BOWMANVILLE, ON (September 28, 2013) – Race 1 of the CASC Celebration of Motorsports at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park was a wild affair, packed with lots of passing and the usual amount of drama. At the end of the day, Jesse Lazare of Pointe Claire, QC would triumph and take home the coveted Can-Am Cup.
Steve Bamford lead the field to the green. The lead pack of eight cars broke away from the rest of the field and staged an incredible display of back and forth drafting. Max Hanratty took control of the race on Lap 3 and managed to hang on to the top spot for the next eight laps, looking like he was poised to get his breakout win.
But, as can be expected when eight cars are nose to tail for eight laps, there is a high probability of something going wrong.
As the field entered Corner 5b, Michael Adams was on the tail of Hanratty and tried an ambitious move on the exit of the corner. He would spin to the inside of the track and started a chain reaction of spins and inevitable contact that took out Hanratty, Thomas McGregor and Steve Bamford.
That allowed newcomer Tristan DeGrand to assume the top spot for the next two laps with Robichon and Lazare in hot pursuit.
Robichon would make a slight mistake between Corners 9 and 10 and got his Piper sideways, locking up the brakes and into the side of DeGrand who had nowhere to go. DeGrand would have his day end in the Turn 10 tire barrier and Robichon managed to get his car turned around and continue to finish third.
Jack Mitchell, Jr. was the biggest benefactor from all of the mayhem as he would play it cool and bring his Spectrum home in second, ahead of Robichon. Jeff Kingsley, in his series debut had a brilliant drive to finish fourth and Marc Bishara rounds out the top five.
The B Class race was great if not as eventful. Series Champion Craig Willis started the race fourth after a quiet qualifying session, but worked methodically to get into second and eventually the win when Leader Adams was involved in the big incident in corner five.
Andrew Mason looked strong early but suffered a mechanical failure. That left the second podium spot to Graham Lobban. Michael Adams would get rolling after the Turn 5 accident and fight his way back to third at the final drop of the flag.
“That was a great race for me,” said a smiling victor winner Lazare. “I felt great in the car right from the start and managed to avoid all the craziness in Corner 5 and waited for the right moment to take the lead. I am so happy to win the CanAm Cup too because the trophy means so much to my team owner Brian Graham. I am really happy for him.”
Race 2 of the Celebration of Motorsports takes place tomorrow.
The Toyo Tires F1600 Championship Series is the premiere open wheel series in Ontario, sanctioned by CASC Ontario Region and proudly supported by Toyo Tires, MG Homes, Cove Dentistry, MK Technologies, Braidan Tires and Rod Ends Mechanical. The series is comprised of a seven event, double-header format and competes at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, Shannonville Motorsport Park and Calabogie Motorsport Park.
From: Move Motorsports
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