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June 29, 2011

Dean Fantin and the Labourers Union BMW 330i stood on the podium twice this past weekend during the Vortex Brakes 200 at Mosport International Raceway northeast of Toronto. Having qualified 2nd for Saturday’s race Dean took the lead before the second corner and hung on to it for the first 20 min of racing. The Subaru of Richard Boake was never far behind and made a late race pass for the lead, both drivers swapped the lead between them a few more times before the checker flag dropped with Dean on the rear bumper of the Subaru. For Sunday’s race the starting positions were decided from Saturday’s finishing order, the Labourers Union BMW 330i took the green flag alongside Boake’s Subaru but on the outside of the first corner. Dean slid back behind the Subaru and started a hot pursuit that would last for the next 30 minutes of intense green flag racing. At the end of it all Dean Fantin and the Amico team had posted the fastest laps of the race but it hadn’t been enough to get by the well driven Subaru of Richard Boake.

The Amico Racing team heads into the Toronto Indy second place in the Castrol Canadian Touring Car Championship with a 10 point deficit. Success or failure on the rough streets of Toronto will be dependent on the preparation and hard work that’s put in by the teams over the next week.

Amico Racing is supported by the Labourers Union, Empire Roofing Corporation, Riverview Drywall, Hot Bits Sport Suspensions, Gunk, 8MM Design, Permatex, Anglestar Graphics and many more.

Photos by Radu Repanovici, Racing in Focus

Windsor’s Dean Fantin and the Amico Racing Team contested a doubleheader round of the Castrol Canadian Touring Car Championship this past weekend at the Victoria Day Speed Fest held at Mosport International Raceway northeast of Toronto. Dean qualified the Labourers Union supported BMW 3rd on Saturday morning under sunny blue skies and the same conditions were expected for the race but a stray dark cloud parked itself over the 2.5 mile track just after the race started. Dean quickly took the lead but was passed by the 4wheel drive Subaru WRX of Richard Boake while struggling for traction up the wet ¾ mile straightaway. Within a few laps a full course caution due to several cars off track allowed everyone to regroup. Several teams elected to pit for rain tires, the Amico team kept Dean out on the slicks not wanting to relinquish second place. On the restart Dean was dealing with pressure from behind and once again losing site of the Subaru WRX, Arek Wojciechowski was able to slip past Dean on the second last lap of the race.

For Sunday’s race the starting order was determined by Saturday’s finishing positions, although overcast, rain was not a factor. Dean quickly moved the Amico Racing BMW into second position and tried to chase down Richard Boake whose Subaru’s 4wheel drive was not an advantage in the dry track conditions. Within two laps heavy pressure from behind forced Dean to abandon the chase and concentrate on defending his position against two hungry competitors. An accidental power slide coming onto the front straightaway at 140 kph cost him forward motion and allowed the two cars passed, Dean was unable to retake for a podium position with the time left and finished 4th.

Amico Racing heads to the next round of the Castrol Canadian Touring Car Championship June 4/5 at the Grand Prix of Mirabel north of Montreal.

Amico Racing wrapped up testing late Friday afternoon at Mosport International Raceway for the upcoming season of the Castrol Canadian Touring Car Championship. By all accounts the test sessions were a success, driver Dean Fantin had this to say.

“ The weather didn’t allow a for all out hot lapping so the times don’t show the progress we’ve made from last year. The car really felt planted in the corners and rock steady at over 200 km/h. As soon as we mounted the new Continental slicks I could just feel the car digging in, I was really on the throttle coming out of the corners and we had no tire slip at all.”

New colours for 2011 thanks to Dominion Collision in Windsor, Decals coming soon thanks to Anglestar Digital

The final test session of the day brought out the sunshine and a dry track but a small issue with tire rub due to the increased width of the new slicks wouldn’t allow Dean to push it so we focused on completing our aerodynamic tests with the new wing.  The wing designed by Jon Michienzi and built with help from Prominent Fixture & Gauge in Oldcastle, provides the added rear grip the team couldn’t get out of the car last year.

 Amico Racing continues in 2011 running the 3.0L BMW straight six know as the M54B30 to BMW fanatics.  This light weight all aluminum power plant was given an upgrade for this year with help from the  St Clair College Motive Power Program, and instructors Dan Vincent and Mike Meloche. With turbo cars like the Subaru WRX and Hyundai Genesis coupe to compete against every little bit of power is needed for success at this level.

Victoria Day weekend is the official kick off for the Castrol Canadian Touring Car series at Mosport along with the Trans Am series and the World Challenge GT and Touring car series.  The team will be going flat out in preparation for next weekend.

Thanks to all those around town who lent a hand getting ready for 2011!

www.angelstardigital.com      www.dominioncollision.com      www.prominentfixture.com