In just one week, the series will visit Twin Ring Motegi for its 100th race of all-time. In honor of this benchmark, we look back at the 15 different race winners the series has seen over the past two and a half years, finishing with the top 5.

Logan McKinzie

First Start | 02/01/2021 S1 R1
STARTALL WINSWINHWINPOLEPODIUMTOP5TOP10LAPSLEDAVGQAVGFINC/LAP
9817107854789237443974.244.540.225

The most experienced driver in the series, four-time champion Logan McKinzie has managed to eke out wins in every era of the series whilst maintaining a consistency that has won multiple championships. McKinzie started early, with a win in his second start at Summit Point, then another the week after at Watkins Glen. Later on in Season 1, he would demonstrate superior pace at Oran Park for his third victory, and would go on to wrap up his first championship. Since then, McKinzie has managed to win at least one race in every season except Season 5. His winningest track also happens to be at his home track of Road Atlanta, where he has collected three separate wins through a combination speed and luck. His most dominant streak was perhaps the start of Season 3, where he won four of the first five race sessions. His shock back-to-back wins at Road Atlanta and Watkins Glen in the middle of Season 4 helped boost him to a third championship. He’s only ever been outside the Top 3 once at season’s end, racking up 2nd and 3rd place finishes to bolster the occasional win. Despite never having domineering pace, McKinzie collected the title in four different seasons in two different cars, his consistency a benchmark for everyone behind.

Slugnificent

First Start | 02/01/2021 S1 R1
STARTALL WINSWINHWINPOLEPODIUMTOP5TOP10LAPSLEDAVGQAVGFINC/LAP
812712151027445827734665.817.840.286

At certain points in series history, Robert “Slugnificent” Abrams has been the fastest car on track, unmatchable in raw pace. He’s seen it all and won it all, starting at the Texas Road Course back in Season 1. His elbows-out defense won him the day there, and it’s won him many more. He would win two more races that season at Laguna Seca and Indianapolis, where he outclassed teammate and future champion Logan McKinzie and drove in a league of his own. The Slug counted up the wins in Season 2, winning 9/25 race sessions. His final race win of the season was his first win at Road America, a track that he would win at again to cap off Season 4. In that season, Slug finished on the podium in 15 of 25 race sessions, but missed the Top 10 in nine of the remaining ten, stopping him just shy of his first championship. He would return even stronger in Season 5, holding the championship lead for most of the season, notching wins at his home race of Belle Isle and a few weeks later at Oulton Park. Though eventually beaten by Francois Shink that season, the Slug continues to chase his first championship with his signature aggressive style. He has not returned to victory lane since his win at Oulton in Season 5, but remains a constant threat to the frontrunners.

Micah Hendricks

First Start | 07/18/2022 S5 R2
STARTALL WINSWINHWINPOLEPODIUMTOP5TOP10LAPSLEDAVGQAVGFINC/LAP
42181351028303615323445.314.760.289

Able to win anywhere, the most successful Veloster driver in the series’ history is able to match any driver’s pace, and his blistering speed was rewarded with immediate success shortly after his Season 5 debut. Hendricks arrived at Fuji in just his second career start, hunted down Francois Shink, took his first career victory, and instantly cemented himself as a contender. Hendricks would return to victory lane one more time in Season 5, collecting a trophy at Watkins Glen. In Season 6, Hendricks participated in the closest championship in series history, jumpstarting his campaign with a return to victory at Fuji in round two. Wins at Donington Park and Road Atlanta followed, but the season finale at Bathurst became the ultimate bittersweet moment for him. Qualified in 4th and needing a win to even have a chance at the championship, Hendricks went for the ultimate gamble, fuel-saving while doing his best to keep up with the leaders, and took advantage of the special format to go the entire race without a pit stop. He jumped every other car and won the race, but still just missed out on the title despite scoring his most cunning victory. Hendricks continued his hunt in Season 7, opening with back-to-back wins at VIR and Fuji, completing his hat trick at the Japanese circuit. Wins at Mosport and Zandvoort followed, rewarded with another 2nd place in the championship. Hendricks may not have a title yet, but it is surely only a matter of time.

Francois Shink

First Start | 02/01/2021 S1 R1
STARTALL WINSWINHWINPOLEPODIUMTOP5TOP10LAPSLEDAVGQAVGFINC/LAP
8919154549688035095164.964.640.167

Always dressed in his signature purple, Francois Shink has the honor of being the first ever race winner in the series, and his ability to consistently find success has kept him in the upper echelon of the field for a long time. Shink has the distinction of racing in Season 1 and winning three races, first at Charlotte and then again at Lime Rock Park and Road Atlanta. However, Season 2 was when he truly came alive. Starting at Oran Park, Shink marched to five wins total that season. He notched more wins at Lime Rock, Summit Point, his home track of Mosport, Laguna Seca, and finally capping off one of the best runs of all-time at Spa. Shink ended the season over fifty points ahead of the rest. His title defense in Season 3 included impressive wins at Oulton Park and Road Atlanta, but would fall just shy of another championship. This wouldn’t deter Shink, even after a relatively weak Season 4. He was able to get back into form towards the end of that season with wins at Long Beach and Daytona, but when Season 5 started, it took until the fifth round for him to find victory lane at Monza. Grabbing ahold of this momentum, Shink rode it to two more wins in the back half of the Season at Mid-Ohio and Interlagos, where he gridded 8th and stormed the field in one of his more impressive victories. This would secure him his second title. His victory at Mid-Ohio in Season 5 remains his most recent, but Shink is still a constant presence at the top of the grid.

Wojciech Swirydowicz

First Start | 12/13/2021 S3 R7
STARTALL WINSWINHWINPOLEPODIUMTOP5TOP10LAPSLEDAVGQAVGFINC/LAP
425122293031343515555822.025.070.152

Reigning champion, winningest driver of all time, the Polish Beast. Swirydowicz is quite clearly the most talented driver to win races in the series, constantly challenging the field to improve but always one step ahead. Including sprint races, Swirydowicz won all but one of his first seventeen race-session appearances, starting against a forty-car grid at Lime Rock Park halfway through Season 3 and continuing all the way to the season finale. The Polish driver would enter every season thereafter as a championship favorite, and wouldn’t disappoint. Swirydowicz won in over half of his appearances in Season 4, but ill-timed mechanical issues and missed races ensured he did not win the title. Two appearances and one win were the story of his Season 5, but his return in Season 6 would see him take victory five times. The field had caught up, but he still led the championship for most of the season despite eventually losing it in a tight 4-way battle. His victories at Donington Park and Red Bull Ring, in particular, were sublime, requiring him to push to his limit attacking and defending against some of the best in the series. In Season 7, he entered into a slugfest for the championship against Micah Hendricks, winning six races en route to a long-awaited and well-deserved inaugural championship title. His drive at New Hampshire, finishing half a minute up the road from Micah Hendricks, was the crown jewel in what was about as perfect of a season as you could ask for. Swirydowicz is the most prolific driver in series history, and his numbers can only go up.

Check back later for more stories about the Alpha Touring Challenge.