Cane Sweeps PittRace, Two More Wins on Sunday
Wampum, PA – Jordan Cane took three wins at Pittsburgh International Race Complex in just over 24 hours, including two wins to close out the 2015 F1600 Formula F Championship Series season on Sunday. In the morning, Cane took the win pulling away from the field, and a few hours later in the rain, came from eighth to hunt down the leaders in the closing stages of the race.
Morning Race
Jordan Cane backed up his Saturday win with a four-plus second victory on Sunday morning in damp and cold conditions at Pittsburgh in round 20 of the season. After an early- and mid-race battle, Cane pulled away as his rivals clashed in the closing stages, taking his sixth win of the F1600 season ahead of Pelfrey teammates Calvin Ming and Robert Megennis in a trio of Mygale/Hondas.
“It was obviously very tricky conditions out there on slicks in wet conditions. I haven’t thanked my team enough this year,” said Cane, who has dominated the F1600 Series since his arrival mid-season. “I hope to continue with them next year.”
Cane had fallen back to fifth in the early part of the race with a bit of an off-course excursion, but recovered to pick his way forward.
“I think I decided to go do some sightseeing and a bit of stadium cross, but it was a great race,” he continued. “It was just great to get back up the lead and get my head down.”
Bob Perona vaulted to fourth in the closing stages of the race, while Will Harvey completed the top five for Chastain Motorsports.
Austin Mack was sixth, while Steve Bamford won the Masters Class in seventh despite missing some bodywork.
Skylar Robinson, Sam Chastain and Ryan Bjerke completed the top 10.
Of note, 2015 F1600 Champion Scott Andrews was a DNF with suspension damage, while Thomas McGregor and Ben Auriemma fell back after an incident late in the race.
Afternoon Race
In a race that could be called a survival of the fittest-style event, Jordan Cane took his seventh win of the year and became the only driver to sweep a triple-header F1600 weekend with a victory in a tricky rain race to close out the 2015 season.
Cane took the lead from pole-sitter Austin Mack on lap one, leading the first five laps only to fall down to eighth after going off course on the damp and cold track.
He worked his way back up to third and behind his Pelfrey teammates Robert Megennis and Ben Auriemma, who encountered issues with two laps to go, promoting Cane to the top spot.
“We made it hard for ourselves,” said Cane. “It was definitely much slicker than I thought especially the new section with all that sealant. It was good experience to get in these weather conditions.”
Most of the race was dominated by Pelfrey’s Auriemma and Megennis, with the latter taking the lead on lap 10 as the two battled lap after lap.
Megennis was looking set for his first win of the season for Team Pelfrey before trouble in the closing stages, eventually finishing in third.
“I felt pretty good in the wet. I love these conditions,” said Megennis. “I felt fast. I got in the lead and an incident took me out. It was nice to recover. I did a full 360 and went straight in between 3 and 4. So I managed to recover and get third. I am happy. It was a great season.”
Skylar Robinson advanced well through the field to finish second for K-Hill, with Megennis in third and Mack in fourth.
Ben Auriemma completed the top five with Steve Bamford and Sam Chastain following as Chastain had run as high as third during the race.
Following the morning race, the final race of the season saw Thomas McGregor miss the start, and Series Champion Scott Andrews retire on the pace lap with further damage from a morning incident.
Full results from both races are available on www.F1600Series.com under the Results tab.
Scott Andrews is the 2015 F1600 Formula F Championship Series title winner after a 21-race, seven-weekend campaign. Formula Race Promotions will soon announce its 2016, 21-race F1600 schedule, along with F2000 and Atlantic schedules, in the coming weeks.
–ENDS–
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: Monty Mathisen/Formula Race Promotions