By: Toyo Tires F1600 Championship
September 27 2016
Stephen Adams Completes Historic Season With B Class Victory
Toronto, Ontario – Michael Adams clinched the 2016 Toyo Tires F1600 Championship at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park one week ago with a victory in the Saturday round of the final weekend – the BEMC Indian Summer Trophy Races at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park.
History was made as Michael’s father, Stephen Adams, won the B Class championship; the first father-son duo to do so in series history.
It was a cold and wet start to the weekend as rookie standout Roman De Angelis earned the pole for race 1, the coveted Al Craighead Memorial Can Am Cup, with Adams starting right along side. Graham Lobban had a strong start to the weekend as well, keeping the pressure on Stephen Adams as he took the B class pole and 4th overall ahead of David Graham.
The rains came down hard for the start of the race and Adams moved around De Angelis in corner 1 and never looked back. Known for wet weather ability and with clear vision ahead of him Adams moved out to a sizable lead over the field.
At the drop of the checkered flag it was a sweep of the Can Am Cup winner’s step by the Adams family. Michael dominated the race followed by Roman De Angelis and Ben Hurst. Graham Lobban and Byron Leis rounded out the B class podium.
It was a very special trophy presentation as Al’s family, including his wife Denise were on hand to greet the winners.
The rain gave way to fog and eventually sun for Sunday morning’s race. De Angelis started on pole with Adams deciding to sit out the final two rounds having already amassed enough points to clinch the championship.
De Angelis made quick work of the start and gapped the field as Ben Hurst was in a monumental battle all race long with B Class frontrunners Stephen Adams, Graham and Keith Lobban. It was a quite a show.
Hurst would bring his car home in 2nd ahead of Tony Cove in the A Class race with Graham Lobban winning the B Class over Stephen Adams and Keith Lobban.
That set the stage for the final race of the season and there were great battles throughout the field. In the end De Angelis would snag his 2nd win of the weekend and secure his position as the Rookie of the Year. Ben Hurst had an outstanding 2nd place finish after battling the B class leaders and Tony Cove brought his car home 3rd again.
The B class fight went to Graham Lobban, who finished 2nd overall, followed by newly crowned B class champion Stephen Adams and Keith Lobban.
Michael Adams closed out the season with 420 points to Roman De Angelis’ 374 and Trenton Estep’s 289 in A class.
Stephen Adams ended the season with 360 points over Graham Lobban’s 325 and Keith Lobban’s 275.
The Toyo Tires F1600 championship proved again to be one of the most exciting racing series’ in the country and the perfect proving ground for young up and coming talent.
See you in 2017.