in last season’s F1600 Championship Series. In the season opener, Portante started last. He maneuvered through the field and a late race caution allowed him to catch the leader, David Grant. Portante was unable to get by Grant and finished third. In race two, Portante qualified second and passed David Grant on the last lap to win by a margin of 0.053-seconds. |
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The 2012 series champion, David Grant, started on the Formula Atlantic pole in the season opener and appeared to have control of the contest until a late caution bunched the field. With four laps to go, the race restarted - while trying to hold off Peter Portante, he was passed by Keith Grant and finished second. The following day, Grant repeated his performance – he started first and finished in the runner-up spot. |
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The No. 34 Mazda-powered Swift 014.a was driven by Spencer Brockman. Brockman did not participate in the qualifying session for the season opener and started Saturday’s contest in the eleventh position. In the race, he finished tenth. During the second qualifying session, Brockman recorded the sixth fastest time. In the final event, he finished fourth after passing Jenna Grillo and the retirement of Richard Zober. |
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Richard Zober was back for another season of the Atlantic Championship Series, driving the No. 66 Comprent Motorsports prepared Swift 16.a. Last year, Zober finished fourth in the standings, with his best result being a third place at Road Atlanta. He started his 2017 campaign by qualifying sixth for round one and finishing in the fourth position. On Sunday, Zober started fourth but retired on lap-5. |
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Sunday’s Formula Atlantic podium at Virginia International Raceway. In the center is the race winner, Peter Portante, who drove the K-Hill Motorsports prepared Swift 016.a. Portante is flanked on the rostrum by the Polestar Racing Group teammates, Keith and David Grant. David, the 2012 Atlantic series champion, finished in the runner-up position. While Keith, who won the 2015 title, completed the rostrum. |
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| FINISH | START | CLASS | DRIVER | ENTRANT | LAPS | RETIREMENTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | FA | Keith Grant | Swift 016.a / Mazda | 21 | - |
| 2 | 1 | FA | David Grant | Swift 016.a / Mazda | 21 | - |
| 3 | 13 | FA | Peter Portante | Swift 016.a / Mazda | 21 | - |
| 4 | 6 | FA | Richard Zober | Swift 016.a / Mazda | 21 | - |
| 5 | 9 | FA | Lee Alexander | Swift 016.a / Mazda | 21 | - |
| 6 | 10 | FA | Lewis Cooper Jr. | Swift 016.a / Mazda | 21 | - |
| 7 | 8 | FA | Bruce Hamilton | Swift 014.a / Mazda | 21 | - |
| 8 | 4 | FA | Jenna Grillo | Swift 016.a / Mazda | 21 | - |
| 9 | 5 | FA | Bob Corliss | Swift 014.a / Mazda | 21 | - |
| 10 | 11 | FA | Spencer Brockman | Swift 014.a / Mazda | 21 | - |
| 11 | 3 | FA | Chris Ash | Swift 016.a / Mazda | 20 | - |
| 12 | 7 | FA | Blake Mount | Swift 016.a / Mazda | 3 | Did Not Finish |
| 13 | 12 | FA | Mike Jacques | Swift 016.a / Mazda | 1 | Did Not Finish |
| FINISH | START | CLASS | DRIVER | CAR | LAPS | RETIREMENTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | FA | Peter Portante | Swift 016.a / Mazda | 22 | - |
| 2 | 1 | FA | David Grant | Swift 016.a / Mazda | 22 | - |
| 3 | 3 | FA | Keith Grant | Swift 016.a / Mazda | 22 | - |
| 4 | 6 | FA | Spencer Brockman | Swift 014.a / Mazda | 22 | - |
| 5 | 5 | FA | Jenna Grillo | Swift 016.a / Mazda | 22 | - |
| 6 | 9 | FA | Lewis Cooper Jr. | Swift 016.a / Mazda | 22 | - |
| 7 | 7 | FA | Blake Mount | Swift 016.a / Mazda | 22 | - |
| 8 | 12 | FA | Chris Ash | Swift 016.a / Mazda | 22 | - |
| 9 | 10 | FA | Mike Jacques | Swift 016.a / Mazda | 21 | - |
| 10 | 11 | FA | Lee Alexander | Swift 016.a / Mazda | 21 | - |
| 9 | 13 | FA | Bob Corliss | Swift 014.a / Mazda | 12 | - |
| 10 | 4 | FA | Richard Zober | Swift 016.a / Mazda | 5 | Did Not Finish |
| 11 | 8 | FA | Bruce Hamilton | Swift 014.a / Mazda | 4 | Did Not Finish |
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