Trois-Rivières, QC – For the first time in its history, the NASCAR Pinty’s Series presented two races on dirt this week, at Ohsweken Speedway in Ontario. Spectacular and powerful on the asphalt, the series’ cars are not really designed to compete on dirt tracks and both events provided a lot of challenges for the drivers. For three-time series champion Louis-Philippe Dumoulin, it was two very contrasting races, the problems encountered on Monday during the first race being erased by a remarkable comeback and a top-six on Wednesday, at the end of a spectacular race. The driver of car No. 47 WeatherTech Canada/Groupe Bellemare/Omnifab is now focusing on the next event, at Circuit ICAR.
“Those races at Ohsweken have been a long week! We arrived on the site on Sunday and did not leave until Thursday, while the second event originally scheduled for Tuesday night was postponed to late Wednesday evening due to rain,” said Louis-Philippe Dumoulin. “It’s special to drive there, especially since we had very little time in free practice before the qualifying heats. On Monday, the car was set too hard on the rear axle but I still managed to fight for the Top-10. Unfortunately, during the last restart, I was hit by another driver and I lost eight positions. I managed to come back to finish the race 16th.”
The situation changed on Wednesday for the second event, which was also the 150th of Dumoulin’s career in the NASCAR Pinty’s Series.
“After free practices I got help from famous car builder Mike McColl and, together with our entire crew, we worked very hard to change parts and a lot of settings,” said Dumoulin. “Everyone who works on car No. 47 WeatherTech Canada/Groupe Bellemare/Omnifab are really exceptional and the work, which began barely 80 minutes before the start of the race, has paid off.”
Although he qualified 16th, Dumoulin had to start last on the grid due to the work done in his team’s paddock.
“In the race, I was able to quickly appreciate the changes made and I started my progression towards the front positions,” he said. “I finally fought for the Top-6, which I reached at the finish. Fifth place was my goal but moving up from 24th to 6th in an event like that is really satisfying. It ends well this trip to Ohsweken which had started in a complicated way.”
Next event: August 26 at Circuit ICAR in Mirabel!
The next stage of the 2023 NASCAR Pinty’s season will take place in Quebec, on the 2.4 km road course at Circuit ICAR, in Mirabel. Surprisingly, a track on which Dumoulin has never won before. So, time has come for this first win on Saturday, August 26.
“I’ve always had good results at ICAR and I love this event,” said Dumoulin. “The complex is magnificent and we are always very well received there. For the fans, it’s also a beautiful site because you can see a good part of the track from the grandstands.”
Currently fourth in the championship standings, the driver is also confident of having a very competitive car.
“We have a good idea of our set-up for this track and I’m very confident for the race,” concluded Dumoulin. “I am hungry for a victory and ICAR is close to home. Family, friends, many of our sponsors will be present. I think we can get an excellent result there.”
- By PolePosition.ca/Service Presse
