– High intensity races for the series’ big debut at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park –
Mississauga, Ont. – The Nissan Micra Cup held its seventh and eighth races of the 2016 season this weekend at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, the popular track formerly known as “Mosport” situated not far from Toronto. In typical summertime heat and in front of thousands of spectators on-site for one of the most important motorsport events in Canada (also bringing together the prestigious IMSA SportsCar Endurance series), the Nissan Micra Cup offered the public two spectacular races.
In action for the first time at the fast Canadian Tire Motorsport Park circuit, and only Canadian series at the event, the small and agile Nissan Micras provided excitement for the fans, participants from other series, and members of the American and Canadian media invited by Nissan Canada. The 26 competing drivers provided two intense races with non-stop action as they battled for victory.
During the first race, Kevin King started in pole position, but was passed on the first turn by Xavier Coupal, while 2015 champion Olivier Bédard followed by only a few one-hundredths of a second. This trio of drivers was followed very closely behind by Albertan Stefan Rzadzinski, American Nic Hammann of the Nismo GT Academy Team, and Valérie Limoges who was once again consistent near the front of the pack.
These six drivers hit the mid-way point of the race separated by less than half a second, and behind them, a second group of six drivers led by Marc-Antoine Demers and Canadian Touring Car champion Karl Wittmer, who made his Nissan Micra Cup debut this weekend, provided another intense battle. Top ranked Ontarian, Brian Makse, also performed well in the first race, leading a group of five drivers who were fighting in the middle of the pack.
In the end, Kevin King crossed the finish line first but received a penalty from the officials for putting all four of his wheels off the track as he passed Coupal on the last lap. Xavier Coupal was therefore declared the winner, ahead of his teammate Olivier Bédard and Stefan Rzadzinski. Nic Hammann and Valérie Limoges completed the top five.
Once again under a blaring sun, the second race, on Sunday afternoon, was just as exciting. At the front of the pack, a quick battle developed between King, Coupal, and Bédard. Qualifying in pole position, Olivier Bédard was passed by Kevin King on the first lap but Bédard eventually reclaimed the lead to take his second win of the season. King and Coupal finished on his heels, as Marc-Antoine Demers won another heated battle for fourth place in front of Nicolas Hammann and Stefan Rzadzinski.
Normand Boyer finished in seventh spot, ahead of Valérie Limoges, Metod Topolnik and Pierre Clavet. In eleventh, Stéfan Gauthier earned himself a second consecutive victory among the novice drivers.
Mrs. Joann Villeneuve, spouse of late Canadian racing legend Gilles Villeneuve, presented the the top three drivers with their trophies on the podium. It was particularly special for Olivier Bédard, winner of the Gilles-Villeneuve Award last year following his championship title.
In the drivers’ championship, Xavier Coupal has reclaimed the top of the standings with 242 points, ahead of Olivier Bédard (221), King (220), Rzadzinski (215), Limoges (192) and Demers (168). Peter Dyck is first in the rookie drivers’ standings, ahead of Stéfan Gauthier and Ashley Sahakian.
After this event at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, in Bowmanville, the series returns to another exceptional track in Quebec, the Circuit Mont-Tremblant in the Laurentides region. As part of the Summer Classic, the drivers will compete in the ninth and tenth rounds of the 2016 season on July 23 and 24.
For full race results, visit:
http://www.micracup.com/Results_2016_Race?RID=7 (race 7)
http://www.micracup.com/Results_2016_Race?RID=8 (race 8)
Overall championship standings after eight races:
http://www.coupemicra.com/Resultats_2016_ClassGen
For more information on the Nissan Micra Cup, please visit : www.nissan.ca/coupemicra.
Nissan Micra Cup 2016 Season Calendar :
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