About JWR
Operating out of the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania area, John Walko Racing has established a national reputation in the open-wheel racing arena. Their state-of-the-art race shop in Trafford, PA has become the foundation for their expanding open-wheel program.
John started driving in SCCA Club Formula Ford in 1994, later Walko opened his own prep shop. Since 1999, Walko has been a crew chief and engineer in SCCA Formula Ford, Formula Continental, Formula Ford Zetec Championship, Star Mazda, and the F2000 Championship Series, as well as within the variety of vintage series in the east. Overall, his drivers have amassed wins and podiums by the dozen. He started engineering at Arms Up Motorsports in 2014.
Most recently, John Walko has worked in the F2000 Championship Series as well numerous vintage and project car operations. In the highly competitive F2000 Championship Series, Walko has racked up several wins, and established a prowess for fine-tuning both machine and driver. Similarly, Walko’s involvement in vintage racing has produced widespread successes with multiple race wins.
John Walko was been the force behind numerous championships, including both the 2005 Star Mazda Series and 2004 Formula Ford Zetec Series championships. Additionally, John was behind the scenes for and have SCCA RunOffs titles.
Since 2003, John Walko has been honored with the distinction of “Crew Chief of the Year” and “Engineer of the Year” in the Formula Zetec Championship.
John started driving in SCCA Club Formula Ford in 1994, later Walko opened his own prep shop. Since 1999, Walko has been a crew chief and engineer in SCCA Formula Ford, Formula Continental, Formula Ford Zetec Championship, Star Mazda, and the F2000 Championship Series, as well as within the variety of vintage series in the east. Overall, his drivers have amassed wins and podiums by the dozen. He started engineering at Arms Up Motorsports in 2014.
Most recently, John Walko has worked in the F2000 Championship Series as well numerous vintage and project car operations. In the highly competitive F2000 Championship Series, Walko has racked up several wins, and established a prowess for fine-tuning both machine and driver. Similarly, Walko’s involvement in vintage racing has produced widespread successes with multiple race wins.
John Walko was been the force behind numerous championships, including both the 2005 Star Mazda Series and 2004 Formula Ford Zetec Series championships. Additionally, John was behind the scenes for and have SCCA RunOffs titles.
Since 2003, John Walko has been honored with the distinction of “Crew Chief of the Year” and “Engineer of the Year” in the Formula Zetec Championship.
CLimbing the ladder
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STEP ONE: F1600
F1600, often called FF or Formula Ford, has a rich history in both the USA and around the world. The first F1600’s were introduced to the USA in 1969 and have been continuously raced ever since. It is a non-winged purpose built single seat race car which is well known to be a great training ground for career minded drivers, and a highly competitive class for all participants. It has a reputation for being one of the most economical classes, and with the addition of the FIT motor from Honda to the class, the cost saving just got better. Many of the top drivers in the world started in FF, including Aryton Senna in Europe and Michael Andretti in the USA. Current alumni of F1600 include Aaron Telitz (Indy Lights), Jake Eidson (Pro Mazda), Garrett Grist (Indy Lights), Colin Thompson (PWC), Neil Verhagan (Red Bull development
driver).
F1600, often called FF or Formula Ford, has a rich history in both the USA and around the world. The first F1600’s were introduced to the USA in 1969 and have been continuously raced ever since. It is a non-winged purpose built single seat race car which is well known to be a great training ground for career minded drivers, and a highly competitive class for all participants. It has a reputation for being one of the most economical classes, and with the addition of the FIT motor from Honda to the class, the cost saving just got better. Many of the top drivers in the world started in FF, including Aryton Senna in Europe and Michael Andretti in the USA. Current alumni of F1600 include Aaron Telitz (Indy Lights), Jake Eidson (Pro Mazda), Garrett Grist (Indy Lights), Colin Thompson (PWC), Neil Verhagan (Red Bull development
driver).
STEP TWO: F2000
F2000 is a formula that was developed in England in the mid 1970’s and has gone through a couple of evolutions to become one of the best rides for the money in road racing. It is a step up from F1600, with the addition of more horsepower, larger tires and aero considerations in the form of wings and diffusers. The suspension geometry of a modern F2000 is as sophisticated as anything out there, and offers great training for drivers, engineers and mechanics. It is a formula, not a spec car, so there are numerous chassis designs, multiple motors allowed, and room to make a better mouse trap. At the same time, there are enough restrictions to keep costs in check. With all of that, the F2000 Series routinely has top ten qualifying time spreads measured in tenths of a second. The pedigree of top drivers who learned their trade in F2000 include Dan Weldon, Patrick Carpentier, Paul Tracy, Aryton Senna, Sam Hornish, Jr. and more recently, Connor Daly (IndyCar), Kyle Marcelli (PWC), Santino Ferrucci (IndyCar).
F2000 is a formula that was developed in England in the mid 1970’s and has gone through a couple of evolutions to become one of the best rides for the money in road racing. It is a step up from F1600, with the addition of more horsepower, larger tires and aero considerations in the form of wings and diffusers. The suspension geometry of a modern F2000 is as sophisticated as anything out there, and offers great training for drivers, engineers and mechanics. It is a formula, not a spec car, so there are numerous chassis designs, multiple motors allowed, and room to make a better mouse trap. At the same time, there are enough restrictions to keep costs in check. With all of that, the F2000 Series routinely has top ten qualifying time spreads measured in tenths of a second. The pedigree of top drivers who learned their trade in F2000 include Dan Weldon, Patrick Carpentier, Paul Tracy, Aryton Senna, Sam Hornish, Jr. and more recently, Connor Daly (IndyCar), Kyle Marcelli (PWC), Santino Ferrucci (IndyCar).
STEP THREE: FORMULA ATLANTIC
Formula Atlantic cars are not for the faint of heart or beginners. They are sophisticated, 300 hp race cars capable of speeds in excess of 175 mph. If you can drive an Atlantic car well, you can drive an Indycar. They are also a natural progression from F2000 and possibly F1600. These cars have highly developed aerodynamic packages and are very sensitive to setup changes and driving techniques, making them an ideal teaching platform for both driver and crew seeking to go to the highest levels of motor racing.
Formula Atlantic cars are not for the faint of heart or beginners. They are sophisticated, 300 hp race cars capable of speeds in excess of 175 mph. If you can drive an Atlantic car well, you can drive an Indycar. They are also a natural progression from F2000 and possibly F1600. These cars have highly developed aerodynamic packages and are very sensitive to setup changes and driving techniques, making them an ideal teaching platform for both driver and crew seeking to go to the highest levels of motor racing.
FORMULA THREE
Formula 3 or F3, is a third-tier class of open-wheel formularacing. Formula Three has traditionally been regarded as the first major stepping stone for F1 hopefuls – it is typically the first point in a driver's career at which most drivers in the series are aiming at professional careers in racing rather than being amateurs and enthusiasts. F3 is not cheap, but is regarded as a key investment in a young driver's future career. Success in F3 can lead directly to a Formula 2 seat or even a Formula One test or race seat. The various championships held in Europe, Australia, South America and Asia form an important step for many prospective Formula One drivers.
Formula 3 or F3, is a third-tier class of open-wheel formularacing. Formula Three has traditionally been regarded as the first major stepping stone for F1 hopefuls – it is typically the first point in a driver's career at which most drivers in the series are aiming at professional careers in racing rather than being amateurs and enthusiasts. F3 is not cheap, but is regarded as a key investment in a young driver's future career. Success in F3 can lead directly to a Formula 2 seat or even a Formula One test or race seat. The various championships held in Europe, Australia, South America and Asia form an important step for many prospective Formula One drivers.
FORMULA TWO
Formula 2 is a second-tier single-seater racing championship organised by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA). The championship was introduced in 2017, following the rebranding of the long-term Formula One feeder series GP2.
Designed to make racing affordable for the teams and to make it an ideal training ground for life in Formula One, Formula 2 has made it mandatory for all of the teams to use the same chassis, engine and tyre supplier so that true driver ability is reflected. Formula 2 mainly races on European circuits, but has appearances on other international race tracks as well with their most recent races in the 2017 season at the Bahrain International Circuit in Bahrain and the Yas Marina Circuit in United Arab Emirates.
Formula 2 is a second-tier single-seater racing championship organised by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA). The championship was introduced in 2017, following the rebranding of the long-term Formula One feeder series GP2.
Designed to make racing affordable for the teams and to make it an ideal training ground for life in Formula One, Formula 2 has made it mandatory for all of the teams to use the same chassis, engine and tyre supplier so that true driver ability is reflected. Formula 2 mainly races on European circuits, but has appearances on other international race tracks as well with their most recent races in the 2017 season at the Bahrain International Circuit in Bahrain and the Yas Marina Circuit in United Arab Emirates.