@ExclAutosport • Exclusive Autosport returned to the Formula Tour 1600 Championship at the weekend, July 4-5 at Circuit ICAR, and duly swept the double-header event courtesy of an outstanding rookie performance from Alberta’s Parker Thompson.
The 17-year-old Canadian recorded his first ever Formula car victories piloting the No. 92 Exclusive Autosport / Spectrum / Honda HPD entry around the former Mirabel International Airport for Michael Duncalfe’s Exclusive Autosport – winners of the 2013 and 2014 Formula Tour 1600 Championship titles.
Thompson, a regular in the USF2000 Championship in the United States, quickly dialed himself in at the Quebec track working well with the team’s veteran engineer, Remi Lanteigne.
Parker’s pace was on the money as he qualified second for his first start in the F1600 category. His performance in race 1 made the most of that pace as he took command of the 13-lap event. The Albertan racer claimed his first race car victory over Michel Bonnet and Didier Schraenen.
He doubled up his results for the second race, again starting second on the grid at the former airfield. Race 2 played out the same as the first had for the hard charging teenager. Reveling in his first F1600 weekend, Thompson steered his way to a second straight victory leading home Bonnet again in second and Jean-Philippe Jodoin in third.
“It couldn’t really have gone any better for me this weekend,” stated an enthusiastic Thompson. “It was my first time racing in F1600 and first time competing at ICAR. I really headed into the weekend looking to learn as much as I could. I accomplished that and then some with Exclusive Autosport. We all gelled together really well and quickly. The team gave me an awesome car and I loved racing it. The hard work paid off for all of us with two wins.”
“I was very excited to have Parker racing with us,” stated Exclusive Autosport Team Principal Michael Duncalfe. “We first met a few years ago at the Saskatoon Grand Prix karting event and I’ve been tracking his progress ever since I was thrilled we finally had things aligned so we could work together. I’m delighted that he was able to achieve his first ever car wins with our team.
“He arrived into what’s a tight championship and he delivered. He worked really well with our whole operation and it’s fantastic that again, a driver can compete with us for the first time and go out and win races. We strive hard to be the best at what we do and it’s great to see the payoff across the board.”
From: Stuart Morrison Public Relations
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