2020 Champions Announced

The 2020 Monoposto season ended at the Circuit of the Americas and champions have been crowned in three classes. Each of our champions will receive a crystal trophy recognizing their achievement. Our 2020 champions are as follows:

Historic Formula Ford – Tony Freston

Formula B – Ron Hornig

Indy Lights – Ben Sinnott

While it's wonderful to celebrate these champions it's worth noting that in eight of our classes no driver participated enough to be crowned a champion. Given that Covid-19 developments made our 2020 schedule a moving target, the accomplishments of the three champions are really outstanding.

The 2021 Monoposto schedule will be set shortly after we are able to secure the schedules for each of the sanctioning organizers on which we usually base our event selections. In addition to looking at participation levels and choosing events that reflect the locations of our members, for the last few years we have been trying to have all of our championship classes compete at all of our events. (This seems to really build participation and camaraderie.) Please email me if you have suggestions for the 2021 schedule.

Finally, it's time to get busy preparing your car and equipment for 2021. Check your seat belts and HANS devices for their certification periods as well as checking your Snell Foundation helmet certification milestone so you are prepared with these important safety equipment items when you resume racing in 2021.

Travis Engen

President, Monoposto Racing

Monoposto's Shortened Season Closes

Next weekend will mark the final races of the 2020 Monoposto season. As our last event of the year SVRA's U. S. Vintage National Championship at the Circuit of the Americas features large entry lists in all Monoposto classes. There are 50 cars registered in Group 2 which includes all the Classic classes from FV to Formula 2. With so many cars entered, the sessions will be crowded but for Sunday's "Helmet" races, the field will be broken into three groups with separate races for each: FB, Formula Ford and a combined Formula Junior and Formula Vee race.

SVRA's Group 9, which includes all F70 classes and Indy Lights, has 28 entries spread across many classes so there will be spirited racing on offer for everyone.

The race circuit at COTA has many challenges beginning with the tightening turn 1 to the esses that follow. There are some really high-speed straights and sections like the epic turn 16, 17 and 18 sweeper near the end of the lap. In summary there is something to test us all.

The cancellation of many events this year has basically cut in half a season that was planned to offer eleven events across ten different tracks, so this will be the 5th event for all Monoposto classes except for Indy Lights (which will finish with only three events being completed.) The shortened schedule has contributed to the fact that, unlike prior years, only one of our class championships has been determined before the last event. Congratulations to Tony Freston, our 2020 champion in Historic Formula Ford!

SVRA Covid-19 precautions will be in full effect, masks everywhere, social distancing and basically no social events. The usual SVRA season ending banquet and prize giving will not happen. There will also be no Monoposto Party, but the 2019 championship trophies will be available for those who have not yet received them. (If you're there I'll try to look you up and organize delivery.)

I hope to see you at the track!

Travis Engen,

President, Monoposto Racing

Only Two Events to Go

This year's season, shortened by the pandemic, has only two more race events to go. Next weekend it is the SVRA VIR Gold Cup. A classic event at a classic track. VIR is a long track with very good sight lines over gentry rolling terrain and several long passing areas. All of this makes for excellent racing.

The entry list shows 23 Classic cars entered ranging from formula Juniors to formula B cars. Unfortunately, the F70 and Indy Lights entries aren't as robust so against our strong recommendations both groups will be on the track at the same time except for the final races of the weekend when they will be in separate run groups. I understand the dynamics of race entries but as I race both Classic and F70/Indy Lights cars running the groups together not only puts incompatible cars together it also diminishes my own racing possibilities as well reducing entry fees for the event organizer. Because of the combined grouping I will be focusing on my Chevron B17b formula B car this weekend.

Covid-19 per capita case rates in Virginia are in the middle of those for the US as a whole. Of course, there are wide variations throughout the state. The area around the track has been relatively stable for the past two weeks. Please take care and use masks and social distancing to stay safe. As has been the norm for this year there will be no Monoposto party but 2019 championship trophies will be available for pickup.

If you are able to join us, enjoy the racing! If you aren't able to be at VIR please consider entering the SVRA event at the Circuit of the Americas for the final races on the Monoposto 2020 schedule.

Travis Engen

President, Monoposto Racing