Calabogie (Ontario), June 23, 2014.- CTCC presented by Continental Tire held its third outing of the 2014 season this past weekend, at Calabogie Motorsports Park, west of Ottawa. Two new races were highlighted by the first series podium by a female driver, Nathalie Hénault, while victories were shared by Rémy Audette and Roger Ledoux in Super Class, as well as Michel Sallenbach and Jocelyn Hébert in Touring Class.
It was under perfect weather conditions and a summer sun that the two races took place on Saturday 21st and Sunday 22nd of June. During the first round, Rémy Audette, who has already claimed victory in the season opener with his Honda Civic Si, led from start to finish but was unable to shake the threat of Roger Ledoux, who has been more motivated that ever since his first victory two weeks ago at the Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve.
In the end, Audette walked away as Super Class winner with just over six seconds ahead of Ledoux while Nathalie Hénault (Subaru WRX STI) benefited from Nick Wittmer’s mechanical issues with his Honda Accord V6 to advance to third place on the podium. It was the first career podium for Roger Ledoux’s wife as well as a first for a female driver in CTCC.
In Touring Class, Michel Sallenbach was in control of the entire race in his Mini Cooper S. The domination was aided by mechanical problems that forced Jocelyn Hébert to end his race four laps shy of the finish. Novice driver Samuel Laquerre, Hébert’s teammate, and Karl Wittmer completed the podium. 2013 champion Damon Sharpe of Ontario was unable to start the race due to major electrical problems with his Honda.
The second race on the programme provided an excellent duel for victory between Rémy Audette and Roger Ledoux. The two favourites in Super Class were neck to neck for three quarters of the race with Audette leading at the beginning before Ledoux took over top spot to eventually cross the finish line for his second win of the season. This victory gives Ledoux the lead in the championship in Super Class. Rémy Audette crossed the finish line in second place, three seconds back.
Things went well again for Nathalie Hénault, as she was once again poised to benefit from Nick Wittmer’s mechanical problems, who held on to last spot of the podium while finishing the race with a small fire that even melted the soles of his racing shoes.
In Touring, Jocelyn Hébert took his revenge and won the race with less than two seconds over second place finisher Michel Sallenbach. In second place for much of the contest, mechanical issues forced Karl Wittmer to let Sallenbach pass him towards the end. He nonetheless finished in third spot, ahead of Lacouture and Laquerre.
The next event for the CTCC Presented by Continental Tire will take place on July 5th & 6th at Circuit ICAR, in Mirabel, Quebec. This will make the middle of the 2014 season.
(www.touringcar.ca)