5/24/2013
Max Hanratty
Formula Tour 1600: Exclusive Autosport Debuts at Spring Classic with 4 Entries
Exclusive Autosport (EA), the Canadian Spectrum Race Cars factory team, will make its debut in the Formula Tour 1600 Championship series this coming weekend, May 24-26, at the Spring Classic held at Circuit Mont Tremblant. The Exclusive Autosport cars are piloted by four of the industries brightest and most talented rising stars.
The #90 Exclusive Autosport Spectrum Honda will be piloted by 17-year old Jack Mitchell Jr. from Clarendon Hills, Illinois. Mitchell was selected as one of the prestigious Team USA scholarship recipients in 2012. He travelled to England where he contested the Walter Hayes Trophy and the British Festival of Racing. He finished 10th and 5th respectively in his rookie appearance abroad. Mitchell raced a full season of F1600 in the Toyo Tires F1600 Championship in 2012 and was named the 2012 Toyo Tires F1600 Championship Rookie-of-the-Year (1 win, 6 podiums).
Max Hanratty (19, Hartland, Wisconsin) will pilot the #91 SynerComm Inc. / Exclusive Autosport Spectrum Honda. Hanratty’s passion for racing began in his early childhood. He however did not begin his racing career until the summer of 2012. Since then he has established himself in the paddock and on the race track. He was nominated for and attended the inaugural Skip Barber IndyCar Academy. He went on to race a full season in the Skip Barber Winter Series where he finished 12th overall. He is currently 5th in the overall championship points standings in the Toyo Tires F1600 Championship after a successful weekend at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park in early May.
Karting sensation, Tristan DeGrand (17) will pilot the #92 Golf Pro Am USA / Exclusive Autosport Spectrum Honda. He began his career in karts at a very young age and accumulated numerous regional and national championships. In 2010, Tristan ventured overseas to compete in the WSK World Series. He competed in Portugal, Belgium and Spain and gained a considerable amount of experience and knowledge. He returned to competition in the United States at the WSK World Series event in New Jersey. DeGrand made history there when he became the first American to reach the podium in a CIK / FIA sanctioned junior event. DeGrand was awarded a Mazdaspeed scholarship in the 2011 Skip Barber Karting Shootout. He finished third in the 2012 Skip Barber Summer Series with seven wins, six pole positions and 7 podiums. He also captured Rookie-of-the-Year honors.
Thomas McGregor in the #93 Exclusive Management Inc. / Dairy Queen Spectrum Honda will round out the four-car team. McGregor hails from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan and is the lone Canadian on the team. He competed in the 2012 Cooper Tires presents the USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda with Andretti Autosport. He finished 9th in the overall championship. Prior to USF2000 competition, McGregor also found success at Skip Barber. He was the 2011 Skip Barber Winter Southern Series Champion and the 2011 Skip Barber Winter Western Series vice champion. He also got his start in karts and amassed numerous Canadian championships and titles.
Competition is expected to be fierce this weekend. A large grid is also expected as 23 drivers have registered for the 2013 series in the PRO class.
Circuit Mont Tremblant is difficult in its own right thanks to the natural elevation changes and the challenging corner designs. The track is considered one of the finest and most demanding tracks worldwide. The four EA drivers will have practice Friday to learn the nuances of the 15-turn, 2.56 mile road course before competition begins Saturday. The second race of the weekend will be held on Sunday to finish the opening round of competition.
Submitted By: Admin Account
