Montréal, August 22nd, 2008 – TwoFast Racing had a rough ride the 15th, 16th and 17th of August, at the Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières, during the sixth round of the Castrol Canadian Touring Car Championship.
Off with a great start during the trials and the qualifications, and a lap tour as quick as 1:17.736, the pilot Christian Raymond and his Mazda # 04, were expected to perform very well at the event. For the first time this season, Raymond won the pole and it’s from that most desirable first position that he took the departure of the Saturday race, in front of an enthusiastic crowd and under a burning sun. In the leading position for a couple of laps, Raymond was third when a yellow flag was raised, while a car had to be towed from the racetrack. When the race started again, Raymond lost another position, down to the fourth rank. “The first three drivers were trying to pass the Depailler turn simultaneously, so I slowed down a little to gain some room so that I could take the turn as fast as possible and surprise them at the Ryan turn’s braking”, explains Raymond. However, the pilot driving the inside car, Stéphane Trahan, had just decided to go back to the pit and the contact between the two cars was unavoidable. Sliding through the raceway, Raymond was trying to dodge through the traffic, but it was impossible for the vehicle in the fifth position, driven by John Lockhart from the SAAB Canada team and coming from behind, to avoid the contact. Raymond’s car went crashing onto the wall, and both pilots had to abandon the race. « I want to say, once again, to the SAAB team how sorry I am for that accident that stopped them from finishing the event. After watching the event video, I must admit that it was a little reckless from my part, as the leader of the championship; I should have waited for a turn with more clearance to try such a manoeuvre and to avoid such consequences”, says Raymond. “Obviously, it was also disappointing for our team : on the one hand, I knew after the crash that I was not leading the Championship anymore; and on the other hand, the car was such a wreck that getting back on the raceway the next morning seemed impossible to everyone, but to our crew chief, Yves Bédard », recalls Raymond.
Working all night long, until 6:45 am, the mechanics team showed its creativity : many parts had to be replaced and many more had to be home-made, but the car was back on the grid at 7:50 am. Refusing to withdraw, the pilot Raymond and his Mazda # 04 started the Sunday race far behind the leading pack. Regaining many positions up to the sixth place, Raymond’s car performance slowly deteriorated and it’s finally in the tenth spot that he crossed the finish line. « I am happy I was able to complete the event, the team had worked so hard at this. They are real magicians, I don’t know how they managed to accomplish these miraculous repairs. Of course, I am really sad about my Championship score, but there are two events left : anything can happen… », says Raymond.
For Éric Leblanc, pilot of the Mazda # 40, the week-end was more satisfying. Getting acquainted with the track during the trials and the qualifications, Leblanc was seventh for the Saturday race departure. More and more familiar with the subtleties of the racing circuit, Leblanc gained a few positions and avoided all pitfalls. Even if some problems with the clutch impaired his performance, he crossed the finish line ninth. « This season is a long series of deceptions and problems, so I was not even surprised to experience some mechanical problems. I was happy that I could complete the race, I felt I could push a little more and use the track to my advantage. I was really looking forward to participating to the Sunday race, with my Mazda in top shape, but I knew it would be a challenge for the team to repair the clutch since my partner’s car was in such a bad shape. The team would, once again, have to work all night long! », tells Leblanc.
In good form, Leblanc showed up at the departure Sunday with a repaired car. Recovering position after position, the driver had a wonderful race, using both his car’s advantages and his own driving abilities, especially in the turns. He crossed the finish line fourth, behind the Durabond team who occupied the first three places. « It feels so good... and this time I got no penalty to relegate me far behind the leaders! Calabogie and here in Trois-Rivières : that’s two event in a row where I come in fourth… », adds Leblanc.
TwoFast Racing will be on the Mosport Racetrack August 30-31 for the seventh event. They will have a thought for their friend André Cliche who will be, at the same time, climbing the Kilimandjaro.
Éric Leblanc and Christian Raymond want to mention the extraordinary work done by their mechanics : Yves “Gino Mécano” Bédard, chief mechanic, as well as Alexandre Boiteau, Benoît Brazeau, Dominique Brazeau and Mathieu Ouellette. They are very grateful for the support they receive from friends and family members, as well as from their driver, François Ouellette, and their precious sponsors, the Québec Mazda Dealers Association, Rythme Urbain, Rack’N’Roll, Lettrage ProVan, International AllStars and Mazdaspeed.
Visit TwoFast Racing at http://www.twofast.ca/.
Information on the Championship is available at http://www.touringcar.ca/.
Contact : Véronick Raymond Communications – vraymond@sympatico.ca – 514-269-7698
Off with a great start during the trials and the qualifications, and a lap tour as quick as 1:17.736, the pilot Christian Raymond and his Mazda # 04, were expected to perform very well at the event. For the first time this season, Raymond won the pole and it’s from that most desirable first position that he took the departure of the Saturday race, in front of an enthusiastic crowd and under a burning sun. In the leading position for a couple of laps, Raymond was third when a yellow flag was raised, while a car had to be towed from the racetrack. When the race started again, Raymond lost another position, down to the fourth rank. “The first three drivers were trying to pass the Depailler turn simultaneously, so I slowed down a little to gain some room so that I could take the turn as fast as possible and surprise them at the Ryan turn’s braking”, explains Raymond. However, the pilot driving the inside car, Stéphane Trahan, had just decided to go back to the pit and the contact between the two cars was unavoidable. Sliding through the raceway, Raymond was trying to dodge through the traffic, but it was impossible for the vehicle in the fifth position, driven by John Lockhart from the SAAB Canada team and coming from behind, to avoid the contact. Raymond’s car went crashing onto the wall, and both pilots had to abandon the race. « I want to say, once again, to the SAAB team how sorry I am for that accident that stopped them from finishing the event. After watching the event video, I must admit that it was a little reckless from my part, as the leader of the championship; I should have waited for a turn with more clearance to try such a manoeuvre and to avoid such consequences”, says Raymond. “Obviously, it was also disappointing for our team : on the one hand, I knew after the crash that I was not leading the Championship anymore; and on the other hand, the car was such a wreck that getting back on the raceway the next morning seemed impossible to everyone, but to our crew chief, Yves Bédard », recalls Raymond.
Working all night long, until 6:45 am, the mechanics team showed its creativity : many parts had to be replaced and many more had to be home-made, but the car was back on the grid at 7:50 am. Refusing to withdraw, the pilot Raymond and his Mazda # 04 started the Sunday race far behind the leading pack. Regaining many positions up to the sixth place, Raymond’s car performance slowly deteriorated and it’s finally in the tenth spot that he crossed the finish line. « I am happy I was able to complete the event, the team had worked so hard at this. They are real magicians, I don’t know how they managed to accomplish these miraculous repairs. Of course, I am really sad about my Championship score, but there are two events left : anything can happen… », says Raymond.
For Éric Leblanc, pilot of the Mazda # 40, the week-end was more satisfying. Getting acquainted with the track during the trials and the qualifications, Leblanc was seventh for the Saturday race departure. More and more familiar with the subtleties of the racing circuit, Leblanc gained a few positions and avoided all pitfalls. Even if some problems with the clutch impaired his performance, he crossed the finish line ninth. « This season is a long series of deceptions and problems, so I was not even surprised to experience some mechanical problems. I was happy that I could complete the race, I felt I could push a little more and use the track to my advantage. I was really looking forward to participating to the Sunday race, with my Mazda in top shape, but I knew it would be a challenge for the team to repair the clutch since my partner’s car was in such a bad shape. The team would, once again, have to work all night long! », tells Leblanc.
In good form, Leblanc showed up at the departure Sunday with a repaired car. Recovering position after position, the driver had a wonderful race, using both his car’s advantages and his own driving abilities, especially in the turns. He crossed the finish line fourth, behind the Durabond team who occupied the first three places. « It feels so good... and this time I got no penalty to relegate me far behind the leaders! Calabogie and here in Trois-Rivières : that’s two event in a row where I come in fourth… », adds Leblanc.
TwoFast Racing will be on the Mosport Racetrack August 30-31 for the seventh event. They will have a thought for their friend André Cliche who will be, at the same time, climbing the Kilimandjaro.
Éric Leblanc and Christian Raymond want to mention the extraordinary work done by their mechanics : Yves “Gino Mécano” Bédard, chief mechanic, as well as Alexandre Boiteau, Benoît Brazeau, Dominique Brazeau and Mathieu Ouellette. They are very grateful for the support they receive from friends and family members, as well as from their driver, François Ouellette, and their precious sponsors, the Québec Mazda Dealers Association, Rythme Urbain, Rack’N’Roll, Lettrage ProVan, International AllStars and Mazdaspeed.
Visit TwoFast Racing at http://www.twofast.ca/.
Information on the Championship is available at http://www.touringcar.ca/.
Contact : Véronick Raymond Communications – vraymond@sympatico.ca – 514-269-7698
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