Polestar Racing Group
Encyclopedia
Polestar Racing Group is an American motorsport
team based in Chardon, Ohio
, which competes in the Atlantic Championship. It was founded in 2001 and is owned by husband and wife team Jim and Pam Griffith, and Bruce Potter.
Polestar has notched 6 victories in the Atlantic series, the first one in 2004, by Ronnie Bremer
, who moved to Polestar after driving the season’s first five races for Brooks Associates Racing
.
The team is notable for running female driver Katherine Legge
during the 2005 season, who became the first woman to win a developmental open-wheel race in North America when she won the season’s first race at Long Beach.
(1996), Alex Barron
(1997), and Buddy Rice
(2000). Additional team members include engineer Glenn Knabenshue and chief mechanics Constantin Gheorghe and Jason Robb.
2003 was the team's first season in the Atlantic championship. Jonathan Marci finished fourth in the drivers’ standings.
Polestar won its first Atlantic Championship race, with Ronnie Bremer taking the checkered flag at the Denver street circuit. Bremer finished fifth in the Atlantic Championship and second in the Rookie of the Year standings and the graduated to the Champ Car series where he raced for one season for both Dale Coyne Racing
and the HVM team
, Antoine Bessette
By far the team’s most successful season, Polestar won 5 races in 2004, making them the winningest team for that season. Katherine Legge earned three wins and Antoine Bessette won an additional two races, as well as earning pole position in one of them. Legge and Bessette finished third and fourth, respectively, in the championship final standings. Legge won the series opener at the Long Beach Grand Prix
in her first career Atlantic championship start. In doing so, she became the first woman to win a developmental open-wheel race in North America
. Legge went on to win two more races, at Edmonton and San Jose
. She had a total finished of five podium finishes, and received the Toyota Atlantic BBS Rising Star 2005 Award. Bessette won at Toronto
and Montreal
. For the season, he had 4 podium finishes, and received the Gilles Villeneuve
award by the Atlantic series.
Alan Scuito, a rookie, finished the season ranked 8th. He became the youngest-ever Atlantic pole winner at just 17 years of age at Denver. Ronnie Bremer made a single appearance, in Montreal
. Antoine Bassette returned to drive in one race, the season finale at Road America
in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin
.
The team again ran two cars in 2007. Bremer returned to the Atlantic Championship and to Polestar, after driving the 2005 season in the Champ Car
series.
The team competed in a single race, at the New Jersey Motorsports Park
.
Motorsport
Motorsport or motorsports is the group of sports which primarily involve the use of motorized vehicles, whether for racing or non-racing competition...
team based in Chardon, Ohio
Chardon, Ohio
Chardon is a city in Geauga County, Ohio, United States. The population was 5,148 at the 2010 Census. It is the county seat of Geauga County.-History:Chardon is named after Peter Chardon Brooks, who donated land to build the historic Chardon Square....
, which competes in the Atlantic Championship. It was founded in 2001 and is owned by husband and wife team Jim and Pam Griffith, and Bruce Potter.
Polestar has notched 6 victories in the Atlantic series, the first one in 2004, by Ronnie Bremer
Ronnie Bremer
Ronnie Bremer is a Danish racecar driver who has driven in the Champ Car World Series.Bremer won three consecutive Danish Formula A karting championships from 1998 to 2000, before racing in British Formula Ford and Formula 3...
, who moved to Polestar after driving the season’s first five races for Brooks Associates Racing
Brooks Associates Racing
Brooks Associates Racing is an American motorsport team based in Tucson, Arizona, which competes in the Indy Lights series. It previously competed in the Atlantic Championship where it won the 2008 season championship....
.
The team is notable for running female driver Katherine Legge
Katherine Legge
Katherine Legge is a British auto racing driver, formerly racing in the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters.-Early racing and Atlantics:Prior to joining the Toyota Atlantic series, she raced in several developmental open-wheel series in Britain, including Formula Three, Formula Renault and Formula Ford....
during the 2005 season, who became the first woman to win a developmental open-wheel race in North America when she won the season’s first race at Long Beach.
The team
Polestar Racing Group was founded in 2001 and is owned by husband and wife team Jim and Pam Griffith, and Bruce Potter. Jim Griffith is a race engineer, who part of the Atlantic championship-winning team of Patrick CarpentierPatrick Carpentier
Patrick Carpentier is a retired Canadian race car driver. He is best known for his career in the Champ Car World Series and the IndyCar Series. In 2009, Patrick shared the #36 of Tommy Baldwin Racing with Mike Skinner and ran Michael Waltrip's #55 Toyota Camry in the road course races in the...
(1996), Alex Barron
Alex Barron (driver)
Alex Barron in San Diego, California) is an American race car driver. He began racing CART FedEx World Series Championship cars in 1998 and made his first Indy Racing League Northern Lights Series start in 2001....
(1997), and Buddy Rice
Buddy Rice
Buddy Rice is an American racecar driver. He is best known for winning the 2004 Indianapolis 500 while driving for Rahal Letterman Racing, and the 2009 24 Hours of Daytona for Brumos Racing.-Early career:...
(2000). Additional team members include engineer Glenn Knabenshue and chief mechanics Constantin Gheorghe and Jason Robb.
2003 season
Drivers:Jonathan Macri2003 was the team's first season in the Atlantic championship. Jonathan Marci finished fourth in the drivers’ standings.
2004 season
Drivers:Ronnie BremerPolestar won its first Atlantic Championship race, with Ronnie Bremer taking the checkered flag at the Denver street circuit. Bremer finished fifth in the Atlantic Championship and second in the Rookie of the Year standings and the graduated to the Champ Car series where he raced for one season for both Dale Coyne Racing
Dale Coyne Racing
Dale Coyne Racing is a motorsports team in the IndyCar Series owned by former driver Dale Coyne. It was founded in 1986 with Chicago Bears great Walter Payton as Payton/Coyne Racing. The team fields the No. 18 Acorn Stairlifts and No...
and the HVM team
2005 season
Drivers: Katherine LeggeKatherine Legge
Katherine Legge is a British auto racing driver, formerly racing in the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters.-Early racing and Atlantics:Prior to joining the Toyota Atlantic series, she raced in several developmental open-wheel series in Britain, including Formula Three, Formula Renault and Formula Ford....
, Antoine Bessette
By far the team’s most successful season, Polestar won 5 races in 2004, making them the winningest team for that season. Katherine Legge earned three wins and Antoine Bessette won an additional two races, as well as earning pole position in one of them. Legge and Bessette finished third and fourth, respectively, in the championship final standings. Legge won the series opener at the Long Beach Grand Prix
Long Beach Grand Prix
The Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach is an open-wheel race held on a street circuit in Long Beach, California. Christopher Pook is the founder and promoter which began as a vision while working at a travel agency in downtown Long Beach. It was the premier circuit in the Champ Car from 1996, and...
in her first career Atlantic championship start. In doing so, she became the first woman to win a developmental open-wheel race in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
. Legge went on to win two more races, at Edmonton and San Jose
San Jose Grand Prix
The San Jose Grand Prix was an annual street circuit race in the Champ Car World Series in San Jose, California. The race had three different title sponsors over the course of its three year existence, being known as the Taylor Woodrow Grand Prix of San Jose in 2005, Canary Foundation Grand Prix of...
. She had a total finished of five podium finishes, and received the Toyota Atlantic BBS Rising Star 2005 Award. Bessette won at Toronto
Honda Indy Toronto
The Honda Indy Toronto is an annual IndyCar Series race, held in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Originally known as the Molson Indy Toronto, it was a Champ Car World Series race held annually from 1986 to 2007...
and Montreal
Circuit Gilles Villeneuve
The Circuit Gilles Villeneuve is a motor racing circuit, venue for the Formula One Canadian Grand Prix, NASCAR Canadian Tire Series, NASCAR Nationwide Series and Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series....
. For the season, he had 4 podium finishes, and received the Gilles Villeneuve
Gilles Villeneuve
Joseph Gilles Henri Villeneuve, better known as Gilles Villeneuve , was a Canadian racing driver. An enthusiast of cars and fast driving from an early age, he started his professional career in snowmobile racing in his native province of Quebec...
award by the Atlantic series.
2006 season
Drivers: Alan Sciuto, Antoine Bessette, Ronnie BremerAlan Scuito, a rookie, finished the season ranked 8th. He became the youngest-ever Atlantic pole winner at just 17 years of age at Denver. Ronnie Bremer made a single appearance, in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
. Antoine Bassette returned to drive in one race, the season finale at Road America
Road America
Road America is a road course located near Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin on Wisconsin Highway 67. It has hosted races since the 1950s and currently hosts races in the NASCAR Nationwide Series , American Le Mans , SCCA Speed World Challenge Series, ASRA, and AMA Superbike series.- Current track and...
in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin
Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin
Elkhart Lake is a village in Sheboygan County, Wisconsin, United States, located within the northwestern part of the county within the Town of Rhine. The population was 1,021 at the 2000 census. It is included in the Sheboygan, Wisconsin Metropolitan Statistical Area...
.
2007 season
Drivers:Ronnie Bremer, Bret MacDonaldThe team again ran two cars in 2007. Bremer returned to the Atlantic Championship and to Polestar, after driving the 2005 season in the Champ Car
Champ Car
Champ Car was the name for a class and specification of open wheel cars used in American Championship Car Racing for many decades, primarily for use in the Indianapolis 500 auto race...
series.
2008 season
Drivers: Rich ZoberThe team competed in a single race, at the New Jersey Motorsports Park
New Jersey Motorsports Park
New Jersey Motorsports Park is a racing facility located in Millville, New Jersey. The park has two road courses and a high-performance karting facility. In the future, a tri-oval track and off-road course are to be built on the park's property. NJMP hosts amateur and professional automobile and...
.