2023/07/10

Mississauga – The Nissan Sentra Cup presented the very first Nissan Grand Prix this Sunday at the Complexe ICAR in Mirabel. Thousands of spectators came at the invitation of Nissan Canada and among the many activities offered, the two Nissan Sentra Cup races crowned Simon Charbonneau.

Free practice, qualifying and both races took place on Sunday only. The first qualifying session allowed Simon Charbonneau to take pole position, ahead of the championship leader Nicolas Barrette. The young rookie (15 years old) Vincent Lalande completed the Top 3, ahead of Samuel Rowe and Simon Vincent who, after several consecutive victories in the Micra class, started this Sunday at the wheel of a Sentra racecar.

Presented on perfect summer weather conditions and in front of packed grandstands, the first race offered spectacular battles on this track held on the site of the former Montréal-Mirabel international airport. Simon Charbonneau led from start to finish but a full course yellow after 30 of the 40 minutes of the race changed the situation. On the restart, Charbonneau, Rowe, Alexandre Fortin, defending champion Valérie Limoges and Barrette battled for victory. They finished in that order but Samuel Rowe was later excluded from the results for using unapproved tires.

Sixth on the track, Simon Vincent completes the Top 5 in the official standings, ahead of Mathieu Miron, Christian Thibault, Vincent Lalande, André Lapointe and Nicolas Lévesque, winner of the Micra class after overtaking Charles-Étienne Boucher, leader from the start, on the last lap.

The afternoon started with the qualifying session for the second race. Charbonneau again took pole position, this time ahead of Rowe, Barrette, Alexandre Fortin, Lalande and Limoges.

The second race concluded the activities of a day that gave a great and emotion filled spectacle for the drivers and the spectators. Simon Charbonneau again dominated the 40 minutes, en route to a perfect score this Sunday: two pole positions, two lap records and two victories. After several changes of position in the peloton, Alexandre Fortin finished second, ahead of Nicolas Barrette, Mathieu Miron, Simon Vincent, Christian Thibault, André Lapointe, Jean Audet and Daniel Fortin, who was in battle with his son for second place for a few laps before losing places. In Micra class, it’s another success for Nicolas Lévesque, in front of Charles-Étienne Boucher.

For spectators and fans of the brand, this Nissan Grand Prix was also the perfect opportunity to test drive the ARIYA, Armada, Kicks, LEAF, Pathfinder, Qashqai, Rogue and Sentra models. The luckiest people won a lap with one of the series' professional drivers aboard the LEAF NISMO RC, the famous 100% electric prototype, or a Nissan Z. Nissan brand ambassador for Quebec, actress Karine Vanasse was also on site.

“I congratulate all the participants of this first Nissan Grand Prix, which was a great success. The weather obviously helped us but this event was simply magnificent with two very spectacular races, a lot of fans in the grandstands, test drives by the hundreds and lots of interaction with our customers. We have managed to bring the experience of a free motorsport event to our fans and this really connects the brand with the Nissan Sentra Cup but also with our customers and the cars they drive," said Steve Milette, CEO of Nissan Canada.

In the Nissan Sentra Cup drivers' championship, after four races contested, Simon Charbonneau (195 points) took first place ahead of Nicolas Barrette (172), Alexandre Fortin (158) and Simon Vincent (112).

The next event of the season will take place on August 4, 5 and 6 at the ever-popular Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières. Two new races will be presented, to complete the first half of the 2023 season.

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.

- 30 -