2016-05-09

Valérie Chiasson in Porsche GT3 Cup Canada This Season !

                    

 

 

MOTORSPORTS PRESS RELEASE – FOR IMMEDIATE DISTRIBUTION 

 

 

 

Valérie Chiasson in Porsche GT3 Cup Canada This Season !

 

 

May 9, 2016.- As the top Canadian Touring Car novice driver at the Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve in 2014 and the first female driver to earn an overall podium at the Grand Prix du Canada in 2015, Valérie Chiasson will mark another "first" this year as the first woman to contest a full season in the Canadian Porsche GT3 Cup. This prestigious series consists of six event, including the Grand Prix du Canada in Montréal, the Toronto Indy and the Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières.

 

 

              

 

 

This past Monday, from Porsche Prestige dealership in Montreal, Valérie Chiasson unveiled her program of activities in the Ultra 94 Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Canada by Yokohama, sanctioned by IMSA. « Thanks to the collaboration of Porsche Prestige, Total Canada, Super Remover, Anibal Automotive Design and L.P.M., I am very proud to announce my participation in the full season of the Porsche GT3 Cup Canada » stated Valérie Chiasson. 

 

« The car, given by Porsche Prestige, is a 2014 GT3 Cup model and was prepared by Éric Côté's GT Racing Team, who have a lot of experience in the series and are known for the quality of their work. Naturally, I have to learn four of the six tracks that are on the calendar and have to get more experience at the wheel of the GT3 car so the job ahead of me is not an easy one but it's the type of challenge that really excites me. With our partners and sponsors, we have put together an ambitious and professional program, and are ready to start the season » added the Quebec driver, who was recently nominated as the Canadian representative on the FIA "Women in Motorsport" commission, which encourages female participation in motorsport.

 

Valérie Chiasson may not yet have had the opportunity for a proper test session in preparation for the 2016 season at the wheel of a Porsche GT3, but she is also not hesitant going into the first race, which will take place at the Canadian Motorsport Park, east of Toronto, this coming May 21st. « We have a lot of track time in the Porsche GT3 Cup Canada, which means I'll have a chance to familiarize myself with the track and the car during the test days leading up to the first weekend. I have, however, already practiced with the simulator the last days » she specified.

 

The top novice Canadian Touring Car driver at the Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve, winner of three 2014 races in Stohr WF1 prototype, and sixth (with one podium) in the Nissan Micra Cup last year, Valérie Chiasson will not exclusively be driving in the Porsche GT3 Cup Canada this year.  As she did in 2015, Valérie will contest the Nissan Micra Cup once again.  « To be successful in multiple series is not a problem; I've been training for several months to be in top physical shape and ready for an intense 2016 season. Intense but very promising ! » explained Valérie, who added : « with my sponsors and the technical team, I have a great recipe to do well in the Porsche GT3 Cup Canada. The goal for my inaugural season is to finish among the top ten in the championship » she concluded.

 

The first weekend on the Porsche GT3 Cup Canada calendar take places on May 21st and 22nd at the Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (Ontario).  This will then be followed by the Grand Prix du Canada on the Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve in Montréal on June 10, 11, and 12 and the third weekend will be held in the United States, at Watkins Glen (state of New York), from July 1st to 3rd. The races in Montreal and Watkins Glen will assemble drivers from Canadian and American series, which will no doubt mean starting grids of more than forty participants.  

 

The second half of the season is set to kick off in the streets of Toronto, as part of the Toronto Indy from July 15thto 17th before the popular Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières from August 12th to 14th. The 2016 season will conclude by returning to the Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, during the September 3rd and 4th NASCAR weekend. 

 

Valérie Chiasson's participation this season in the Ultra 94 Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Canada by Yokohama is organized in partnership with Porsche Prestige (principal partner), Total Canada, Super Remover, Anibal Automotive Design, L.P.M., VCE Auto Marketing and Pole-Position Magazine. Additional sponsors will be announced at a later date. 

 

 

                        

 

- 30 -


Pour lire le reste / Read more...

Valérie Chiasson en Coupe Porsche GT3 Canada cette saison !

                    

 

 

COMMUNIQUÉ SPORT AUTOMOBILE - POUR DIFFUSION IMMÉDIATE

 

 

 

Valérie Chiasson en Coupe Porsche GT3 Canada cette saison !

 

 

Le 9 mai 2016.- Première pilote recrue en série Touring Car au circuit Gilles-Villeneuve en 2014, première pilote féminine à décrocher un podium toutes-catégories au Grand Prix du Canada en 2015, Valérie Chiasson va réaliser une autre première cette année alors qu'elle sera la première femme pilote à disputer une saison complète dans la prestigieuse Coupe Porsche GT3 canadienne, qui présente six événements, dont le Grand Prix du Canada à Montréal, le Toronto Indy et le Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières.

 

 

              

 

 

C'est ce lundi, au concessionnaire Porsche Prestige à Montréal que le voile a été levé sur le programme des activités de Valérie Chiasson dans la série Ultra 94 Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Canada, présentée par Yokohama et sanctionnée par l'IMSA. « Grâce à la collaboration de Porsche Prestige, Total Canada, Super Décapant, Anibal Automotive Design et L.P.M., je suis extrêmement fière d'annoncer ma participation à l'ensemble de la saison en Coupe Porsche GT3 Canada » a indiqué Valérie Chiasson. 

 

« La voiture, offerte par Porsche Prestige, est un modèle GT3 Cup 2014 et elle sera préparée par l'équipe GT Racing d'Éric Côté, qui bénéficie d'une grande expérience dans la série et est reconnu pour la qualité de son travail. Évidemment, je vais devoir apprendre quatre des six circuits qui sont au calendrier et prendre de l'expérience aux commandes d'une voiture GT3, la tâche ne sera donc pas facile mais c'est le genre de défi qui me plaît beaucoup. Nous avons monté avec nos partenaires et commanditaires un programme ambitieux et professionnel, tout est en place pour débuter la saison » a ajouté la pilote québécoise, récemment nominée représentante canadienne de la Commission FIA "Women in Motorsport" qui encourage la participation féminine au sport automobile.

 

Si Valérie Chiasson n'a pas encore eu l'occasion d'effectuer de véritable session d'essais pour préparer la saison 2016 aux commandes de la Porsche GT3 Cup, elle ne craint pas le premier rendez-vous qui aura lieu au Canadian Motorsport Park, à l'est de Toronto, le 21 mai prochain. « On a beaucoup de temps de piste en Coupe Porsche GT3 Canada, j'aurai donc l'occasion de me familiariser avec le circuit et la voiture lors des journées tests avant le premier week-end. J'ai quand même déjà pratiqué sur simulateur les derniers jours » précise-t-elle.

 

Meilleure recrue en Touring Car canadien au circuit Gilles-Villeneuve et victorieuse de trois courses en prototype Stohr WF1 en 2014, sixième (un podium) de la Coupe Nissan Micra l'an dernier, Valérie Chiasson ne pilotera pas uniquement en Coupe Porsche GT3 Canada cette année, elle disputera comme en 2015 la Coupe Micra. « Évoluer dans plusieurs séries n'est pas un problème, je m'entraîne depuis plusieurs mois pour être prête physiquement à cette intense saison 2016. Intense mais très prometteuse ! » explique Valérie, qui ajoute : « je pense avoir avec les commanditaires et l'équipe technique un très bon ensemble pour bien faire en Coupe Porsche GT3 Canada. L'objectif est de finir parmi les dix premiers du championnat pour cette saison recrue » conclut-elle.

 

Le premier week-end de la saison de Coupe Porsche GT3 Canada aura lieu les 21 et 22 mai au Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (Ontario). Il sera suivi du Grand Prix du Canada sur le circuit Gilles-Villeneuve de Montréal les 10, 11 et 12 juin. Le troisième week-end aura lieu aux États-Unis, sur le circuit de Watkins Glen (état de New York), du 1er au 3 juillet. Les courses de Montréal et de Watkins Glen réuniront les pilotes de la série américaine et canadienne, ce qui devrait amener des grilles de départ dépassant les quarante participants. 

 

La seconde moitié de la saison débutera dans les rues de Toronto, dans le cadre du Toronto Indy du 15 au 17 juillet, avant le populaire Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières, du 12 au 14 août. La saison 2016 prendre fin par un retour au Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, lors du week-end NASCAR des 3 et 4 septembre

 

La participation de Valérie Chiasson cette saison en Coupe Porsche GT3 Canada est organisée en partenariat avec Porsche Prestige (partenaire principal), Total Canada, Super Décapant, Anibal Automotive Design, L.P.M., VCE Auto Marketing et Pole-Position Magazine. Des commanditaires supplémentaires seront annoncés plus tard.

 

 

                        

 

- 30 -

 


Pour lire le reste / Read more...

42nd Spring Green 116 Heads to Airborne Park Speedway

42nd Spring Green 116 Heads to Airborne Park Speedway

                                   Race began in 1974 at Catamount Stadium

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                      ACT-050916-27

 

Waterbury, VT – The American Canadian Tour (ACT) will travel to Airborne Park Speedway in Plattsburgh, NY for the annual Spring Green Championship Stock Car race this Saturday night, May 14. The race began at Catamount Stadium in Milton, VT back in 1974 with 74 laps, and each year has added a lap. Upon the closing of Catamount in 1987, the race was moved to SANAIR Super Speedway in Ste Pie, Quebec for the 1988 edition. Robbie Crouch won his only Spring Green at SANAIR. 1989 was the only year there was no Spring Green race run. Returning in 1990, the race was moved to Airborne Speedway, which holds a record for most Spring Green events, with a total of twenty-two (22). The only other location of the event was three events held at Devil's Bowl Speedway from its asphalt opening in 2012 thru 2014.

 

The Spring Green was an Open Competition for Late Models for the first 5 years when it was held at Catamount from 1974-1978. When the NASCAR North Tour was created in 1979, as the opening event of one of just a handful of touring series in the US and Canada at the time, the traditional season opener was the Spring Green at Catamount, until its closing in 1986.

 

A long history of first time winners has seen this become one of the marquee events on the different ACT tours over the years. Although many of the well-known stars of northern racing won the opener --- the Dragon brothers, Cabana, Dion, and Fadden among others-- what has made it most interesting is the number of "breakout winners" over the years.  Canadian Claude Leclerc won his first race at the 1990 edition. Local Plattsburgh favorite Robin Wood won back-to-back events in 2005 and 2006 in the Flying Tiger Division. Jacob McGrath won the event at Airborne in 2002. Todd Stone of Middlebury, VT and Chris Fisher from Shelburne, VT, also captured Spring Green victories during the many years Airborne Speedway Park hosted the event. Scott Payea from Milton won the race in 2009 and is a favorite to repeat at the 2016 edition with the RPM Performance team from Georgia, VT.

Recent ACT Champions Brian Hoar, Wayne Helliwell, Jr. and Joey Polewarczyk, Jr. have dominated the Spring Green for the past six seasons.

 

There have also been different divisions that competed in the Spring Green at multiple tracks. Southern type high horsepower Late Models dominated in the early days at both Catamount and Airborne. They were followed by the NASCAR North 6 cylinders six shooters. ACT Pro Stocks took over for many years with what most remember as the ACT Crouch-Hanley era in the early 90's. The current ACT Late Models took over the race with former ACT Champion Pete Fecteau winning the race at Airborne in 1996.  There was a two-year period when the famous Flying Tigers of Thunder Road and Airborne inherited the event; Robin Wood from Plattsburgh won both the Tiger Spring Green events in 2005 and 2006. The ACT Late Models have competed in the event for the past 18 of 20 years.

 

There have been thirty-one (31) different winners over the forty-two-year history of the Spring Green. With the first 2016 ACT events held at Oxford Plains Speedway and Lee USA providing wins to two new full time competitors of the ACT, all signs point to the possibility of another break out performance by one of a number of outstanding young stars that make up the competitive 2016 field.

 

The Spring Green 116 is this Saturday, May 14, with a starting time of 5:00pm for ACT qualifying heats. Tickets are $15 for adults and $3.00 for kids ages 6-12.

 

For additional information contact the ACT office at 802.244.6963media@acttour.com, or visit acttour.com orwww.airborneparkspeedway.com.

 

-30-                                   


Pour lire le reste / Read more...

UNE PREMIÈRE VICTOIRE POUR RAPHAËL LESSARD EN CAROLINE DU NORD!

RAPHAËL LESSARD

# 99 FRL Express/Team Coach Imaging /Toyota/JBLAudio

 

 

 

UNE PREMIÈRE VICTOIRE POUR RAPHAËL LESSARD EN CAROLINE DU NORD!

Raphaël Lessard vient une fois de plus de prouver son talent au Hickory Motor Speedway en CARS Super Late Model en signant sa première victoire à vie dans cette série.

 

HICKORY, Caroline du Nord, 7 mai 2016 -- Raphaël Lessard, 14 ans, vient tout juste de gagner sa première épreuve à vie lors du Hickory Soup Kitchen Race to End Hunger 250, en Caroline du Nord. Ça n'aura pas été une course gagnée d'avance pour le jeune de Saint-Joseph-de-Beauce, qui a dû attendre la mi-course avant de pouvoir s'attaquer aux meneurs AJ Frank et Christian Eckes. 

 

Après s'être élancé de la 9e position, Lessard a valsé entre la 10e, 9e, 8e et 7place, menant des batailles avec tous les pilotes du Top 10. C'est Steve Wallace, pilote de NASCAR Xfinity, Sprint Cup et Camping World Truck Series, qui a donné du fil à retordre au jeune Québécois. Après quelques bousculades en piste, Lessard, au volant de sa Toyota Camry #99 FRL Express/Team Coach Imaging/Toyota/JBLAudio de l'équipe David Gilliland Racing, a réussi à se dégager de Wallace. 

 

Lors de la 5e relance, Raphaël a eu un excellent départ, lui permettant ainsi de se distancer de Steve Wallace et de se rapprocher des meneurs, Frank et Eckes. À 25 tours de la fin, Lessard a rattrapé Christian Eckes, celui qui avait mené toute la course. C'est à ce moment que Raphaël a montré ce dont il était capable en dépassant et distançant la voiture #15 de Eckes. Même les commentateurs de la série ont dit quelques tours plus tard que c'était peine perdue pour Eckes, soulignant le talent du jeune Lessard et le complimentant tout au long de la course, l'appelant un "véritable prodigue". 

 

« Lors du départ, j'ai perdu des positions parce que l'auto tenait moins bien la piste, mais elle était bonne lors des relances. Au fil de la course, la voiture allait de mieux en mieux. Je me suis mis à gagner des positions, la voiture s'améliorant à tous les tours. Quand je suis arrivé derrière le meneur, je voyais que sa voiture se dégradait, et que la mienne allait très bien, alors je me suis dit, bon bien je pense que je vais passer! Gagner est un rêve devenu réalité, j'espérais qu'il n'y aille pas de drapeau jaune lorsque j'ai pris la première position, et il n'y en a pas eu, c'était parfait ! Je veux remercier toute l'équipe pour l'excellente Toyota Camry. Merci à FRL Express, Team Coach Imaging, Toyota, JBL Audio. Merci à mes parents et Robert Desrosiers. » dit Raphaël Lessard, plus excité que jamais. 

                                                                                                                                                                        

Avec cette première position, Raphaël reste bien évidemment à la tête du championnat. Ses objectifs pour la prochaine course : « faire un autre Top 5, gagner de la vitesse et ramener la voiture intacte », dit le jeune Lessard. 

 

La prochaine course de Raphaël dans la série CARS Tour aura lieu le samedi 21 mai prochain au Southern National Speedway à Kenly, Caroline du Nord.

 

Nous vous invitons à visiter la page Facebook de Raphaël pour plus de détails et information sur le déroulement de ses sorties en piste, ou sur son compte Twitter @raphael_lessard. Pour des photosde Raphaël Lessard en action ou des documents de référence, veuillez cliquer sur ce lien Dropbox.

 

- 30 -



Pour lire le reste / Read more...

Adam Turner Unveils a 2016 Paint Scheme to Honour His Fallen Brother

 

Adam Turner Unveils a 2016 Paint Scheme to Honour His Fallen Brother

By Jim Clarke, Clarke Motorsports Communications/First Draft Media

 

The motorsports community is a strong brotherhood, but nowhere near as close as the bond that exists between actual family. Picton, Ontario's Adam Turner – who celebrated his 33rd birthday in March – is a second generation stock car racer. His father Paul is a member of Brighton Speedway. The father of 2 finished 7th in last year's point standings, while adding 3 more victories to his career feature win list – including his first Go Nuclear Series checkered flag – in the Pro Late Model division. 

 

During the May long weekend of 2006, Turner lost a good friend when his brother Justin passed away. As the new season of action got underway at the local 3rd of a mile clay oval, the likeable racer debuted a new paint scheme for his Lazer chassis by Bernheisel Racecars machine that paid tribute to the final car his older sibling ever raced.

 

"I'd thought about doing a car with this design for quite a while. I just hadn't said anything to anyone," admitted Turner. "Even my parents didn't really know until just before opening night. It was a secret worth keeping and turned out to be a very special time for everyone associated with our race team."

 

Adam Turner says there is nothing that he'd like better than to be able to honour his brother's memory with a track championship. Some changes made to their program over the winter and a 6thplace finish in the first main event of the year could very well help the team achieve its goal. The Prince Edward County racer says he'd also like to follow selected events on this year's Go Nuclear Late Model Series, as his schedule and resources allow.

 

Friendly, personable, good natured and quick-witted, Turner – who along with wife Stephanie recently announced the upcoming arrival of their 3rd child, due around the 15th of November – is well liked by the other drivers in the pit area. For 2016, his #92 machine is sponsored by Paul Turner Auto Repair, Village Variety & Gas Bar, The Work Gear, Lewis Lacrosse, Rez Boys Custom Wheels, Tires & Accessories, Angie's Pooper Pumping Septic Service, Limestone Limousine and Mark's County Chips. Team media and public relations services are handled by Clarke Motorsports Communications. 

 

"When I first got started in the sport, I was told to go out there and have fun. I've tried to maintain that attitude throughout my career," said Turner, who has also driven a street stock as well as DIRTcar Small Block and Sportsman Modified machines over the years. "We'll have good nights and we'll have bad nights during the year. Its important to remember that this isn't Daytona or Indianapolis and as long as we're able to roll the car into the trailer at the end of the night, everyone is happy."

 

Fans can follow the team throughout the season by liking the Adam Turner Racing 92 page at www.facebook.com.

 

Photo attachment: Rod Henderson, www.canadianracer.com

 

Picton, Ontario's Adam Turner is paying tribute to the memory of his brother Justin with the 2016 paint scheme on his #92 Brighton Speedway Pro Late Model.

 

Prepared by: Jim Clarke, Clarke Motorsports Communications/First Draft Media



Pour lire le reste / Read more...