2023/07/03

Mississauga (Ontario) – For the first time since 2021, the Nissan Sentra Cup will return to the Complexe ICAR, located on the site of the former Montreal-Mirabel International Airport, this Sunday, July 9. This time, it will be for an exceptional and unprecedented event: the Nissan Grand Prix.

Two races of the Nissan Sentra Cup, the only series on the schedule, will be presented during this day in addition to free practice and qualifying sessions. Fans are invited to the event between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. free of charge with parking and paddock access included They will be able to watch both races from the grandstands and discover a multitude of Nissan models on the site, such as the all-new ARYA, the LEAF, both 100% electric propulsion cars, as well as Pathfinder, Rogue and the famous Nissan Z, one of the sporting symbols of the brand.

Fans will be able as well to book road tests, through on-site registration, and drive the ARYA, Armada, Kicks, LEAF, Pathfinder, Qashqai, Rogue and Sentra models. Between the Nissan Sentra Cup sessions fans will have the chance to win a lap with one of the series' professional drivers aboard the LEAF NISMO RC, the famous 100% electric prototype, or a Nissan Z. Fans can also get behind the wheel of a virtual Nissan Z, as Nissan Canada's racing simulator will once again be installed in the paddocks, giving everyone on site the chance to test their driving abilities.

Brand ambassador in Quebec, actress Karine Vanasse will also be present at this very first Nissan Grand Prix in the history of Canadian motorsport.

"I am happy and proud to see that, in its ninth season of presence on Canadian road tracks, the Nissan Sentra Cup and Nissan Canada are still innovating with an event like the Nissan Grand Prix which promises to be exceptional. For us, this is a very special opportunity to be able to interact more closely with our motorsports fans and our Nissan customers – who will be admitted to the site free of charge. Best of luck to the Series' drivers and a warm welcome to all the spectators," said Steve Milette, CEO of Nissan Canada.

Championship leader after two races competed, Nicolas Barrette hopes to take the opportunity to register his first victory of 2023. To do so, he will have to beat Simon Charbonneau and Alexandre Fortin, who have each won a race this season, or the defending champion Valérie Limoges. These four drivers are not the only contenders for victory, as the start of the season has shown that driving their racing Nissan Sentras, many drivers can hope to clinch top honors. We think here of Samuel Rowe, currently second in the overall standings, the young and promising (15 years old) Vincent Lalande, Daniel Fortin (Alexandre's father), Nicolas Miron, Sylvain Ouellet or the popular radio and TV host Benoît Gagnon, all among the Top 10 in the championship.

It will also be interesting to watch the progress of the second female driver registered, Marie-Soleil Labelle, who begins this season at the wheel of a Sentra after having spent the first seasons of the series in the Micra class. The 2022 Micra class defending champion Raphaël St-Pierre will try to beat the big favorite, Simon Vincent, for the first time this season.

The Nissan Sentra Cup drivers will be on the track from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. for 60 minutes of free practice. Qualifying 1 will be presented from 9:45am to 10:15am, followed by Race 1 at 11:20am for 40 minutes of action. In the afternoon, the second qualification will take place from 1:30 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. and race 2 from 3:30 p.m. to 4:10 p.m. Track sessions for the Nissan Z are scheduled for 10:30 a.m. and 2:15 p.m., those for the LEAF Nismo at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.

For more information on the Nissan Sentra Cup, visit sentracup.comOpens in a new tab. and the series' social media. To watch all the events of the 2022 season, visit the Nissan Sentra Cup YouTube pageOpens in a new tab..

SCHEDULE 2023 - NISSAN SENTRA CUP

May 26, 27, 28                     Spring Classic, Circuit Mont-Tremblant, Québec
July 9                                    Nissan Grand Prix, Complexe ICAR - Mirabel, Québec
August 4, 5, 6                       Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, Québec
August 26                              NASCAR Event, Complexe ICAR - Mirabel, Québec
September 1, 2, 3               Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, Bowmanville, Ontario
September 22, 23, 24         Fall Classic, Circuit Mont-Tremblant, Québec

To follow the Nissan Sentra Cup on social media:

Facebook: @CoupeSentraCupOpens in a new tab.
Instagram: @nissansentracupOpens in a new tab.
Twitter: @SentraCupOpens in a new tab.
YouTube: SentraCupTVOpens in a new tab.

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