Barrie, ON- CTMP hosted Rounds 7 & 8 of the Toyo Tires F1600 Championship the final weekend of July. The weekend got off to a great start for the BGR duo of championship leader Zacharie Robichon and returning driver Jesse Lazare with the pair heading the time charts all day during the Friday test day.
Things continued that way in qualifying with Lazare and Robichon locking down the front row for the afternoon race. With a dozen guests from Grote spending the day with the team, the timing was perfect for them to represent the proud supporters in the factory supported Piper DF5’s.
The race proved to be the usual thriller right up to the checkered flag wave. Capping off a perfect day for the team, Robichon took the win a few thousands of a second over Lazare for a wonderful One-Two finish for the elated team.
Sunday saw Lazare once again take pole and Robichon lining up third and the race looked once again to have all the markings of a real dog fight.
Right from the green flag it was Lazare leading with Robichon quickly jumping to second as the pair looked to repeat the Saturday victory but it was not to be for Robichon as a rare failure forced him to retire, marking his only DNF of the season.
Lazare held the top spot and was in a fierce fight with BGR’s rookie of the year from 2012, Jack Mitchell Jr. The two swapped the lead nearly every lap and entered the final two corners side by side with Lazare coming up just a few feet short to finish a fine second and rack up yet another podium.
Both drivers will be back in action for the Ted Powell Memorial- MCO event held at the beautiful Calabogie Motorsports Park August 23-25.
Robichon, piloting the Aqua Hydrate, Just a Drop Piper DF5/Honda and Lazare aboard his Door Doctor Piper DF5/Honda will be looking to bring home the win for BGR Team Grote. The Barrie, ON-based team has put no fewer than five different drivers in the winners circle at CTMP since the track joined the Toyo Tires F1600 Championship schedule.
“What a great job our drivers did over the three days as well as our whole crew. It was very nice to deliver our guests from Grote a completely perfect day with the One-Two in qualifying and then scoring the One-Two in the race as well,” said team owner Brian Graham.
He continued, “Jesse doubled up the poles and that makes six of eight so far this season for the Piper DF5/Honda. I was very proud of both of them and even with the bad luck on the Sunday, Zacharie kept the spirits high in the team and continues to lead the championship and the Rookie of the year along with it. We are very excited to go back to CMP and the MCO event as they always put on a great event and the venue is one of the best facilities in North America.”
BGR Team Grote has put more drivers in the winners circle than any other team in OFFC history and continues to strive to provide the perfect environment for karters to make the transition to the open wheel ranks. The winners of the past 7 consecutive years of Rookie of the Year will be looking to continue that tradition this season.
To learn more about the team visit www.briangrahamracing.com and follow us on facebook https://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/144083092268782/
From: Brian Graham/ BGR/ Team Grote
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