Trois-Rivières, Québec – Louis-Philippe Dumoulin presented himself to the Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières with eagerness this weekend to participate in the seventh round of the FIA World Rallycross Championship in the Supercar category. Very few Canadians can say they’ve participated in an event of such international importance. Even though the driver of the #147 WeatherTech / Jean Coutu Trois-Rivières Métropolitain-Nicolet car was left wanting more on the performance side of things, the Trois-Rivières native had a lot of fun on the track, and would be happy to take the wheel of these powerful cars again next year.

Through the practice session on Wednesday (August 5), the team had noticed a loss in power caused by misfiring of the #147 WeatherTech / Jean Coutu Trois-Rivières Métropolitain-Nicolet’s engine. Adjustments have been made, and the JRM Racing team even replaced the engine overnight between Friday and Saturday. The teammates at JRM Racing have worked hard to try to compensate for the mechanical issue of the WeatherTech/ Jean Coutu Trois-Rivières Métropolitain-Nicolet car, and to allow Louis-Philippe Dumoulin to improve his times on track. However, the problem only seemed to be fixed during the fourth qualifying round, which was too late for the Trois-Rivières native to qualify for the semifinals.

“I didn’t have the opportunity to test the WeatherTech/ Jean Coutu Trois-Rivières Métropolitain-Nicolet car as I wanted (only three laps per session instead of 10), and because of the mechanical issue, I was not able to use the turbo or the anti-lag. However, I really had a lot of fun on the track, I quickly adapted to the mixed circuit, and with the right equipment, in competitive circumstances, I would be able to fight among the leaders,” shares the 2014 champion of the NASCAR Canadian Tire series.

A positive overview

Overall, Louis-Philippe Dumoulin’s first rallycross experience was a positive one, and the 36-year-old racer adds this type of racing to his already well fleshed resume. Partners, family, friends, and fans were present to support their favorite who was racing at the wheel of the Mini RX Supercar WeatherTech/ Jean Coutu Trois-Rivières Métropolitain-Nicolet, and Louis-Philippe Dumoulin is convinced that this series deserves to be known, notably for the professionalism and dedication of the organization, as well as the great spectacle on the track.

“When the cars arrive in turn #1, it must be quite a show!” claims Louis-Philippe. “I didn’t know what to expect, and even if the car wasn’t at its full potential, I was able to score some interesting times in the circumstances, and I could fight in the last qualifying session. I would like the opportunity to participate in another rallycross challenge, whether in Trois-Rivières or elsewhere around the world. It’s a very technical style of racing, and you have to change your path constantly, as well as adapt to the track which is always changing.

I have much appreciation for our partners WeatherTech and Jean Coutu Trois-Rivières Métropolitain-Nicolet who have allowed me to live this unique experience this weekend.”

NASCAR Canadian Tire series: Ninth event

Louis-Philippe Dumoulin and the whole #47 WeatherTech Canada / Groupe Bellemare team are preparing for the next race in the NASCAR Canadian Tire series, which will occur on the oval track of the Riverside International Speedway (Riverside 300 – Antigonish, Nova Scotia) this upcoming August 15.

WeatherTech Canada designs, develops and produces high quality, digitally custom fit automotive accessories; including FloorLiners, All-Weather Floor Mats, Cargo Liners, TechLiners and No-Drill Mudflaps. All products are made in the USA on North American machinery and are sold to both end user consumers as well as car manufacturers. Engineers use the newest technology available to measure the geometric complexity of the vehicle ensuring a constantly perfect fit. WeatherTech… Where Technology and All Weather Protection meet! Meet LP Dumoulin on www.weatherTech.ca.

Group Bellemare. Competitive and dynamic, Thomas Bellemare's innovative and growing family team is ready to take on any challenge. With support from senior members and a qualified team of managers, the third-generation Bellemares are reaching new heights. Built upon a solid past, the company moves forward with an exceptional team of experts and seeks a select group of clients. Our clients continue to benefit from our wide variety of services that target a large number of sectors. As a result, our visibility is constantly on the rise. Working with the Bellemare team has become a measure of success. Start off right by choosing a winning team! www.groupebellemare.com.

JRM Racing: James Rumsey Motorsport (JRM) was established in 2008, with the vision of becoming a leading motorsport preparation company. JRM has an impressive record in international motorsport, preparing machines that have won championship titles in both sportscar racing and rallying. JRM has an official association with Subaru Tecnica International (STI) to build NR4-spec international rally cars. It is also the official customer racing partner for Nissan Motorsport International’s GT3 programme. JRM currently employs a team of 60 skilled motorsport professionals at its state-of-the-art headquarters in Daventry, Northamptonshire, England. As well as its racing and rallying departments, JRM also has an advanced engineering business unit, meaning all of the company’s engineering requirements are dealt with in-house. JRM’s engineering services are also available to external customers. www.jrm-group.com