Allen Berg

Early Career and Challenges

Allen Bernard Berg, born on August 1, 1961, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, embarked on his racing career in 1978 with karting. At the age of 20, he transitioned to Formula Atlantic, laying the foundation for his future in motorsport. In 1982, Berg achieved a significant milestone by winning the prestigious Tasman Formula Pacific Series in Australia and New Zealand. However, his path to Formula One was far from straightforward. In 1983, he entered the highly competitive British Formula 3 series, where he had to contend with formidable opponents like Ayrton Senna and Martin Brundle. Despite facing such stiff competition, Berg managed to secure one race victory, a race in which Senna and Brundle opted out, ultimately finishing fifth in the series.

Formula One Stint with Osella

In 1986, Allen Berg’s dream of racing in Formula One became a reality when he joined the Osella team. This opportunity came midway through the season when he acquired a seat previously occupied by Christian Danner, who had moved to the Arrows team. Berg participated in nine races during the 1986 Formula One season, but his sponsorship eventually ran out, causing him to miss the Italian Grand Prix. Despite having discussions with various F1 teams, including Larrousse, for the 1987 season, he couldn’t secure enough sponsorship and had to step away from Formula One. Nevertheless, his brief stint in F1 marked a significant chapter in his racing career.

Post-Formula One Contributions

Following his Formula One experience, Allen Berg remained deeply involved in motorsport. He continued as a professional driver, team owner, series administrator, driving coach, and instructor. Berg diversified his racing activities, competing in sportscar racing and the Trans-Am Series. Notably, he had a successful season in 1991 driving a privateer BMW M3 in the Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft and won the Mexican Formula 2 championship in 1993. Furthermore, Berg expanded his horizons by operating Allen Berg Racing Schools primarily in Monterey, California, based at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. The school offers aspiring drivers the chance to experience race driving in formula racing cars, and several graduates have gone on to have successful careers in motorsport.

Career Stats

Seasons Competed in

1. 1986 Season