Scanlan and Bamford Win in Masters Class at VIR
Alton, VA — It was an exciting weekend at VIR for the F1600 Formula F Championship Series that paired last minute charges to the finish line with constant shuffling among drivers. Masters Class drivers were very much in the mix of the frenzy that occurred at the front of the field. At the end of the weekend Mike Scanlan and Steve Bamford were on top of the podium in the Masters Class, with Bamford winning race three of the weekend outright.
Masters Class competitor Scanlan, driver of the No. 2 Spectrum/Honda, finished first place in race one in the Masters Class followed by Art Foster in second. Finishing in third was Lewis Cooper III.
Scanlan started the race in fifteenth position, only to advance eight positions to finish in seventh place overall and first in the Masters Class.
“It was a wild scene out there, and I kind of set Art up a little bit after the series of wrecks and I saw a no yellow in one and thought oh that’s nice so let’s go for it. I certainly earned a podium today not sure if I earned a first but I’ll take it,” said Scanlan on his first place finish after race one.
Foster had the second place finish in the first race of the weekend in his No. 21 Spectrum/Honda.
“Should have been a little better, but we got caught up behind Bamford spinning and then Mike got a good run. I’ve got to give a congratulations to Mike he did a good job,” said Foster.
Behind Foster was Lewis Cooper III; Cooper was able to maintain third in the battle among the top three Masters Class drivers for race one.
“It was a nice way to come back; great race with Mike and Art there at the end, a lot of fun. Awesome track and a great day,” said Cooper on his VIR weekend.
Race two of three took place on Sunday morning and had Bamford in first in the Masters Class and fifth overall, followed by Foster in second and Cooper finishing in third place. Bamford was able to redeem himself after some bad luck that happened on Saturday.
“We were pushing but the kids just had a little more than me today. Today so far has been better than yesterday,” said Bamford on his Masters Class finish and the disappointing previous day.
The third race of the weekend was also a hectic one, as drivers seemed restless on the track. After an intense battle at the front of the field, Bamford had an opportunity to charge forward in the closing laps. It wasn’t until the final straight away where Bamford pulled around Megennis and gained the lead only to win by a nose, getting the better of the young Pelfrey driver.
“The race was up and down as Scott Andrews and I touched just coming out of turns five and six, I got knocked back to mid-pack and had to climb my way through but there were a bunch of incidents that allowed me to start making up places,” said Bamford on the string of events that lead to his first place finish.
Second and third place finishers for race three of the weekend were yet again Foster and Cooper III. Foster had the second place finish and Cooper III had the third.
The F1600 Formula F Championship Series will make its next stop at Mid Ohio July 2 through 5.
For full results of races one, two and three of the weekend visit www.F1600Series.com under the results tab.
About F1600:
The F1600 Formula F Championship Series is an entry level pro series owned by Formula Race Promotions and sanctioned by SCCA Pro Racing. The Series features a wide variety of Formula F (formerly Formula Ford) chassis using both Honda Fit and Ford Kent engines. The 2015 schedule features seven points weekends and is expanding to a triple-header format for 21 total races, in addition to a winter test weekend in Palm Beach. A spec tire from Hoosier along with ample track time at all events provides a level playing field, attracting the latest aspiring drivers and savvy veterans from all over the globe. Learn more at www.f1600series.com.
Sources: Formula Race Promotions PR