Toronto (ON), June 2, 2014 – Montreal’s Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve is the site for Rounds three and four of the Canadian Touring Car Championship (CTCC) presented by Continental Tire on the June 6-8 weekend.
In previous CTCC appearances on this historical track, the technically challenging 4.36km track has proven to be a true test for the touring car entrants. The long straightaways strain the motors and transmissions of the cars to their limits, and the multiple tight corners, with their minimal room for error, combine to challenge both the car’s brakes and the driver’s skill.
Despite the many obstacles presented by the Île Notre-Dame facility, various teams and drivers have succeeded there, earning a well-deserved place in the CTCC record books. For the first time in CTCC history, four female drivers will be taking their places in the Super and Touring Class fields.
Nathalie Henault, wife of fellow Super Class driver Roger Ledoux, is a veteran of Québec regional racing, and in her CTCC debut at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, guided her #20 Quickseries Subaru to a fourth place overall finish. Joining Henault in the Super class battles will be Valerie Chiasson in the #26 Lombardi-prepared Honda. Although a CTCC rookie, Chiasson has years of karting and Toyota Cup experience to draw upon in her inaugural series appearance.
Touring Class will also be introducing two female drivers as Alain Lauziere, the Team Manager for Octane Motorsports has earned a reputation for spotting talent; this year, he has recruited two rookies for his Touring Class MINI Cooper racing effort. Added to the team’s multi-car lineup this season are Gormley, ON’s Samantha Tan (#45) and Marie-France Gagne (#49), wife of fellow Team Octane driver Eric Lacouture. Both drivers are coming away from the season opener with Top 10 results.
These four talented women will definitely add an extra dimension to the competition in this premiere racing series.
The annual Montréal appearance of the Canadian Touring Car Championship presented by Continental Tire is regarded as one of the season highlights, both for the audience and the participants. The results are always unpredictable, but the on-track action makes the wait for a winner to be declared, well worthwhile.
In addition to the defending class champions, Scott Nicol and Damon Sharpe, other potential front runners at the Montreal doubleheader will include the Audette brothers, Remy (winner in the season’s opening two races) and Mathieu, Roger Ledoux, aboard his #4 Subaru, the three-time CTCC champion Nick Wittmer plus a full complement of very talented drivers all hoping to beat the odds and climb the steps of the world famous podium.