Pfaff Motorsports announces McLaren entry in Sports Car Championship Canada
May 12, 2022
In addition to its efforts in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, Pfaff Motorsports today announced a new entry in the FEL Motorsports Sports Car Championship Canada presented by Michelin.
FEL Motorsports is a professional racing platform focused on the reinvestment and growth of Canadian motorsports through the support of drivers, teams and brands. The 2022 Sports Car Championship Canada schedule consists of six weekends at some of the top motorsports events across the country, starting next weekend at the annual Canadian Tire Motorsport Park Victoria Day SpeedFest.
Pfaff Motorsports will join the Sports Car Championship Canada grid with driver Zachary Vanier. He will compete in a McLaren 570S GT4 wearing the colours of primary sponsor Technica Mining in what is the company’s first formal motorsports partnership. Additional partners onboard for the season include Sofvie, Anmar Motul, Wurth and McLaren Toronto.
Nearly all aspects of the Pfaff Motorsports entry are Ontario-based, aligned with the goals and mission of the series. The team race shop is based in Concord, Technica Mining’s headquarters are in Lively, and team driver Vanier calls Garson home.
“The group at FEL Motorsports has established the perfect platform for up-and-coming Canadian racing drivers to develop their skills on-track,” said Pfaff Motorsports General Manager Steve Bortolotti. “More importantly, the framework Chris Bye, Jessica Benevides, Peter Lockhart, and the entire team at FEL Motorsports have developed to ensure the series remains commercially viable is a gamechanger for Canadian motorsport. We are proud to be competing here.”
Pfaff Motorsports’ entry in the Sports Car Championship Canada series will mark the first time it has run a non-Porsche or Audi entry since becoming an independent team in 2014. Vanier previously won a title with the team driving an Audi in the 2020 Canadian Touring Car Championship.
“We are excited to welcome Zachary back to Pfaff Motorsports as our first entry into the Sports Car Championship Canada presented by Michelin,” added Bortolotti. “He is an incredibly talented driver, and our goal is to compete for a championship in the GT4 Class with the McLaren 570s GT4.”
“I’m excited to be back and developing with the team we have at Pfaff Motorsports,” said Vanier. “I’m grateful to be competing in the 2022 FEL Sports Car Championship Canada presented by Michelin with our McLaren GT4 570S. It’s an amazing opportunity that lies ahead, with the goal of competing for race wins and the ultimate goal of winning the GT4 championship. Having the support of Pfaff Motorsports, Technica Mining, McLaren Toronto, Motul, and many other great partners is a huge confidence-booster as we get ready for the season opener next weekend.”
“To have Pfaff Motorsports run in our Sports Car Championship Canada is very exciting for us and all of Canadian Motorsports,” said FEL Motorsports President Chris Bye. “Having the reigning IMSA GTD Champions, 2022 Rolex 24 At Daytona Champions and the current IMSA GTD Pro points leader in our paddock is a real stamp of approval and tells us that we are going in the right direction. For Pfaff to give Canadian driver Zachary Vanier an opportunity to run a McLaren GT4 speaks directly to what we at FEL Motorsports set out to achieve – give Canadian drivers a high-profile national stage to showcase their talent. And for that we could not be happier.”
Victoria Day SpeedFest and events throughout the season will host two, 40-minute sprint races for FEL Motorsports Sports Car Championship Canada presented by Michelin during the weekend. The first round is scheduled for Saturday, May 21 at 2:15 p.m. ET, with the second round taking place on Sunday at 3:30 p.m.
Vehicle livery design and rendering: Jason Dakins/Dakins Design
2022 FEL Motorsports Sports Car Championship Canada Schedule:
Canadian Tire Motorsport Park
May 20 – 22
*Live Streamed
Calabogie Motorsports Park
June 3 – 5
Streets of Toronto
July 15 – 17
Trois-Rivieres Street Circuit
August 5 – 7
*Live Streamed
Calabogie Motorsports Park
August 19 – 21
Canadian Tire Motorsport Park
September 2 – 4
*Live Streamed