Allen Berg
Motorsport Achievement Award- Calgary
Class of 2026
Allen Berg is one of Alberta’s most accomplished race car drivers and a respected leader in international motorsport. Born in Vancouver but residing in Calgary for most of his childhood, he built an impressive racing career that took him from local karting championships to the highest level of the sport — Formula One.
Allen began racing go-karts in Alberta and quickly became a provincial champion in 1979 and 1980. He moved up through Formula Ford and Formula Atlantic before competing internationally in Formula Three. In 1983, he won the Formula Pacific Tasman Championship and was named Canadian Driver of the Year. He also competed in British Formula Three during one of its strongest eras, racing against future legends such as Ayrton Senna and Martin Brundle.
In 1986, Allen achieved his lifelong goal by signing with the Osella Formula One team. He competed in nine Formula One Grands Prix, becoming one of only 14 Canadians in history to race in Formula One — and the only driver from Alberta to reach that level. His best F1 result was a 12th-place finish in Germany.
Beyond Formula One, Allen had a successful international career. He competed in endurance racing, including the 1990 24 Hours of Le Mans, and raced in championships across, Europe, Mexico, New Zealand, and the United States. He later won the Mexican Formula Two Championship and Indy Lights Panamericana Championship and continued to compete at a high level into the early 2000s.
After his driving career, Allen became a highly respected instructor and mentor. He founded Allen Berg Racing Schools (ABRS), which began in Calgary and later expanded to the United States, including WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca in California. The school is accredited by the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA), allowing successful students to earn racing licenses. To date, ABRS has trained and assessed more than 20,000 drivers.
Allen has also worked as a chief instructor for BMW’s Fahrer Training program, coached professional drivers, and consulted with race teams worldwide. His expertise in high-performance driving, race strategy, and driver development has earned him international recognition.
In 2019, Allen was inducted into the Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame in recognition of his outstanding contributions to Canadian motorsport.
Most recently Allen and his son Alex, a highly talented up and coming professional racing driver following in his father’s footsteps, have established a professional multi driver racing team, Berg Racing, which competes in the United States Formula 4 Championship, as well as the USF Pro (Road to Indy) ladder series.
Allen Berg’s legacy is defined not only by reaching Formula One, but by his dedication to teaching, mentoring, and developing future generations of drivers. His induction into the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame recognizes both his achievements on the track and his lasting impact on the sport of motor racing.
