Bertrand Godin at GP3R | Pleasure first

For one weekend, Bertrand Godin turned 18 again.

For the first time in five years, he sat behind the wheel of a racing car, during the Formula 1600 events of the Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières (GP3R), which took place last weekend.

As he sat aboard his number 77 single-seater, Godin immediately thought back to his early days. Sitting in his Mygale car, he thought back to his first career victory, at Nogaro in 1993, which he achieved at the controls of a Mygale racing car.

“I’m 18 years old and have 38 years of experience!” laughs the pilot from Saint-Hyacinthe, who is – as you may have guessed – 56 years old.

On several occasions during a generous interview with The PressMonday, Godin will repeat how “so happy” he is to have been able to find a steering wheel again and thus relive on the track this passion which has driven him for all these years.

And by reconnecting with F1600, Godin has the opportunity to rub shoulders with both veterans of the sport, such as Didier Schraenen, and young talents like Marc-Antoine Cardin. This mix of youth and experience is manifested by a frank camaraderie between the drivers, according to him.

“The brotherhood in this series is incredible,” he rejoices. “Everyone lends each other a hand. We’ll lend each other parts and we’re not stingy with advice. We share our experience. That’s what makes the sport beautiful.”

Winner of the GP3R in 2018 and 2019, Godin was forced, like all drivers, to put his vehicle away during the pandemic. In the absence of riding, he nevertheless continued to train, whether by getting up at dawn to go to the gym or aboard his racing simulator. Not knowing too much if, one day, he would have the chance to put on his helmet and suit once again.

Then, “the planets aligned,” says the driver. His chance finally came through the Britain West Motorsport team, who offered him a car and thus allowed him to take his place on the GP3R grid again.

“I am privileged. I have more memories than I have a future. At 18, when I started, I had my whole life ahead of me. You can’t imagine how quickly life goes by,” Godin emphasizes with emotion and philosophy.

Rain and problems

Last Friday, Godin took pole position at the end of a qualifying session held in heavy rain. Weather with which, unlike many of his colleagues in the world of motor racing, he feels perfectly comfortable.

“Many people say: oh no, it’s raining. I say: all right, it’s raining!” he says, laughing.

The conditions were so bad that GP3R organisers decided to cancel the event scheduled for later in the day due to water accumulation on the track. Godin had to wait until Saturday and Sunday’s races before officially starting.

Each time, he quickly took control of the race, while seeing his Ontario teammate Connor Clubine give him a fierce fight. But each time, Godin was the victim of technical failures that thwarted his plans and forced him to settle for second place. And each time, it was Clubine who beat him to the finish line.

Disappointed? Not in the least, he assures.

“Gilles Villeneuve’s best race was in Dijon in 1979. He finished second. However, we have trouble remembering who finished first,” recalls Godin. Many motorsport fans have indeed remembered the furious duel between Villeneuve and René Arnoux for second place in this Formula 1 Grand Prix.

For your general knowledge, know that it is the Frenchman Jean-Pierre Jabouille who won. But we digress…

“Our society places too much emphasis on results,” Godin continues. “We need to look more closely at how we are going to achieve these results.”

For him, all that mattered last weekend was to “enjoy the moment.” “You don’t do these races to become millionaires. You do it because you love the sport,” he insists.

And the least we can say is that Bertrand Godin savored his moment. And his love for his sport is not about to fade.