Waterloo, Ontario - The Bay of Quinte Grand Prix marked the 7th and 8th rounds of the Toyo Tires Formula 1600 Championship.

A combination of pouring rain and mechanical issues with brakes meant that Castell would only be able to complete in one testing and practice session on the Friday leading up to the weekend's races.

After an extended wait in the stifling morning heat Castell rolled out for practice. She approached Saturday warm up with some trepidation due to her earlier brake issues. Castell would end up qualifying 7th on the grid in the B-class for Race 1.

Saturday afternoon's Toyo Tires Formula 1600 Championship race took place during the hottest part of the day turning the race into not only a battle for position but a battle to manage the heat. Castell would cross the line 5th in class.

A morning gearing change would see Castell better her time by almost a full second during Sunday's morning warm up.

Confidence in the progress of her car's setup enabled Castell to improve her grid placement to 5th for the final race of the weekend. Hungry to battle for a spot on the podium Castell pushed as she could for the 19-lap race but would have to settle for 5th in class at the line after losing the pack to avoid an incident between two battling A-class cars.

"This was the first time that I've raced this circuit in a few years. The learning curve associated with a new track on top of the mechanical issues definitely made this the hardest weekend thus far," commented Castell on her fifth-place finishes. "The results weren't what we were looking for but I'm sure that we'll come back strong for Calabogie."

Calabogie Motorsports Park is the next stop for the Toyo Tires Formula 1600 Championship on August 22/23 for the MCO Ted Powell Memorial Races.

Castell is supported by Landmark Cinemas Canada, Castrol Canada, Bell Racing USA, Performance Physixx, KarmaComa Studio, Jaguar Land Rover Waterloo and Volvo of Waterloo, Driverseat Kitchener, and Leaf Racewear.

The Toyo Tires Formula 1600 Championship Series is the premiere open wheel series in Ontario, sanctioned by CASC Ontario Region. The series is comprised of six double-headers and competes at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, Shannonville Motorsport Park, and Calabogie Motorsports Park.

To follow Amy Castell's 2015 season, follow @acastell95 on Twitter and Instagram and like www.facebook.com/acastell95 on Facebook.

About Amy Castell

20 year old Amy Castell of Waterloo Ontario not only competes in the Toyo Tires Formula 1600 open wheel racing series she is a business student at Wilfrid Laurier University.

She's been honoured with the Muriel Knap Trophy for the second straight year and became only the third driver to accomplish this feat in the 35-year history of this prestigious award.

Castell was also recently nominated for a WOWtheWorld Award (Waterloo Region).

In 2014 she also became the first female nominee for the Team Canada Scholarship that sends Formula 1600 drivers to the historic Brands Hatch circuit in England.

She is also a Committee Member and Event Ambassador for the Lupus GP. This is an Annual Endurance Kart Race to raise money for the Pediatric Lupus Clinic At Sick Kids Hospital in Toronto: http://lupusgp.ca/index.php - http://www.sickkids.ca

The Toyo Tires F1600 Championship Series is an exciting, competitive, technologically advanced form of open wheel racing based in Ontario and sanctioned by the CASC, Ontario region.