Photo: FR Americas
Crosslink/Kiwi Motorsport’s Patrick Woods-Toth was crowned Formula Regional Americas champion after winning the series’ first ever Canadian races at Mosport.
The continental series had raced exclusively in the USA since its 2018 creation prior to this weekend, although did hold an Esports round at a virtual version of former Formula 1 venue Mosport in 2020.
Drivers learned the track in pre-event testing on Thursday, which was split into three sessions. Jett Bowling set a 1m16.118s in session two to lead session three topper Titus Sherlock by 0.373s, with Landan Matriano Lim a further 0.382s behind. James Lawley and Woods-Toth also lapped sub-1m17s.
Woods-Toth was fastest in Friday practice, setting a 1m14.598s to lead the way by 0.623s over team-mate Bowling, then took pole on home soil by a slimmer 0.284s margin.
Sherlock was second and Bowling was 0.42s behind in third, Lim 1.176s off the pace but completing a Crosslink/Kiwi lockout of the top four places. Momentum Motorsports’ Anthony Autiello was unable to set a representative laptime during the session.
Woods-Toth nailed the start of race one, and pulled away up front until a mid-race caution period brought Sherlock back onto his tail. The top five held their starting positions, with Woods-Toth managing his tyres to take a championship lead-extending sixth win of 2024 by 0.616s.
By setting the fastest lap he also took pole for race two on Saturday, ahead of Sherlock, Bowling, Lim and Hayden Bowlsbey.
That was converted into another win, which secured him the title with three races to spare due to the absence of closest rival Ryan Shehan. It was a quiet race for the victor, with Sherlock 2.255s behind in second and Bowlsbey a lonely third.
Lawley made a great start to get into fourth, and held onto the position as those behind fought each other.
Another fastest lap meant another chance to start from pole for Woods-Toth, who won again in race three on Sunday. Sherlock ran close behind him at first, with Bowlsbey going around the outside of Bowling for third and then trying to get involved with the driver ahead.
A mistake from Sherlock dropped him down the order, and after a caution period to clear Autiello’s retired car he was unable to make up ground while Woods-Toth streaked away up front and Bowlsbey held off Bowling until the final lap. They went side-by-side through turn four, Bowling got ahead at the next corner and had a gap of 0.224s at the chequered flag.
It is close in the fight to be second in the standings too, with four drivers in contention when the paddock heads to the Circuit of the Americas in two months to conclude the season.
Results round-up
Race 1 (18 laps)
1 Patrick Woods-Toth Crosslink/Kiwi Motorsport 25m30.251s
2 Titus Sherlock Crosslink/Kiwi Motorsport +0.616s
3 Jett Bowling Crosslink/Kiwi Motorsport +2.467s
4 Landan Matriano Lim Crosslink/Kiwi Motorsport +5.808s
5 James Lawley Atlantic Racing Team +12.213s
6 Hayden Bowlsbey IGY6 Motorsports +12.379s
7 Nicole Havrda Crosslink/Kiwi Motorsport +22.134s
8 Kevin Janzen Crosslink/Kiwi Motorsport +26.414s
9 Anthony Autiello Momentum Motorsports +58.888s
10 Ricco Shlaimoun Crosslink/Kiwi Motorsport +3 laps
Pole: Woods-Toth, 1m14.846s
Fastest lap: Woods-Toth, 1m15.327s
Race 2 (14 laps)
1 Woods-Toth 17m47.246s
2 Sherlock +2.255s
3 Bowling +7.517s
4 Lawley +26.775s
5 Havrda +28.330s
6 Shlaumoun +33.147s
7 Janzen +40.785s
8 Autiello +2 laps
9 Bowlsbey +2 laps
DNS Lim
FL: Woods-Toth, 1m15.228s
Race 3 (16 laps)
1 Woods-Toth 25m23.761s
2 Bowling +6.162s
3 Bowlsbey +6.386s
4 Lim +11.671s
5 Lawley +12.470s
6 Havrda +21.421s
7 Shlaimoun +23.110s
8 Janzen +28.267s
9 Sherlock +58.309s
Ret Autiello
FL: Woods-Toth, 1m15.841s
Championship standings
1 Woods-Toth 294.5 2 Ryan Shehan 188 3 Bowling 177.5 4 Sherlock 164.5 5 Nicolas Ambiado 140 6 Bowlsbey 132 7 Havrda 121.5 8 Lim 80 9 Lawley 70.5 10 Justin Garat 62