Allen Bernard Berg (born 1 August 1961) is a Canadian former racing driver who competed in Formula One with the Osella team during the 1986 season. After building an impressive reputation in Formula Atlantic and British Formula 3, Berg reached Formula One before going on to enjoy success in touring cars, sports cars and single-seater racing. Following his driving career, he became a team owner, driver coach and founder of one of North America’s best-known racing schools.
Driver Bio
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Birthplace | Vancouver, Canada |
| Born | 1 August 1961 |
| First Grand Prix | 1986 Detroit Grand Prix |
| Last Grand Prix | 1986 Australian Grand Prix |
| Years Active | 1986 |
| Current/Last Team | Osella |
Racing career
Born in Vancouver, British Columbia, Berg began karting in 1978 before moving into single-seater racing at the age of 20 in Formula Atlantic. His breakthrough came in 1982 when he won the prestigious Tasman Formula Pacific Series, held across Australia and New Zealand, establishing himself as one of Canada’s most promising young drivers.
That success earned him a move to the fiercely competitive British Formula 3 Championship in 1983. Racing against future Formula One legends Ayrton Senna and Martin Brundle, Berg claimed a race victory and finished fifth in the championship. Although his sole win came at an event where Senna and Brundle were competing elsewhere, his performances throughout the season demonstrated his pace against one of the strongest Formula 3 fields of the era.
Berg improved further in 1984, finishing runner-up in the British Formula 3 Championship behind Johnny Dumfries after recording eight second-place finishes. His performances attracted the attention of several Formula One teams, leading to tests with Arrows and Tyrrell, while discussions also took place with Spirit and RAM Racing. However, none of those opportunities resulted in a race seat.
In 1985, Berg returned to Canada to secure the sponsorship required to reach Formula One, a move that ultimately proved successful.
Formula One career
Berg made his Formula One debut midway through the 1986 season after joining Osella, replacing Christian Danner, who had moved to Arrows following Marc Surer‘s career-ending rally accident.
Driving one of the least competitive cars on the grid, Berg contested nine consecutive Grands Prix before sponsorship difficulties forced him to miss the Italian Grand Prix. Additional financial backing later enabled him to return and complete the remainder of the season.
Although he was unable to score World Championship points, Berg gained valuable Formula One experience under difficult circumstances and entered talks with several teams, including Larrousse, about remaining on the grid for 1987. Unfortunately, the cancellation of the 1987 Canadian Grand Prix severely limited sponsorship opportunities, preventing him from securing another Formula One drive.
Career after Formula One
After leaving Formula One, Berg remained deeply involved in motorsport. He competed in sports car racing, the Trans-Am Series and Germany’s Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft, driving a privateer BMW M3 during the 1991 season.
His career enjoyed a resurgence in Mexico, where he won the Mexican Formula 2 Championship in 1993. Later, combining driving with team ownership, he captured the Indy Lights Panamericana title in 2001 before retiring from professional competition.
Berg has since become one of North America’s most respected racing instructors through the Allen Berg Racing Schools, based primarily at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, California. The school introduces newcomers to formula car racing while also developing aspiring professional drivers, with numerous graduates progressing into successful motorsport careers.
Grand Prix Stats
| Race Entries | 9 |
| Race Starts | 9 |
| Did Not Start | 0 |
| Best Race Start | 25th |
| Best Race Finish | 12th |
| Retirements | 5 |
| First-Lap Retirements | 1 |
| Not Classified | 1 |
| Disqualified | 0 |
| Did Not Qualify | 0 |
Qualifying
| Qualifying Sessions | 9 |
| Reached Q3 | 0 |
| Q2 Eliminations | 0 |
| Q1 Eliminations | 0 |
| Did Not Qualify | 0 |
Stats by Season
| Year | Constructor | Entries | Starts | Wins | Podiums | Poles | Fastest Laps | Front Rows | DNF | Best Start | Best Result | Pts Finishes | Points | Championship |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Osella | 9 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 25 | 12 | 0 | 0 | NC |
Stats by Constructor
| Constructor | Years | Entries | Starts | Wins | Podiums | Poles | Fastest Laps | Front Rows | DNF | Best Start | Best Result | Pts Finishes | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Osella | 1986 | 9 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 25 | 12 | 0 | 0 |
Teammates & Qualifying Head-to-Head
| Teammate | Years | Races | Qualifying H2H |
|---|---|---|---|
| Piercarlo Ghinzani | 1986 | 9 | 0–9 |
