@nissancanada • @MicraCup • @GP3R • @Nissan • MISSISSAUGA, ON – The Nissan Micra Cup returns to the popular Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières on August 12, 13 and 14, giving spectators the chance to see the drivers in action as they compete in the eleventh and twelfth races of the season.
For the first time ever, fans from around the world will also be able to join the excitement as the races will be webcast live on FANSCHOICE.tv. Nissan’s involvement in the 2016 Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières extends above and beyond the two races. This year, on-site spectators will have the opportunity to participate in a number of Nissan-related activities both on and off the track.
When the event doors open on Friday, August 12, the public will be invited to take part in a number of exciting activities organized by Nissan Canada, one of the major partners of the event. Those who show a Nissan car key will gain free access to a VIP tent all weekend long. They will also have the opportunity to meet Nissan Micra Cup drivers, enter contests and experience many other surprises. The Nissan VIP tent will be located next to the Nissan Micra Cup paddock and the pool entrance (behind turn #1).
On the track, the 2017 Nissan GT-R will make its Canadian public debut as the official pace car of the event. It will lead the pack for each series being held at the Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières (excluding NASCAR), before the start of their respective races. In addition to its presence on the track, a GT-R show car will be on display next to the Nissan VIP tent.
After the initial formation lap behind the new GT-R, the Nissan Micra Cup drivers will be on the track for two races, one on both Saturday and Sunday, prior to the NASCAR races. Trois-Rivières is once again expected to play a key role in the battle for the championship title this year, just before the last two race weekends this September.
Current championship leader, Xavier Coupal, returns to Trois-Rivières two years after an accident that ended his journey with NASCAR. This bad memory has since been replaced by his successful participation in the Nissan Micra Cup, where he has once again found pleasure in motorsports with five victories in ten races thus far.
Coupal knows that things won’t come easy for him in Trois-Rivières. Olivier Bédard, the 2015 champion and winner of the two GP3R races last year, has his eyes set on defending the title. Albertan Stefan Rzadzinski and Quebeckers, Kevin King and Valérie Limoges, will also be hunting down victories, as the remaining drivers in the top five are within reach of the leader.
Among the approximately 30 drivers participating in the 2016 season of the Nissan Micra Cup, Trois-Rivières is where television hosts Tim Hauraney (TSN) and Gabriel Gélinas (TVA) will compete in the Nissan Canada media cars. Actor Jeff Boudreault will also compete in the Total Team’s race car (#220), in the Groupe Touchette’s second car. Richard Spénard and former open-wheel star Bertrand Godin will also take part. After competing in his first race of the series in June, Godin will be at the wheel of the United Auto Team’s third car (#27), a number that was held by the legendary Gilles Villeneuve and is sentimental to a lot of passionate motorsports fans, including Godin!
After participating in the city parade on Thursday, August 11, the Nissan Micra Cup drivers will step foot on the track a total of four times. The single practice session will take place on Friday from 3:15 p.m. to 3:45 p.m. On Saturday, the qualifying session will be held between 9:35 a.m. and 10:05 a.m., followed by the first race at 4:15 p.m. On Sunday, the 2017 Nissan GT-R will lead the pack for the start of the second race at 11:15 a.m. After this event, the public will be invited to the front of the Nissan VIP tent for an autograph session with the Nissan Micra Cup drivers.
Real time race information and updates will be available on the series’ Twitter account: @micracup. In addition, the Trois-Rivières races will be webcast live on FANSCHOICE.tv. Details will be announced on the Facebook page: Coupe Nissan Micra Cup.
Nissan Micra Cup 2016 Season Calendar :
May 13 – 15 Calabogie Motorsports Park, Ontario
May 27 – 29 Spring Classic, Circuit Mont-Tremblant, Québec
June 19 Autodrome St-Eustache, Québec
July 8 – 10 IMSA Weekend, Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, Ontario
July 22 – 24 Summer Classic, Circuit Mont-Tremblant, Québec
August 12 – 14 Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières, Québec
September 2 – 4 NASCAR Weekend, Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, Ontario
September 23 – 25 Fall Classic, Circuit Mont-Tremblant, Québec
About the Nissan Micra Cup: Sanctioned by Auto Sport Québec (ASQ) and presented by JD Promotion & Compétition with the support of Nissan Canada, the 2016 Nissan Micra Cup exclusively features the stock Micra 1.6 S M/T model with minor modifications, including NISMO suspension – to render it race-ready.
Unlike most motorsport events, each competing Nissan Micra race vehicle has the exact same specifications, resulting in a competition that truly reveals the most skilled drivers. The Nissan Micra Cup race vehicles were equipped with the Nissan Micra’s stock 1.6-litre DOHC 4-cylinder engine with dual fuel injection and Twin CVTC (Continuously Variable Timing Control) and stock 5-speed manual transmission. In its inaugural season last year, more than 25 Nissan Micras competed on each race weekend which included two hours of track time consisting of: a 30-minute trial, a 30-minute qualifying session and two 30-minute races.
Young karting drivers, the average Canadian looking for an entry point into motorsport competition, or anyone who wants to experience the rush of adrenaline inherent with racing cars are all well-suited to this series. In summary, the Nissan Micra Cup is for people who are passionate about motorsports, want to experience all the fun and thrills of racing, but without spending staggering amounts of money. www.nissan.ca/micracup.
About Nissan North America: In North America, Nissan’s operations include automotive styling, engineering, consumer and corporate financing, sales and marketing, distribution and manufacturing. Nissan is dedicated to improving the environment under the Nissan Green Program and has been recognized annually by the U.S Environmental Protection Agency as an ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year since 2010. More information on Nissan in North America and the complete line of Nissan and Infiniti vehicles can be found online at www.NissanUSA.com and www.InfinitiUSA.com, or visit the U.S. media sites NissanNews.com and InfinitiNews.com.
About Nissan Motor Co.: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., Japan’s second-largest automotive company, is headquartered in Yokohama, Japan, and is part of the Renault-Nissan Alliance. Operating with more than 247,500 employees globally, Nissan sold 5.32 million vehicles and generated revenue of 11.38 trillion yen (USD 103.6 billion) in fiscal year 2014. Nissan delivers a comprehensive range of more than 60 models under the Nissan, Infiniti and Datsun brands. Nissan leads the world in zero-emission mobility, dominated by sales of the LEAF, the first mass-market, pure-electric vehicle. It is the best-selling EV in history with almost 50% share of the zero-emission vehicle segment. For more information on our products, services and commitment to sustainable mobility, visit our website athttp://www.nissan-global.com/EN/.
About Nissan Canada Inc.: Nissan Canada Inc. (NCI) is the Canadian sales, marketing and distribution subsidiary of Nissan Motor Limited and Nissan North America, Inc. NCI directly employs 306 full-time staff across offices in Vancouver (BC), Mississauga (ON), and Kirkland (QC). There are 191 independent Nissan dealerships, 39 Infiniti retailers and 45 Nissan Commercial Vehicle dealers across Canada. A pioneer in zero emission mobility, Nissan made history with the introduction of the Nissan LEAF, the first affordable, mass-market, pure-electric vehicle and winner of numerous international accolades including the prestigious 2011 European Car of the Year and World Car of the Year awards. More information about Nissan in Canada and the complete line of Nissan and Infiniti vehicles can be found online at www.nissan.ca and www.infiniti.ca.
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