Montréal (Québec), June 9, 2013.- The Lombardi Honda Racing Team and its driver Benjamin Distaulo won both Canadian Touring Car Championship (CTCC) races presented this weekend as part of the Grand Prix du Canada. Podiums also achieved by Jérimy Daniel and Benoît Gagnon solidify an outstanding weekend result for the Montréal team.
Qualifying in fourth spot for the first CTCC round of the weekend, Benjamin Distaulo took the lead position during the third lap, as the rain started falling. Ontarian Scott Nicol, also in a Honda Civic Si, fought the Lombardi Honda Racing driver at the front for the remainder of the race, exchanging the lead on several occasions and putting on a good show for the thousands of spectators in the stands. Two laps form the end, Distaulo secured the gap over his rival and went on to claim his very first overall victory in CTCC, as well as his first win at the Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve and at the Grand Prix du Canada.
In the B-Spec class, media host and driver Benoît Gagnon was representing the Lombardi Honda Racing team for the first time this season, at the wheel of the #20 Honda Fit. This marked the return to competition for Benoît and once again, the final result was more than convincing as he finished in second place after a very exciting race.
On Sunday, the sun finally returned in time for the second race.
Qualifying in second place this time, Benjamin Distaulo gave up one place at the first turn but quickly recovered, even passing Nicol to take top spot a few laps later. Benjamin built up a slight lead and was at ease through the traffic of other class drivers, whom the leaders were lapping. He eventually crossed the finish line 14 seconds ahead of Ontarian Block.
In the second Lombardi Honda Racing Honda Civic Si, Jérimy Daniel was also making waves. Bad luck on Saturday forced him to retire from the race immediately after the start due to electrical problems, resulting in a twenty-sixth starting place for Jérimy in the second round. On the tenth lap, he was among the top ten cars and by the mid-way point, he had made it to fifth spot. His amazing race ended on the podium as the novice driver finished in third place behind Distaulo and Block.
Also competing under the Lombardi Honda Racing colours, Michel Dulong finished eighth and Benoît Gagnon crossed the finish line as the B-Spec class’ fourth place. Rounding out the competition-clients division results were Ontarian Alex Healy’s fifth place finish on Saturday and Gary Kwok’s ninth place finish on Sunday, both using engines prepared by Lombardi Honda Racing.
“It’s an incredible ensemble of results,” indicated team owner Tony Lombardi, “This is a historic weekend for Lombardi Honda Racing. It’s the first time in 35 years that we have won at the Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve, and what a way to do it ! We’re home, in our own market, and have not had too much success at this track. Winning two races at the Grand Prix du Canada, it’s very intense and I’m so proud of the entire team. I obviously want to congratulate Benjamin but I also have to highlight Jérimy Daniel’s twenty-three-spot comeback on Sunday. It’s his first podium with us, just as it’s Benoît Gagnon’s first CTCC podium. In his return to competition, he did so well in the B-Spec class,” he concludes.
The 2013 Canadian Touring Car Championship (CTCC) is made up of fourteen races, over seven weekends : Canadian Tire Motorsports Park (Ontario) in May, Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve this weekend, the Circuit ICAR de Mirabel (July 6 & 7), the Circuit Mont-Tremblant (July 27 & 28), the Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières (August 9 & 10), returning to CMTP at the end of August (as part of the NASCAR Camping World) and finally to the Calabogie Motorsports Park, near Ottawa, on September 7 & 8.
All information on the Lombardi Honda dealership can be found at their website www.lombardihonda.com . For more information on the racing team, visit their Fracebook Lombardi Honda Racing page.
From: Lombardi Honda Racing- (514) 728-2222
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