THREE-RIVERS | Alex Guénette won the first victory of his career in the NASCAR Pinty’s Series after a crazy race in the streets of Trois-Rivières yesterday.
• Read also: Trois-Rivières Grand Prix: Gougeon wins the Chevrolet Urban Challenge
Occupying fourth place less than three laps from the finish, the driver from Terrebonne was able to take advantage of an accident involving the three leaders of the event, who were fighting for first place, to sneak past.
Before starting the penultimate corner of the circuit, Jean-François Dumoulin, who was leading the peloton, collided with Marc-Antoine Camirand, and this scramble also caused the loss of Louis-Philippe Dumoulin.
For the Dumoulin brothers, this chaotic end of the race probably cost them a place on the podium and, perhaps, this victory so hoped for by Jean-François, the eldest, who had shown himself to be in particularly good shape for his first and only participation of the 2022 season in the Canadian series.
Despite everything, Camirand was able to reach the finish in third place, while Ontarian DJ Kennington reached the second step of the podium.
No turn for Villeneuve
“It’s such a shame because my car was super efficient,” said Jean-François. But Marc-Antoine decided otherwise.
“He intentionally destabilized me to get me out, and then I went and hit my brother. »
This weekend promised to be particularly promising for the Dumoulin team which, in addition to the Dumoulin brothers, also had Jacques Villeneuve in its ranks for the GP3R.
But the journey of the 1997 F1 world champion ended before the start of the race was even given. While the pilots were doing their first formation lap, his car was immobilized on the track, victim of an electrical problem.
Photo courtesy, Paolo Pedicelli
Jean-François Dumoulin greets the public after his heartbreaking retirement a few laps from the finish at the GP3R.
When he returned to the pits, with the help of a tow truck, mechanics attempted to restart his engine, but to no avail.
“It’s very unfortunate for the team,” said Louis-Philippe Dumoulin. We deserved to win. For my part, I firmly believe that I had the fastest car on the grid.
“Clearly, he added, there are pilots in this series with whom we can fight properly without them going crazy under their helmet, but others not. »
It’s another blow for Dumoulin whose chances of claiming a fourth NASCAR Pinty’s Series title are seriously compromised with only four stages to go.
A fierce rivalry
For his part, Camirand, pointed out, defended himself from having ruined the course of his two rivals.
“Jean-François did not hold his interior line, he claimed. If he does, we don’t touch each other.
“But, on the contrary, he… snapped the wall and went to hit Louis-Philippe without lifting his foot. »
Camirand is not surprised to have been the target of criticism from the Dumoulins.
“It will surely escalate our rivalry a little more,” he said. We come from the same region and we have been competing on the race tracks for a long time. It’s normal…
“But I don’t know why they are targeting me today, especially since I let Jean-François pass when I saw that he was attacking.
“Me, I think championship while Trois-Rivières represents his only race of the year. I knew it and on my side, I had to defend precious points. »
A bird winner
Guénette was obviously on the birds.
Photo courtesy, Paolo Pedicelli
Alex Guenette
“The GP3R is the race that all drivers want to win. Here it is here that I won my first victory in a place where it is certainly not easy to win, especially against experienced and very talented drivers. »
Alexandre Tagliani (4th), Louis-Philippe Montour (7th) and Ray Courtemanche Junior (9th) are the other Quebecers to see their names appear in the Top 10.
All the other representatives of the Belle Province were forced to abandon.
Limoges leads the championship in the Nissan Sentra Cup
THREE-RIVERS | Unlike last year, Valérie Limoges did not win the GP3R, but she nevertheless leaves Trois-Rivières at the top of the Nissan Sentra Cup cumulative ranking, after the two events contested over the weekend.
“It wasn’t my best weekend, but I’m very happy to lead the championship for the first time in my Nissan Cup career,” she said.
The Candiac driver placed fourth in the first race on Saturday, before finishing 8th yesterday.
For his part, Kevin King, defending champion, won the second game of the weekend, ahead of Sylvain Ouellet, Éric Chaput, Nicolas Barrette and Simon Charbonneau.
Invited to compete in both races in Trois-Rivières, Freddie Hunt finished seventh.
Double for Isabelle
In the Micra category, Jean-Michel Isabelle won his second victory in two days. Fred Bernier (2nd) and Benoît Gagnon (3rd) accompanied him on the podium.
The next two stops in this series will take place at the Ontario circuit in Mosport, Ontario, on September 3 and 4.