Toronto, June 10, 2013 – Drivers of the Canadian Touring Car Championship (CTCC) presented by Continental Tire have been anticipating their second appearance at the Grand Prix du Canada. The practise session took place under cold and slippery conditions and the drivers struggled, adapting to the track condition as it changed from corner to corner.
Qualifiyng also took place under rainy conditions.
After a perfect weekend at CTMP three weeks ago, Scott Nicol grabbed the pole, 0.211 faster than Rémy Audette, who scored second place followed by Nick Wittmer and his new Honda Accord Coupe in Super Class. Returning Touring champion, Damon Sharpe driving his Honda Civic Si qualified on pole and Michel Sallenbach just behind, leaving Jocelyn Hebert the third place. Karl Wittmer managed adapting to the track and got his hands on the pole in B-Spec Class.
Saturday afternoon, drivers attacked the track in hopes of earning a step on the podium.
All along, drivers had a hard time adapting to the ever changing weather conditions which led to multiple losses of control, but fortunately, no major accidents.
Benjamin Distaulo took the lead after three laps, but was soon overtaken by Scott Nicol, both driving Honda Civic Si’s. They exchanged positions a number of times before Distaulo finally stole the lead only two laps before the checkered flag.
They finished the race followed by Roger Ledoux in his Subaru WRX in Super Class.
In Touring Class, Michel Sallenbach landed first position followed by Jocelyn Hebert and Damon Sharpe.
Lombardi’s second podium of the day was nailed by Benoît Gagnon who got first place in B-Spec, Nick Wittmer trailed behind.
Early Sunday morning, competitors got on the track for the second race, the starting grid determined by Round 3’s lap times.
Distaulo had the lead all along, but was followed by Scott Nicol who blew his engine before the end of the race.
Distaulo had some trouble with a tire which had a flat spot,
“I felt my rear right wheel vibrating and I feared the tire could blowout. But I wanted the victory so much, I wouldn’t have stopped even with a flat tire”, he stated,laughing.
A young Nathan Blok, 19, climbed on the second step of the podium and Jérimy Daniel on the third. Jocelyn Hébert got the first position in Touring Class and so did Karl Wittmer in B-Spec.
After the F1 race on Sunday afternoon, a very sad incident lead to the death of a worker on the track, and members of the Canadian Touring Car Championship presented by Continental Tire offer our deepest sympathies to family and friends.
Round 5 and 6 of the 2013 CTCC calendar will be disputed at ICAR on July 6 and 7.
About CTCC: The Canadian Touring Car Championship (CTCC) presented by Continental Tire is the only truly Canadian professional road racing series and showcases race cars based on their stock street version in three different categories (Classes). The entry-level B-Spec Class is the category for sub-compact cars with stock engines and strictly controlled suspension modifications; Touring Class features cars with minimal engine modifications, while Super Class machines have powerful and heavily modified engines and advanced aerodynamics. All three classes compete at the same time on the track and challenge for supremacy in their class.
Experience the rush of touring car racing!
Information: Alexandra Paquin/ Communications Coordinator
Alexandra@touringcar.ca/ (819) 699-1203
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