- Details
- Category: Oval Racing
By: Dumoulin Competition
August 13, 2024
August 13, 2024
Trois-Rivières, Quebec - The pace of the NASCAR Canada series is picking up again this August with three events in three weekends: the Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières, the Delaware oval race and the Complexe ICAR in Mirabel. For three-time series champion Louis-Philippe Dumoulin, the GP3R was marked by ups and downs. Driving the #47 WeatherTech Canada | Groupe Bellemare | Omnifab | Somavrac car, Dumoulin saved the essentials: a top-four finish, a lap led in the race and valuable championship points that allowed him to stay fourth, now very close to second place.
“The Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières is always special, with this incredible atmosphere in the grandstands and all these fans who appreciate and know motorsports well. On the track, the event started well for us, with the third fastest time in free practice and then sixth place in the qualifying session. We weren’t able to set up the perfect setup in qualifying, which cost us a few tenths of a second, but that was not a big problem because I knew the #47 WeatherTech Canada | Groupe Bellemare | Omnifab | Somavrac car was really good on long runs, just like we were going to experience in the race,” said Louis-Philippe Dumoulin.
Starting from the third row, Dumoulin was in the lead on lap nine. But shortly after, he was the victim of contact with the #27 car (Andrew Ranger) and had to return to the pits due to a flat tire. “We changed a few settings between qualifying and the race and it turned out to be a good decision because right from the start, I felt that the car was very good and I quickly moved up into the Top 3 and even first,” explained Louis-Philippe, who added: “When I got hit by Ranger’s car, the lineup was messed up.” Usually, we talk about millimeters as adjustments, here I found myself with nearly two inches toe-out. It's huge but I obviously continued the race while still aiming for the podium."
Louis-Philippe Dumoulin continued among the leaders before another incident on the penultimate lap of the scheduled distance before overtime. "Alex Guénette had just had a collision and I moved to the outside of turn 2 to avoid him but unfortunately he hit my car. Subsequently, during the next restart, I took third place but I had to give this position back to the #7 car (Raphaël Lessard) because another full course period occurred." It was finally in green-white-checkered mode, with two laps of racing before the end that the drivers completed the event, Dumoulin this time being blocked by Lessard for the gain of third place. “His car was really slow and he blocked me beyond the limits of sportiness, including on the last straight. My car is very damaged following his maneuvers,” explained Dumoulin, who completed the race in fourth place.
The work awaiting the Dumoulin Compétition team to restore the road circuit car is important but motivation remains high as the #47 WeatherTech Canada | Groupe Bellemare | Omnifab | Somavrac car has shown since the beginning of the season that it is able of competing for the podium in every race, on both oval and road racing tracks. It is on an oval that the next event will take place, this Saturday, at the Delaware Speedway, near London, Ontario. A track opened in 1952 on which Louis-Philippe Dumoulin has already collected three Top 6 finishes since 2017. It was also at Delaware Speedway that he was crowned NASCAR Canada champion for the third time, in 2021. “It’s a very special half-mile track, pleasant to drive. Since the start of the season, we have been performing well on ovals so I am confident of a good result on this track,” he concludes.
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Dumoulin Competition
Jean-François and Louis-Philippe Dumoulin founded the Dumoulin Competition Race Team in 2009. Working with financial, marketing, logistics and sports management experts, they built up a solid business structure. Dumoulin Competition prepares its own race cars in-house since 2016. Their motto: “Passion - Performance – Partnerships” expresses their will to perform on the track and offer their partners maximum visibility and profitability in return for their commitment. Their vision: To become Canada's leader in motorsports through on-track performance, an entrepreneurial spirit and human values. dumoulincompetition.com
- Details
- Category: Oval Racing
By: Thomas Nepveu Motorsport
August 13, 2024
August 13, 2024
Trois-Rivières, Quebec - Thomas Nepveu returned to the Grand Prix of Trois-Rivières to participate in the 60 tours de Rousseau Métal race. He was back behind the wheel of the yellow #24 Richelieu | Home Hardware | Cromwell Ford, a crowd favourite.
Overall, it was a difficult weekend for Thomas Nepveu as he was forced to retire once again. However, the young driver performed well during the race itself, even breaking into the Top 10.
"We had a tough practice and qualifying session," he explained. "We had brake issues throughout the weekend. But the car was very fast."
Nepveu was unable to set a fast enough lap time in qualifying, settling for 22nd place on the grid. However, the streets of Trois-Rivières are known for hosting action-packed races full of twists where anything can happen. Thomas' strategy was therefore to be patient and be on the lookout for opportunities to move up the field.
However, right from the start, he lost a few positions, making his challenge of moving up the field even more difficult. With determination, he completed several bold overtakes. Towards the end of the race, he was running in the Top 10 before his efforts were put to a halt.
"This was another race weekend that ended prematurely with a mechanical failure. The differential failed during the race. It's a shame because the race was going well. I was ready to tackle the chaotic final 10 laps."
He continued by saying; "I was happy with the car's speed during the race, but we need to work even harder to be more competitive. I would have liked to have secured a podium finish for my partners who were there to support me, but it will just have to wait until the next time."
Thomas Nepveu's next race will be on August 17th at Delaware Speedway in Ontario.
- Details
- Category: Oval Racing
By: TAG Motorsport
August 13, 2024
August 13, 2024
Trois-Rivières, Quebec - Alex Tagliani, who drove the #80 St-Hubert / BFL Canada / 440 Laval Chevrolet / Qwick Wick / Arobas / La Petite Bretonne Chevrolet in this past weekend's 60 tours Rousseau Métal, finished 18th in the NASCAR Canada race on Sunday afternoon.
It was an event that started on a very positive note, with Tagliani setting the 6th fastest time in the practice session. In qualifying, he further climbed up to 3rd place with a time of 1:07.536, just 0.574 seconds off pole position.
"Although we had some minor problems, my car was very fast," said Tagliani. "I have to highlight the efforts of the Theetge Motorsports crew who worked incredibly hard all weekend long."
The driver of the yellow car, adorned in St-Hubert's primary colours, started Sunday’s race from the second row, sitting just behind the one in pole position. He took advantage of the contact ahead between Kevin Lacroix and Marc-Antoine Camirand, brilliantly manoeuvring around them to take the lead.
However, he only led for two laps before being forced into pit lane due to a mechanical problem. His chances of securing a fourth victory on the streets of Trois-Rivières had been dashed.
"We’re still hungry for more in Trois-Rivières," he admitted. "We're leaving a bit sad, because we had a good car. It's a shame we weren't able to show just how good it was."
He explained that, "I’m shocked at myself because we had some brake issues throughout the weekend, so I had to run three different brake balance settings for each lap. However, after taking the lead, I decided to leave it on the same setting for one lap since the car was full of fuel and heavy at the rear. I was trying to avoid front-end slide, given that the tires were at low pressure."
"Unfortunately, I got caught out in Turn 1; I locked the rear, counter-steered to correct, and as I approached the corner, I was too tight and hit the inside wall. This affected the suspension. I’m disappointed in myself for getting caught out; I should have continued doing what I had been doing all weekend. I was very bummed for the team. Additionally, throughout the race, we were losing brake fluid, so I wouldn’t have been able to fight at the front."
"I had great difficulty under braking. It was just a matter of getting the car back in good condition and then scoring points for Theetge Motorsports."
Although the car was not optimal in terms of braking, Tagliani confirmed that it was plenty quick enough; "We were able to run reasonable times. It was surprising to have a car that was affected with brake problems also be able to put in those times."
He concluded by saying, "We have to turn the page and forget about that race. It's sad for the team because I'm still looking forward to giving them a good performance because they deserve it, but everyone was in good spirits by the end of the race. On the positive side, we've got a good machine. So we just need to sort out the little problems and then I think we should be able to do well. I'm looking forward to the ICAR race. We've got a bit of work to do to sort that out, and then we'll try to finish the season strongly."
Alex Tagliani's next NASCAR Canada Series event will be the Evirum 100 at Complexe ICAR on August 24th.
- Details
- Category: Oval Racing
By: Paillé Course//Racing
August 13, 2024
August 13, 2024
Trois-Rivières, Quebec - Marc-Antoine Camirand clinched a brilliant victory at the Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières, after an exhilarating race in the NASCAR Canada series. Andrew Ranger also had a fast car and was on his way to a Paillé Course//Racing double podium, but had a tough break at the end as he ran out of fuel after multiple overtime attempts.
Marc-Antoine Camirand has been very quick all weekend at the wheel of his GM Paillé/Chevrolet Canada n°96 Camaro. Fastest in practice, he also signed the pole position in dominating fashion, on Saturday afternoon, with a lead of over three tenths of a second.
Camirand was aiming at back-to-back wins at GP3R, but knew that it would be a long 60-lap race. “Right at the first lap, I have been pushed outside the racing lane at turn two and dropped to seventh place. But I knew that I had a very fast car. I focused on climbing back the field. After our stop for fuel, I was in a good place to fight for the leading positions,” stated Camirand.
He took the lead back just before the mid-race, and then led the field through the end of the race. Although Camirand was the fastest car on track, the last laps have not been so relaxing. “The race went to overtime, with multiple attempts for a green-white-checkered finish. At the beginning, we were not so worried about fuel, but as the race kept dragging on, we started to be concerned about it. And it turned out well for us, because we ran out at victory lane!”
Camirand wins his fourth victory of the season, and increases his own record of 16 wins at GP3R. “This is a huge victory for me and all the Paillé Course//Racing team. This is definitely our biggest event of the season, so I’m very happy to win back-to-back here,” concluded Camirand.
Andrew Ranger also showed great speed throughout the weekend on the historic street circuit. Seventh in practice on Saturday, he improved to fourth place during qualifying later that day.
At the start of Les 60 Tours Rousseau Métal, he quickly managed to get in second place, and kept himself in the leading pack for most of the race.
“I know that I could achieve a podium finish and I was running in second place at the end of the race. Unfortunately, I ran out of gas after the race went into NASCAR overtime,” told Ranger.
The GM Paillé/Chevrolet Canada n°27 Camaro lost two laps before he could come back running. “It’s a shame because I know that we could achieve a great podium finish and battle for the win during those last green-white-checkered finishes,” concluded Ranger, who scored a 14th-place finish.
Paillé Course//Racing leads the NASCAR Canada drivers’ standings, with Camirand increasing his lead to 29 points over Ranger.
The NASCAR Canada series resumes next weekend, as Paillé Course//Racing drivers Marc-Antoine Camirand and Andrew Ranger will race at Delaware Speedway, near London, ON, next Saturday.
- Details
- Category: Oval Racing
By: Anthony Bruno for RaceCanada.ca
August 13, 2024
August 13, 2024
One of the most prestigious events on the NASCAR Canada calendar took place with major championship implications.
The Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières held the Rosseau Metal 60 on Sunday with a massive 31 car field with Marc-Antoine Camirand leading them to the green flag.
It was an intense and physical affair, with the bumping coming right from the start as Kevin Lacroix pushed the polesitter wide at turn two.
The tone of action and aggression was set from there, with moves being made up and down the order and lots of beating and banging to add to the punishing nature of the circuit itself.
After a grueling 72 lap endeavour that needed a couple attempts at overtime to get completed, Camirand crossed the line to take the win and extend his championship lead, putting him in a great position with four rounds to go in the season.
Alex Labbé came home in second, avoiding the late race chaos to close out a good afternoon for himself.
Third was decided by a high-impact drag to the line, one that was won out by Raphael Lessard, just managing to edge out L.P. Dumoulin, who settled for fourth.
D.J Kennington rounded out the top five, another driver that survived the late race madness to bring home a good finish.
Larry Jackson ended up in sixth, with Simon Dion-Viens right behind in seventh.
Donald Theetge had himself a great road course outing coming home in eighth, battling back from issues that plagued him earlier on in the race.
Steve Coté was the highest finishing rookie in ninth with Jocelyn Fecteau rounding out the top ten.
This was a race of attrition and issues, with some big names in the championship fight being affected.
The first casualty was Lacroix, who suffered a rear axle failure 45 laps in and was forced out of the race.
The next was Andrew Ranger, and while he did not suffer a similar fate to his rival, he ran out of gas on the first overtime restart and fell down the order, finishing in 14th.
Jason Hathaway was having a decent race until he ended up in the wall with four to go, ending his day.
Alex Tagliani was another driver that suffered from problems in this race, going from leading at one point and spending some time in the top five to issues that sent him many laps down and settling for an 18th place finish.
It’s back to an oval for the series, as they head off to Delaware Speedway.
Action begins on Saturday, Aug. 17 at 7:00 P.M. EST.