2023 Formula Car Challenge
{{Short description|2023 formula racing championship}}
{{notability|date=December 2022}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Motorsport season|series=Formula Car Challenge|year=2023|subheader=Formula Mazda winner: Christian Okpysh
Formula Speed winner: Tao Takaoka
Pro Formula Mazda winner: Joe Briggs}}
The 2023 Formula Car Challenge presented by Goodyear was the 19th season of the Formula Car Challenge. It was a multi-event motor racing championship for single-seater open wheel formula racing cars held across the American west coast. The series was sanctioned by the Sports Car Club of America.
Christian Okpysh took the title in the main Formula Mazda class, while Tao Takaoka and Joe Briggs were victorious in the Formula Speed and Pro Formula Mazda categories, respectively.
Drivers
Drivers competed in three classes, Formula Mazda, Formula Speed and Pro Formula Mazda.{{Cite web |title=Formula Car Challenge {{!}} Formula Car Challenge - Based at Sonoma Raceway, California 95476 - Since 2005 |url=https://formulacarchallenge.com/cms/ |access-date=2022-12-05 |language=en-US}}
Race calendar
The 2023 schedule was announced on 1 December 2022.{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=2023 Formula Car Challenge Presented by Goodyear Schedules Announced {{!}} Formula Car Challenge |url=https://formulacarchallenge.com/cms/index.php/2022/12/01/2023-formula-car-challenge-presented-by-goodyear-schedules-announced/ |access-date=2022-12-05 |language=en-US|website=formulacarchallenge.com}} All races were held in California. The series returned to Buttonwillow Raceway Park after not competing there in 2022.
| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 85%;"
!Round !Circuit !Date !Support bill !Map of circuit locations |
| 1
| rowspan="2" |{{Flagicon|USA}} Sonoma Raceway, Sonoma |25 February | rowspan="2" |Formula Pro USA Winter Series | rowspan="14" |{{location map+|California|float=right|width=350|caption=|places= {{location map~ |California |lat=38.160833 |long=-122.455 |label=Sonoma |position=right}} {{location map~ |California |lat=39.540333 |long=-122.330694 |label=Thunderhill |position=right}} {{location map~ |California |lat=35.4881147142 |long=-119.540297839 |label=Buttonwillow |position=right}} {{location map~ |California |lat=36.584167 |long=-121.753611 |label=Laguna Seca |position=right}} }} |
|---|
| 2
|26 February |
| 3
| rowspan="2" |{{Flagicon|USA}} Thunderhill Raceway Park, Willows |15 April | rowspan="2" |Formula Pro USA Western Championship |
| 4
|16 April |
| 5
| rowspan="2" |{{Flagicon|USA}} Buttonwillow Raceway Park, Buttonwillow |29 April | rowspan="2" |Formula Pro USA Western Championship |
| 6
|30 April |
| 7
| rowspan="2" |{{Flagicon|USA}} Thunderhill Raceway Park, Willows |3 June | rowspan="2" |Formula Pro USA Western Championship |
| 8
|4 June |
| 9
| rowspan="2" |{{Flagicon|USA}} WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, Monterey |29 July | rowspan="2" |San Francisco Region SCCA Series |
| 10
|30 July |
| 11
| rowspan="2" |{{Flagicon|USA}} Sonoma Raceway, Sonoma |2 September | rowspan="2" |Formula Pro USA Western Championship |
| 12
|3 September |
| 13
| rowspan="2" |{{Flagicon|USA}} Thunderhill Raceway Park, Willows |28 October | rowspan="2" |San Francisco Region SCCA Series |
| 14
|29 October |
Race results
| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 85%;"
!Round !Circuit !Pole position !Fastest lap !Formula Mazda winner !Formula Speed winner !Pro Formula Mazda winner |
| 1
| rowspan="2" |{{Flagicon|USA}} Sonoma Raceway |{{Flagicon|USA}} Joe Briggs |{{Flagicon|USA}} Edd Ozard |{{Flagicon|USA}} Ben Booker | rowspan="2" |no entries |{{Flagicon|USA}} Joe Briggs |
|---|
| 2
|{{Flagicon|USA}} Joe Briggs |{{Flagicon|USA}} Joe Briggs |{{Flagicon|USA}} Ben Booker‡ |{{Flagicon|USA}} Joe Briggs |
| 3
| rowspan="2" |{{Flagicon|USA}} Thunderhill Raceway Park |{{Flagicon|USA}} Joe Briggs |{{Flagicon|USA}} Joe Briggs |{{Flagicon|USA}} Christian Okpysh |{{Flagicon|USA}} Tao Takaoka |{{Flagicon|USA}} Joe Briggs |
| 4
|{{Flagicon|USA}} Joe Briggs |{{Flagicon|USA}} Joe Briggs |{{Flagicon|USA}} Brad Drew |{{Flagicon|USA}} Tao Takaoka |{{Flagicon|USA}} Joe Briggs |
| 5
| rowspan="2" |{{Flagicon|USA}} Buttonwillow Raceway Park |{{Flagicon|USA}} Christian Okpysh |{{Flagicon|USA}} Christian Okpysh |{{Flagicon|USA}} Christian Okpysh | rowspan="2" |no entries | rowspan="4" |no entries |
| 6
|{{Flagicon|USA}} C.J. Ray |{{Flagicon|USA}} C.J. Ray |{{Flagicon|USA}} Christian Okpysh |
| 7
| rowspan="2" |{{Flagicon|USA}} Thunderhill Raceway Park |{{Flagicon|USA}} Tao Takaoka |{{Flagicon|USA}} Brad Drew |{{Flagicon|USA}} Bill Weaver |{{Flagicon|USA}} Tao Takaoka |
| 8
|{{Flagicon|USA}} Derry O'Donovan |{{Flagicon|USA}} C.J. Ray |{{Flagicon|USA}} C.J. Ray |{{Flagicon|USA}} Tao Takaoka |
| 9
| rowspan="2" |{{Flagicon|USA}} WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca |{{Flagicon|USA}} Joe Briggs |{{Flagicon|USA}} Joe Briggs |{{Flagicon|USA}} Bill Weaver |{{Flagicon|USA}} Tao Takaoka |{{Flagicon|USA}} Joe Briggs |
| 10
|{{Flagicon|USA}} Joe Briggs |{{Flagicon|USA}} Joe Briggs |{{Flagicon|USA}} Bill Weaver |{{Flagicon|USA}} Frank Russell |{{Flagicon|USA}} Joe Briggs |
| 11
| rowspan="2" |{{Flagicon|USA}} Sonoma Raceway |{{Flagicon|USA}} Joe Briggs |{{Flagicon|USA}} Joe Briggs |{{Flagicon|USA}} Christian Okpysh |{{Flagicon|USA}} Tao Takaoka |{{Flagicon|USA}} Joe Briggs |
| 12
|{{Flagicon|USA}} Joe Briggs |{{Flagicon|USA}} Joe Briggs |{{Flagicon|USA}} Bill Weaver |{{Flagicon|USA}} Tao Takaoka |{{Flagicon|USA}} Joe Briggs |
| 13
| rowspan="2" |{{Flagicon|USA}} Thunderhill Raceway Park |{{Flagicon|USA}} Joe Briggs |{{Flagicon|USA}} Joe Briggs |{{Flagicon|USA}} Bill Weaver |{{Flagicon|USA}} Tao Takaoka |{{Flagicon|USA}} Joe Briggs |
| 14
|{{Flagicon|USA}} Joe Briggs |{{Flagicon|USA}} Joe Briggs |{{Flagicon|USA}} Brad Drew |{{Flagicon|USA}} Tao Takaoka |{{Flagicon|USA}} Joe Briggs |
‡ - event or race did not award any points as it did not meet all FCC rules
Championship standings
= Scoring system =
== Formula Mazda ==
Points were awarded to the top twenty drivers in each class taking the green flag.{{Cite web |title=Competitor Page {{!}} Formula Car Challenge |url=https://formulacarchallenge.com/cms/index.php/competitor-page/ |access-date=2023-02-19 |language=en-US}}
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:85%; text-align:center"
!Position | style="background:#FFFFBF;" | 1st | style="background:#DFDFDF;" | 2nd | style="background:#FFDF9F;" | 3rd | style="background:#DFFFDF;" | 4th | style="background:#DFFFDF;" | 5th | style="background:#DFFFDF;" | 6th | style="background:#DFFFDF;" | 7th | style="background:#DFFFDF;" | 8th | style="background:#DFFFDF;" | 9th | style="background:#DFFFDF;" | 10th | style="background:#DFFFDF;" | 11th | style="background:#DFFFDF;" | 12th | style="background:#DFFFDF;" | 13th | style="background:#DFFFDF;" | 14th | style="background:#DFFFDF;" | 15th | style="background:#DFFFDF;" | 16th | style="background:#DFFFDF;" | 17th | style="background:#DFFFDF;" | 18th | style="background:#DFFFDF;" | 19th | style="background:#DFFFDF;" | 20th |
| Points
| style="background:#FFFFBF;" |29 | style="background:#DFDFDF;" |25 | style="background:#FFDF9F;" |22 | style="background:#DFFFDF;" |20 | style="background:#DFFFDF;" |19 | style="background:#DFFFDF;" |18 | style="background:#DFFFDF;" |17 | style="background:#DFFFDF;" |16 | style="background:#DFFFDF;" |15 | style="background:#DFFFDF;" |14 | style="background:#DFFFDF;" |13 | style="background:#DFFFDF;" |12 | style="background:#DFFFDF;" |11 | style="background:#DFFFDF;" |10 | style="background:#DFFFDF;" |9 | style="background:#DFFFDF;" |8 | style="background:#DFFFDF;" |7 | style="background:#DFFFDF;" |6 | style="background:#DFFFDF;" |5 | style="background:#DFFFDF;" |4 |
|---|
== Pro Formula Mazda and Formula Speed ==
As the Formula Speed and Pro Formula Mazda classes ran alongside the San Francisco Region SCCA's regional FX and FA3 classes respectively, they used their points system.{{Cite web |date=February 6, 2023 |title=2023 SFR Road Racing Supplementary Regulations |url=https://www.sfrscca.org/wp-content/uploads/2023-Supplementary-Regulations-02-06-2023.pdf |access-date=March 18, 2023}}
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:85%; text-align:center"
!Position | style="background:#FFFFBF;" | 1st | style="background:#DFDFDF;" | 2nd | style="background:#FFDF9F;" | 3rd | style="background:#DFFFDF;" | 4th | style="background:#DFFFDF;" | 5th | style="background:#DFFFDF;" | 6th | style="background:#DFFFDF;" | 7th | style="background:#DFFFDF;" | 8th | style="background:#DFFFDF;" | 9th | style="background:#DFFFDF;" | 10th | style="background:#DFFFDF;" | 11th | style="background:#DFFFDF;" | 12th | style="background:#DFFFDF;" | 13th | style="background:#DFFFDF;" | 14th | style="background:#DFFFDF;" | 15th | style="background:#DFFFDF;" | 16th | style="background:#DFFFDF;" | 17th | style="background:#DFFFDF;" | 18th | style="background:#DFFFDF;" | 19th | style="background:#DFFFDF;" | 20th |
| Points
| style="background:#FFFFBF;" |25 | style="background:#DFDFDF;" |21 | style="background:#FFDF9F;" |18 | style="background:#DFFFDF;" |17 | style="background:#DFFFDF;" |16 | style="background:#DFFFDF;" |15 | style="background:#DFFFDF;" |14 | style="background:#DFFFDF;" |13 | style="background:#DFFFDF;" |12 | style="background:#DFFFDF;" |11 | style="background:#DFFFDF;" |10 | style="background:#DFFFDF;" |9 | style="background:#DFFFDF;" |8 | style="background:#DFFFDF;" |7 | style="background:#DFFFDF;" |6 | style="background:#DFFFDF;" |5 | style="background:#DFFFDF;" |4 | style="background:#DFFFDF;" |3 | style="background:#DFFFDF;" |2 | style="background:#DFFFDF;" |1 |
|---|
Each driver's four worst results were dropped.
= Drivers' standings =
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:85%; text-align:center"
! rowspan="2" valign="middle" |Pos ! rowspan="2" valign="middle" |Driver ! colspan="2" |SON1 ! colspan="2" |THU1 ! colspan="2" |BUT ! colspan="2" |THU2 ! colspan="2" |LAG ! colspan="2" |SON2 ! colspan="2" |THU3 ! rowspan="2" valign="middle" |Pts |
| R1
!R2 !R3 !R4 !R5 !R6 !R7 !R8 !R9 !R10 !R11 !R12 !R13 !R14 |
|---|
| colspan="17" |Formula Mazda Standings |
| 1
| align="left" |{{Flagicon|USA}} Christian Okpysh | | | style="background:#FFFFBF;" |1 | style="background:#DFDFDF;" |2 | style="background:#FFFFBF;" |1 | style="background:#FFFFBF;" |1 | | | style="background:#DFDFDF;" |2 | style="background:#FFDF9F;" |3 | style="background:#FFFFBF;" |1 | style="background:#FFDF9F;" |3 | style="background:#DFDFDF;" |2 | style="background:#DFFFDF;" |4 !255 |
| 2
| align="left" |{{Flagicon|USA}} Brad Drew | | | style="background:#DFDFDF;" |2 | style="background:#FFFFBF;" |1 | | | style="background:#DFDFDF;" |2 | style="background:#DFFFDF;" |4 | style="background:#FFDF9F;" |3 | style="background:#DFDFDF;" |2 | style="background:#DFDFDF;" |2 | style="background:#DFDFDF;" |2 | style="background:#FFDF9F;" |3 | style="background:#FFFFBF;" |1 !247 |
| 3
| align="left" |{{Flagicon|USA}} C.J. Ray | | | style="background:#FFDF9F;" |3 | style="background:#DFFFDF;" |5 | style="background:#DFDFDF;" |2 | style="background:#DFDFDF;" |2 | style="background:#FFDF9F;" |3 | style="background:#FFFFBF;" |1 | style="background:#DFFFDF;" |(7) | style="background:#DFFFDF;" |4 | style="background:#FFDF9F;" |3 | style="background:#DFFFDF;" |(9) | style="background:#DFFFDF;" |7 | style="background:#DFDFDF;" |2 !{{tooltip|226|258, including dropped points}} |
| 4
| align="left" |{{Flagicon|USA}} Bill Weaver | | | | | | | style="background:#FFFFBF;" |1 | style="background:#DFFFDF;" |9 | style="background:#FFFFBF;" |1 | style="background:#FFFFBF;" |1 | style="background:#DFFFDF;" |8 | style="background:#FFFFBF;" |1 | style="background:#FFFFBF;" |1 | style="background:#FFDF9F;" |3 !198 |
| 5
| align="left" |{{Flagicon|DEN}} Lars Jensen | | | style="background:#DFFFDF;" |4 | style="background:#DFFFDF;" |4 | style="background:#FFDF9F;" |3 | style="background:#DFFFDF;" |4 | style="background:#DFFFDF;" |6 | style="background:#DFFFDF;" |6 | style="background:#DFFFDF;" |5 | style="background:#DFFFDF;" |5 | style="background:#DFFFDF;" |5 | style="background:#DFFFDF;" |(8) | style="background:#DFFFDF;" |5 | style="background:#FFFFFF;" |DNS !{{tooltip|194|210, including dropped points}} |
| 6
| align="left" |{{Flagicon|USA}} Derry O'Donovan | | | style="background:#DFFFDF;" |5 | style="background:#DFFFDF;" |6 | | | style="background:#DFFFDF;" |4 | style="background:#DFDFDF;" |2 | style="background:#DFFFDF;" |4 | style="background:#DFFFDF;" |7 | style="background:#FFFFFF;" |DNS | style="background:#DFFFDF;" |5 | style="background:#DFFFDF;" |4 | style="background:#DFFFDF;" |8 !174 |
| 7
| align="left" |{{Flagicon|USA}} Woody Yerxa | | | style="background:#DFFFDF;" |6 | style="background:#FFDF9F;" |3 | | | style="background:#DFFFDF;" |5 | style="background:#FFDF9F;" |3 | | | style="background:#DFFFDF;" |6 | style="background:#DFFFDF;" |6 | style="background:#DFFFDF;" |9 | style="background:#DFFFDF;" |6 !150 |
| 8
| align="left" |{{Flagicon|USA}} Stew Tabak | | | | | | | style="background:#DFFFDF;" |7 | style="background:#DFFFDF;" |5 | style="background:#DFFFDF;" |6 | style="background:#DFFFDF;" |6 | style="background:#DFFFDF;" |4 | style="background:#DFFFDF;" |4 | style="background:#DFFFDF;" |6 | style="background:#DFFFDF;" |5 !149 |
| 9
| align="left" |{{Flagicon|USA}} Ben Booker | style="background:#FFFFBF;" |1 | style="background:#CFCFFF;" |1‡ | | | | | style="background:#DFFFDF;" |9 | style="background:#DFFFDF;" |8 | | | | | style="background:#DFFFDF;" |10 | style="background:#DFFFDF;" |10 !88 |
| 10
| align="left" |{{Flagicon|USA}} Ritchie Hollingsworth | | | | | | | style="background:#DFFFDF;" |8 | style="background:#DFFFDF;" |7 | | | | | style="background:#DFFFDF;" |8 | style="background:#DFFFDF;" |7 !66 |
| 11
| align="left" |{{Flagicon|USA}} Randy Sturgeon | | | | | style="background:#DFFFDF;" |4 | style="background:#FFDF9F;" |3 | | | | | | | | !42 |
| 12
| align="left" |{{Flagicon|USA}} John Ertel | | | | | | | | | | | style="background:#DFFFDF;" |7 | style="background:#DFFFDF;" |7 | | !34 |
| 13
| align="left" |{{Flagicon|CAN}} Marcus Brodie | | | | | | | | | style="background:#DFFFDF;" |8 | style="background:#DFFFDF;" |8 | | | | !32 |
| 14
| align="left" |{{Flagicon|USA}} Rick Bostrom | | | | | | | | | | | | | style="background:#DFFFDF;" |11 | style="background:#DFFFDF;" |9 !28 |
| colspan="17" |Formula Speed Standings |
| 1
| align="left" |{{Flagicon|USA}} Tao Takaoka | | | style="background:#FFFFBF;" |1 | style="background:#FFFFBF;" |1 | | | style="background:#FFFFBF;" |1 | style="background:#FFFFBF;" |1 | style="background:#FFFFBF;" |1 | style="background:#DFDFDF;" |2 | style="background:#FFFFBF;" |1 | style="background:#FFFFBF;" |1 | style="background:#FFFFBF;" |1 | style="background:#FFFFBF;" |1 !246 |
| 2
| align="left" |{{Flagicon|USA}} Frank Russell | | | | | | | | | style="background:#DFDFDF;" |2 | style="background:#FFFFBF;" |1 | style="background:#EFCFFF;" |Ret | style="background:#FFFFFF;" |DNS | style="background:#DFDFDF;" |2 | style="background:#DFDFDF;" |2 !88 |
| —
| align="left" |{{Flagicon|USA}} Scott Vreeland | | | style="background:#FFFFFF;" |DNS | style="background:#FFFFFF;" |DNS | | | | | | | | | | !— |
| colspan="17" |Pro Formula Mazda Standings |
| 1
| align="left" |{{Flagicon|USA}} Joe Briggs | style="background:#FFFFBF;" |1 | style="background:#FFFFBF;" |1 | style="background:#FFFFBF;" |1 | style="background:#FFFFBF;" |1 | | | | | style="background:#FFFFBF;" |1 | style="background:#FFFFBF;" |1 | style="background:#FFFFBF;" |1 | style="background:#FFFFBF;" |1 | style="background:#FFFFBF;" |1 | style="background:#FFFFBF;" |1 !250 |
| 2
| align="left" |{{Flagicon|USA}} Gregory Perrin | | | | | | | | | style="background:#FFDF9F;" |3 | style="background:#DFDFDF;" |2 | style="background:#DFDFDF;" |2 | style="background:#DFDFDF;" |2 | | !81 |
| 3
| align="left" |{{Flagicon|USA}} Nevin Spieker | | | style="background:#DFDFDF;" |2 | style="background:#FFFFFF;" |DNS | | | | | style="background:#DFDFDF;" |2 | style="background:#FFDF9F;" |3 | | | | !60 |
| 4
| align="left" |{{Flagicon|USA}} Scott Vreeland | | | | | | | | | | | | | style="background:#DFDFDF;" |2 | style="background:#DFDFDF;" |2 !42 |
| =5
| align="left" |{{Flagicon|USA}} Vincent Tjelmeland | | | | | | | | | style="background:#DFFFDF;" |5 | style="background:#DFFFDF;" |4 | | | | !33 |
| =5
| align="left" |{{Flagicon|USA}} Robert Merritt | | | | | | | | | style="background:#DFFFDF;" |4 | style="background:#DFFFDF;" |5 | | | | !33 |
| 6
| align="left" |{{Flagicon|USA}} Edd Ozard | style="background:#DFDFDF;" |2 | style="background:#FFFFFF;" |DNS | | | | | | | style="background:#EFCFFF;" |Ret | style="background:#FFFFFF;" |DNS | | | | !21 |
| —
| align="left" |{{Flagicon|USA}} JD Stuart | | | | | | | | | style="background:#EFCFFF;" |Ret | style="background:#FFFFFF;" |DNS | | | | !— |
| rowspan="2" |Pos
! rowspan="2" |Driver !R1 !R2 !R3 !R4 !R5 !R6 !R7 !R8 !R9 !R10 !R11 !R12 !R13 !R14 ! rowspan="2" |Pts |
| valign="top"
! colspan="2" |SON1 ! colspan="2" |THU1 ! colspan="2" |BUT ! colspan="2" |THU2 ! colspan="2" |LAG ! colspan="2" |SON2 ! colspan="2" |THU3 |
‡ - event or race did not award any points as it did not meet all FCC rules
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Official website|www.formulacarchallenge.com|name=Official Website: Formula Car Challenge}}