MISSISSAUGA, Ont. – The opening event of the 2020 Nissan Micra Cup season took place this weekend at Circuit Mont-Tremblant located at the heart of the picturesque Laurentians. The event – the Summer Classic – was held behind closed doors in accordance with the government's current guidelines. The 22 competitors were delighted to be at the track for the first time this season. Kevin King won both races – a first for him in the series in an event held in Québec.
During the hot summer Saturday, Jesse Lazare of the PayPal / Motorsports In Action team took the pole position ahead of series' veterans Kevin King (LP Apparel/Nissan Gabriel) and Valérie Limoges (Total/H Grégoire Nissan). Éric Chaput, Taylor Near (Lazare's teammate) and youngster Charles Robin, one of the two SH Karting team drivers, completed the Top 6.
Later in the afternoon, the official safety car of the series – a Nissan Altima – led the field for the formation lap. Moments after the green light, the race quickly turned into an outstanding battle for victory between Lazare and King. The two cars raced like they were glued together, with King's Micra never falling more than three tenths of a second behind his rival's machine. The two leaders fought intensively during the 40-minute race. On the penultimate lap, King managed to surprise Lazare with a successful move. King slipped into the lead and drove to his first victory of the season.
Behind them, Valérie Limoges quickly secured a place on the podium, finishing third ahead of Taylor Near and Charles Robin. Sylvain Ouellet finished sixth and emerged the winner of a spectacular six-car battle. Ouellet also claimed victory in the Senior class. Éric Chaput, rookie Gavin Sanders, Frédéric Bernier and André Lapointe completed the Top 10.
Sunday's qualifying session for the second race was almost a copy of yesterday's session with Jesse Lazare on pole position ahead of King and Limoges. Two candidates for the rookie title of the year, Ontarians Gavin Sanders and Justin Di Benedetto qualified fourth and fifth with youngster Charles Robin behind them in sixth place.
There was a light drizzle when the field took off at the green light in the afternoon. King and Limoges immediately jumped into the lead with Lazare in third place. Around the mid-race point, the race was interrupted for several minutes following François-Xavier Lassus off-road moment, without any harm to the driver. The race was restarted with just two laps to go. Lazare did his best to pass King, without success. King took the chequered flag in first place, collecting his second win in two races.
Valérie Limoges finished third again, beating Taylor Near, rookie Gavin Sanders, Senior class winner Frédéric Bernier, Éric Chaput, André Lapointe, Sylvain Ouellet and Justin Di Benedetto.
Popular actor and comedian Michel Barrette, 63, was also back on track in the Nissan Micra Cup series during this Summer Classic. He was in competition with, among others, the youngest rookie ever seen in the series, Marie-Soleil Labelle, 16.
In the drivers' championship, Kevin King is of course first, ahead of Lazare, Limoges, Near and Sanders.
Spectators were unable to watch the races at the location this weekend. However, they had the chance to follow updates from the Nissan Micra Cup on social media with several video reports and news posted on the series' Facebook, Instagram and Twitter pages. The eight races of the 2020 Nissan Micra Cup season will also be broadcasted on Réseau Des Sports (RDS) this fall.
For more information about the Nissan Micra Cup, please visit the official web site of the series at www.micracup.comOpens in a new tab..
To follow the Nissan Micra Cup:
Facebook: Nissan Micra Cup
Instagram: @nissanmicracup
Twitter: @MicraCup
YouTube: MicraCupTV
For complete results of this weekend's races and point standings:
www.micracup.comOpens in a new tab.
2020 Nissan Micra Cup season schedule:
July 24-26: Summer Classic, Circuit Mont-Tremblant, Québec
August 28-30: Calabogie Motorsports Park, Ontario
September 11-13: To Be Announced
September 25-27: Fall Classic, Circuit Mont-Tremblant, Québec
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