2010 Atltantic Championship Season canceled.

The longest running junior formula series in North American history, the Atlantic Championship, was set to embark on its 37th season in Sebring in a couple of weeks. Instead, the news of it's demise began filtering in Wednesday afternoon.

Citing the "downturn in the global economy" leading to shortage of "funded drivers", the current expectation for drivers pursuing an open wheel racing career in North America, the Cooper Tires Presents the Atlantic Championship Powered by Mazda announced that the series will go on hiatus until global conditions improve.

“It is with a heavy heart and only after deep consideration that I have accepted the recommendations from the stakeholders in the Series to pause efforts related to the continuation of the 2010 Atlantic Championship season,” said Ben Johnston, Owner, Atlantic Championship. “As a former Atlantic racer myself, the Atlantic Championship means a great deal to me personally. I know what this series means to the drivers of the world as well as the heritage that Atlantics carries with it and I will not devalue the world-class experience that each one of our drivers is entitled to just to save face during these tough economic times. I am committed to this series now as much as ever and will assure Atlantic fans that the Atlantic Championship office will be working during the down time in order to deliver an unparalleled racing offering when economic conditions allow.”

Sadly the news did not come as much of a shock to many inside the racing industry, as the fledgling series had been struggling not only to survive, but to find it's place within the American Open Wheel ladder system after it had been essentially cast adrift following the dissolution of ChampCar in 2008. Add to that several top teams walking away from the Championship over the winter and selling off their equipment. The writing has been on the wall for a while now.

“All of us at Mazda are disappointed that the Atlantic Championship will be on hiatus this year,” said Robert Davis, Senior Vice President, Mazda North American Operations. “It was no doubt a very difficult decision made by the Atlantic management in conjunction with the teams. Mazda has greatly enjoyed the past four years of working with outstanding drivers, teams, and partners and we remain committed to our ongoing support of up-and-coming drivers in both open-wheel and sports car racing."

Yesterday's release stated that "series officials will continue working throughout the year to develop new ideas for the future that will add value to drivers and also lower costs associated with competing in a world-class racing series like the Atlantic Championship"

One has to realistically accept that a year absent from the racing vernacular in North America will make returning a monumental task, as the funding, talent and attention will have been filtered about to those racing in 2010.

Since the beginning, the Atlantic series has honed the talents of some of the most famous names in North American auto racing.

Here is a list of the Atlantic Champions since it's inception:

* 2009- John Edwards
* 2008- Markus Niemela
* 2007- Raphael Matos
* 2006- Simon Pagenaud
* 2005- Charles Zwolsman
* 2004- Jon Fogarty
* 2003- A.J. Allmendinger
* 2002- Jon Fogarty
* 2001- Hoover Orsi
* 2000- Buddy Rice
* 1999- Anthony Lazzaro
* 1998- Lee Bentham
* 1997- Alex Barron
* 1996- Patrick Carpentier
* 1995- Richie Hearn
* 1993-94 David Empringham
* 1992- Chris Smith
* 1991- Jovy Marcelo
* 1990 East- Brian Till
* 1990 West- Mark Dismore
* 1989 East- Jocko Cunningham
* 1989 West- Hiro Matsushita
* 1988 East- Steve Shelton
* 1988 West- Dean Hall
* 1987 East- Calvin Fish
* 1987 West- Johnny O’ Connell
* 1986 East- Scott Goodyear
* 1986 West- Ted Prappas
* 1985 East- Michael Angus
* 1985 West- Jeff Wood
* 1984- Dan Marvin
* 1983- Michael Andretti
* 1982- Dave McMillan
* 1980-81 Jacques Villeneuve
* 1979- Tom Gloy
* 1978- Howdy Holmes
* 1976-77 Gilles Villeneuve
* 1974-75 Bill Brack

Editor's Note: We at Open Wheel World wish everyone involved with the series, in front of and behind the scenes, the best of luck in your future endeavors. Thank you for your hard work over the years. We will miss you as part of our seasonal coverage this year and hope to see you back in the community sooner rather than later.