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July 13, 2022
Oka, Quebec – It's finally the long-awaited moment of the season, the only USF2000 event on Canadian grounds! The streets of Toronto will host the penultimate event of 2022.
"I'm thrilled to be racing in my home country," said Thomas Nepveu, driver of the #10 Cromwell | Pétrole Bélanger | Home Hardware | Karting Excellence car prepared by DEForce Racing. "Many partners will be at the track this weekend; it will be a good opportunity to get together and showcase the local brands!"
It will also be a new track to discover since the series did not venture north of the border last year due to the pandemic. "I'm studying the videos from the previous years and reading the pre-event notes. It will be one of the season's most important track walks."
Indeed, before each event, drivers walk around the tracks with their race engineers to learn more about the layout. "I will have to take many notes and analyze the track before the first practice session."
Since this is an urban track, it is not possible to test before the event, and the limited track time can be a challenge. "Although the streets of Toronto are still unfamiliar, I did well on the streets of St. Petersburg when I claimed the pole position and led most of the laps in the race. I hope my experience in St. Pete will translate to this weekend."
The drivers will take on the streets of Toronto as equals, as no one knows the track, "that's where we'll be able to make a difference," said Thomas Nepveu.
"I can't wait to see the atmosphere around Exhibition Place. I've heard the fans are exceptional, which doesn't surprise me considering the support the spectators give the Canadian drivers." Thomas will be the only Canadian driver on track in the Road to Indy series.
About Honda Toronto Indy
Known as the Molson Indy Toronto, the event has been held on the streets of Toronto around Exhibition Place and Lakeshore Boulevard since 1986. The IndyCar had a one-year hiatus in 2008, but in 2009, the event was back on the calendar. The Honda Indy Toronto is the 3rd oldest race on the current schedule (tied with Mid-Ohio). Paul Tracy is the only Canadian driver to have won the event, first in 1993 and then in 2003.
The events and times are available live here: https://www.usf2000.com/results/live-timing
Weekend Schedule
July 15
Practice - 8 AM ET
Qualifying 1 - 12:35 AM ET
July 16
Qualifying 2 - 8 AM ET
Race 1 - 12 PM ET
July 17
Race 2 - 9:45 AM ET
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July 13, 2022
Mount Albert, Ontario – Gavin Sanders is back on Canadian soil for a very special event! The 19-year-old Mount Albert native will be on track for the first time at Toronto Indy in the highly competitive Sports Car Championship Canada (SCCC).
The one-off race has significant meaning for Gavin, who grew up watching the IndyCar series race around the streets of Toronto. “Racing in my hometown is something I have dreamt of for a long time,” said Sanders. “I am extremely grateful to Fat Bastard Burrito, Motomaster, Simoniz, Pro-Series OE+ and SportsCar Boutique, who are allowing me to showcase what I can do behind the wheel of a Mercedes-AMG GT4.”
Gavin Sanders has had a great deal of success this season in the United States, claiming 4 podiums. After an extensive shoot-out last year, he was able to stand out from the other drivers, thanks to his race craft, and won a seat with Conquest Racing in the SRO GT4 America series.
“I am excited to show my family and friends how far I’ve come and what I can do driving this unbelievably stellar car.”
The SCCC series, also known as ‘FEL’ in the motorsports industry, will be on track for two races: Race 1 at 4:30 pm Saturday afternoon and Race 2 at 12:35 pm Sunday. It will not be an easy event, as there will only be extremely limited testing because of the nature of this urban track. “I’ve tried preparing as best as possible by watching in-board videos. I have also been practicing on the simulator, but that’s as much as I can do.”
The track, which goes around the Exhibition Centre, is challenging because of its tight walls and blind corners. “It will be imperative to learn as much as we can in the only practice session we have, as qualifying is the most important session. If I qualify in a good spot, it is easier for me to keep out of trouble and push to the front.”
This weekend, it’s an all-Canadian effort as SportsCar Boutique, a premier one-stop-shop for car enthusiasts, is based in North Yolk, Toronto. “I think the guys at SportsCar Boutique are extremely professional and have a great work ethic. I look forward to working with them this coming weekend.”
Weekend Schedule
Friday, July 15, 2022
11:50 AM - 12:20 PM SCCC practice 1
Saturday, July 16, 2022
11:15 AM - 11:45 AM: Qualifying
4:30 PM - 5:10 PM: Race 1
Sunday, July 17, 2022
12:35 PM - 1:15 PM: Race 2
About Fat Bastard Burrito
When you eat at Fat Bastard Burrito, you`ll taste the long hours we put into perfecting our craft. We are obsessed with Burritos, and love what we do. We wanted to take the Toronto burrito scene to the next level, so we created our own unique flavours and toppings. Fat Bastard Burrito offers a broad menu exclusive to burritos, quesadillas and Tacos.
Our goal is to bring you the freshest and most exclusive flavours available anywhere on the planet. We have spent countless hours finding suppliers with the best products that meet our high standards. We use only federally inspected meats and our in house preparation combined with traditional cooking methods at the store level, make our products cleaner, fresher, healthier and taste better. We invite you to give us a try. We won’t disappoint.
About MOTOMASTER
For drivers who won’t compromise on the safety or performance of their vehicle, MOTOMASTER confidently offers Canadians a wide selection of proven quality products including auto parts, equipment, fluids, tires, and more. MOTOMASTER ensures that its products are independently tested and backed by industry-leading warranties so you can count on your vehicle when you it most. Since 1933, MOTOMASTER has been anticipating the needs of Canadian drivers working tirelessly to deliver quality that meets or exceeds what’s expected. MOTOMASTER automotive parts and products are exclusively available at Canadian Tire.
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July 7, 2022
Toronto, Ontario – “We are super excited to have racing legend Al Unser Jr. as our VIP guest at this year’s Honda Indy Toronto,” said Chris Bye, president of FEL Motorsports, the promoter of the Sports Car Championship Canada (SCCC) presented by Michelin race series which will be the featured support race that weekend.
“Little Al” or “Al Junior,” as he is affectionately called, will be among the guests at the FEL Motorsports Hospitality Suite throughout the race weekend July 15-17. Al Unser Jr. competed in Toronto’s very first Indy race known as the Molson Indy as part of the Champ Car World Series in 1986 and he won the Toronto race two years later in 1988 and again in 1990.
“It’s my pleasure to be with my friends at FEL Motorsports and to be back in Toronto, one of my favorite cities on the IndyCar circuit,” said Unser. “Toronto race fans are fortunate to have such a world-class racing event in their backyard.”
Chris Bye said, “It will be great to have Al Unser Jr. in town to see the Honda Indy Toronto festivities and to watch racing excitement on the streets of Toronto – the ‘roar by the shore.’ We’re pleased that Al Junior will be the honorary starter for our SCCC race at the Honda Indy Toronto, as he is definitely well acquainted with the green flag, having competed in a total of 427 races during his illustrious career.”
Al Unser Jr. followed in the footsteps of his father (Al Unser Sr.) and his uncle (Bobby Unser) to become a repeat champion at Indianapolis, winning the Indy 500 in 1992 and 1994. A rookie in 1983, he was the first person to compete against his own father in the same Indianapolis 500-mile race.
Little Al was the Can-Am Champion in 1982 at only 20 years of age. He ranked sixth or higher in Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART) points in 12 different seasons. Winner of the CART series in 1990 and 1994, he won 34 races from 1984 through 1995. Only Michael Andretti (his boyhood friend), who had 42, won more. Among his more remarkable achievements was winning the challenging Long Beach, California, road race no less than six times, including four years in succession, 1988 through 1991. He also won two times at the famed 24 Hours of Daytona. He retired from racing in 2007.
The Unsers are the most successful family in the history of the Indianapolis 500 with a total of nine victories. Father Al Unser Sr. won the Indy 500 four times, uncle Bobby Unser won three times and the most recent two Indy 500 victories were won by Al Unser Jr. The Unsers are the only family to have multiple generations of Indy 500 winners.
Al Unser Jr’s first Indianapolis win was the closest finish in Indy 500 history. The 1992 race was among the coldest ever at Indianapolis and many of the favored drivers crashed out in the slippery conditions. Unser’s longtime rival Michael Andretti dominated the race until his car coasted to a stop with 10 laps to go.
That left Unser in the lead, but he was being caught by Toronto native Scott Goodyear who had started the race at the very back of the 33 cars. Although Goodyear had a faster car, he fell short in his run to the finish line, with Unser crossing the finish line by just 0.043 second.
“We are honoured to have the legendary Al Unser Jr. join us as our special guest at the Honda Indy Toronto, a premier racing event that was unfortunately cancelled the past two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Bye.
Sports Car Championship Canada (SCCC) is a series of races open to GT4 and TCR sports cars. The series, now in its second year, is a Canadian national championship. SCCC is organized by FEL Motorsports which is involved in revitalizing and reinvesting in motorsports in Canada.
Launched last year, the SCCC race series saw some of the best sports car teams and drivers in Canada competing for prizes and money.
For further information on FEL Motorsports, visit www.felmotorsports.com
About FEL Motorsports
FEL Motorsports grew out of a strong base of automotive roots from FEL Automotive Learning and Promotion. FEL Motorsports is focused on growth and sustainability in the Canadian Motorsports landscape by giving back to its teams through prizing and prize money.
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July 7, 2022
Mississauga, Ontario – Accustomed to seeing drivers of different nationalities join the Canadians who compete for the entire championship season after season, the Nissan Sentra Cup will have the pleasure of welcoming a British driver with a legendary name during the seventh and eighth races of the 2022 season, during the 52nd edition of the Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières, from August 5 to 7.
Freddie Hunt, son of 1976 Formula 1 world champion James Hunt, will be on track with one of the Nissan Sentra Cup racecars for the two races of the program. At the wheel of his #96 Nissan Sentra, he will compete with regular series drivers such as Valérie Limoges, winner of one of the two GP3R races last year, Simon Charbonneau (championship leader after 4 races competed), the defending Series champion Kevin King and the thirty other drivers expected for the event.
The number 96 is more symbolic since it is the number worn by James Hunt during his only participation in the Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières in 1976. In the middle of the battle with Niki Lauda for the world title of Formula 1, James Hunt came to compete in the GP3R and finished third in the Formula Atlantic race, behind Gilles Villeneuve and Australian Alan Jones, another future F1 world champion (1980). Hunt was driving, like Villeneuve, a March entered by Écurie Canada.
Back in Great Britain, James Hunt had praised Villeneuve's driving qualities to the executives of his team, McLaren, who would make the Quebec driver's debut in Formula 1 less than a year later. James Hunt was world champion in 1976 with McLaren, beating Lauda at the end of a memorable Japanese Grand Prix. The rivalry between Hunt and Lauda also served as the backdrop for the movie Rush, in 2013.
James Hunt contested 92 F1 Grands Prix (10 wins, 14 pole positions) and was active in the series between 1973 and 1979. Freddie was only 5 years old when his father died of a heart attack on 15 June 1993, at only 45 years old. Even though he never saw his father drive in Formula 1, Freddie Hunt nevertheless wanted to pursue a motorsport career too.
At the international level, however, it was not in Formula 1. Freddie Hunt has been a spokesperson for Formula E, the World Championship for electric-powered open wheel cars, when the series was created 8 years ago, in which Nissan now has a team competing in the series. He then competed in the F1600, the Renault Clio Cup championships in Great Britain and ADAC Formel Masters in Germany, then European NASCAR and Endurance. This season, Freddie Hunt, now 35 (born June 28, 1987), is competing in the Le Mans Cup championship with a LMP3 prototype (Ligier chassis and Nissan engine) entered by Reiter Engineering team.
The Le Mans Cup is a support series for the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) and Freddie Hunt finished on the podium (second place) last June, on the 24 Hours of Le Mans racetrack. To date, he has competed in over 100 national and international races.
A special program, surrounding its participation in the Nissan Sentra Cup at the Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières, will also be broadcast on the RDS network and will complete the series of TV shows dedicated to the events of the 2022 season of the Nissan Sentra Cup.
To follow the Nissan Sentra Cup on social media:
Facebook: @CoupeSentraCup
Instagram: @nissansentracup
Twitter: @SentraCup
YouTube: SentraCupTV
2022 SCHEDULE - NISSAN SENTRA CUP
May 20-22 Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, Bowmanville, Ontario
June 17-19 Formula 1 Grand Prix du Canada, Montréal, Québec
July 22-24 Summer Classic, Circuit Mont-Tremblant, Québec
August 5-7 Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, Québec
September 2-4 Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, Bowmanville, Ontario
September 23-25 Fall Classic, Circuit Mont-Tremblant, Québec
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July 3, 2022
Bowmanville, Ontario – Coming off their first IMSA victory of 2022 just one week ago, Robert Wickens and Mark Wilkins raced from last to first Saturday, and led the Bryan Herta Autosport (BHA) podium sweep at the Canadian Tire Motorsports Park (CTMP), round six of the 2022 IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge. BHA teammates Taylor Hagler and Michael Lewis finished second and Parker Chase and Harry Gottsacker finished third, a dominating performance by the squad of Hyundai Elantra N TCR teams.
Mark Wilkins, Engineer John Ward and the #33 team developed the race winning set-up and completed both practice sessions short one significant team member on Friday, co-driver Robert Wickens. Wickens missed both practice sessions and qualifying on Friday, and as a result, the #33 would start from the 15th and final position on the grid. Wickens missed the sessions, with good reason.
On Thursday, just prior to arriving at CTMP, for the race weekend, Wickens receieved a call from his wife Karli, to let him know the delivery of their baby would be imminent. He turned around and drove 555 miles to return to their home in Indianapolis for the birth of their child. His journey was successful, Robert and Karli welcomed their first child, Wesley Joseph Wickens Friday afternoon.
By Saturday morning, Wickens was back in race-mode as he flew back to his native Canada in time to greet his enthusiastic race fans at the pre-race festivities and take the green flag, and his first laps of the weekend. Although Wickens spent his formative years on the legendary CTMP (formally MoSport), Saturday's race laps were entirely different. It marked his first time returning to his childhood track using hand controls to drive the race car.
Wickens had a formidable start, passing three cars on the opening lap. Running inside the top three through the first hour, it was a strong opening half for Wickens. With the driver change and pitstop complete, it was all up to Mark Wilkins to chase the lead for the second and final hour.
Exactly as it was one week before at Watkins Glen International, Wilkins masterfully executed the final 57-minutes. He took the lead on lap 63 and despite the pursuit of his fellow BHA teammates, Michael Lewis, and Parker Chase pressuring hard for the win, and to the enthusiastic ovation of race fans surrounding the track, Wilkins prevailed, securing the win for he and Wickens. A momentous victory on their home soil in Canada and the grand finale to a remarkable week for Robert Wickens.
Michael Lewis brought the #1 Elantra N TCR home in second place, re-claiming the championship lead for he and co-driver Taylor Hagler, the 2021 series champions. The performance by Hagler and Lewis was highlighted by speed and consistency and led to their fourth second place finish of the season. They hold a 40-point lead in the standings with four races remaining.
Texans Parker Chase and Harry Gottsacker finished third, it was their second podium of the season, and another pivotal performance in their championship chase. Chase qualified and started third in the #98 Elantra N TCR and had an eventful stint defending his turf inside the top three. Gottsacker took over on lap 42 and raced hard against Michael Lewis for a podium in the final hour. Gottsacker and Chase are tied with Robert Wickens for third position in the series standings.
Winning their fourth pole position in six races this season, it looked like Tyler Maxson and Mason Filippi might drive the #77 Elantra N TCR to victory late at CTMP. Maxson had an outstanding start and chose tire preservation over degradation, holding steady with race length goals. With less than an hour remaining, Filippi had a dominant lead which he held for twenty laps before a hiccup on lap 62, in a late race restart sent Filippi back to the eighth position. The #2 and the #54 Elantras of AJ Muss and Ryan Norman and Michael Johnson and Stephen Simpson ran strong throughout the weekend. Off-course excursions for both cars changed the handling of their race cars enough to diminish podium chances.
Next up, the Lime Rock Park 120, Saturday, July 16th at 11:05am ET. The race will be televised live from LRP in Lakeville, Connecticut on NBC's Peacock.
Canadian Tire Motorsports Park 120 - Bryan Herta Autosport Race Results
P.1 Robert Wickens and Mark Wilkins #33 Elantra N TCR
P.2 Taylor Hagler and Michael Lewis #1 Elantra N TCR
P.3 Parker Chase and Harry Gottsacker #98 Elantra N TCR
P.7 AJ Muss and Ryan Norman #2 Elantra N TCR
P.8 Tyler Maxson and Mason Filippi, #77 Elantra N TCR
P.10 Michael Johnson and Stephen Simpson, #54 Universal Coating Elantra N TCR
#33 Elantra N TCR
Started: 15th Finished: 1st Standings: 3rd (Wickens) 9th (Wilkins)
Robert Wickens: "I'm not sure what's more special, winning here in Canada, or the circumstances this weekend. A big thanks to everyone at BHA for allowing me to be home for the birth of my son and to return to the win. They have a clear "family first" message on this team, and I am glad we could reward them with a win. Mark (Wilkins) made it easy for me developing a race winning car with John (Ward, engineer) on Friday. I've never jumped right into a race with no practice, but at the same time, I've never felt more prepared than I did today."
Mark Wilkins: "The story for today has to be the journey of the week and then Rob jumping in the car with no practice and passing three cars on the first lap. Just incredible. It's been an amazing week with our first win, coming to Canada and working closely here with Hyundai Canada and then to win all over again. It doesn't get any better than this. I'm having so much fun racing alongside Robbie (Wickens), he certainly inspires me to get 110% out of every opportunity, and a big thanks to our Engineer John Ward and everyone at BHA and Hyundai."
#1 Elantra N TCR
Started: 6th Finished: 2nd Standings: 1st
Taylor Hagler: "I've had a really good first visit to CTMP and have found a new place that I'm going to look forward to coming back to in future seasons After the disappointment at Watkins Glen, we got right back at it and captured a podium and regained the championship lead. Michael and I did great at Lime Rock last season, scoring our win there, so we will continue to push really hard."
Michael Lewis: "The team did such a great job today. We worked hard on track and in the pitlane to get to the front! It was so much fun out there picking our way to the front. Thanks to BHA and Hyundai for giving Taylor and I the best tools out there. Congratulations to Mark and Robert on their hometown win, which is just so cool and well-deserved!"
#98 Elantra N TCR
Started: 3rd Finished: 3rd Standings: 3rd (tied with Wickens)
Parker Chase: "I am pretty happy with our result and how the weekend went at CTMP. I think a third-place finish is relatively good for the car that I felt I had underneath me. CTMP is an interesting place with TCR cars being as fast if not faster than many of the GS cars and it introduced a lot into the mix-up within the TCR field and made for and exciting race for the fans. We're out at Lime Rock in a couple of weeks and I can't wait to get after it again."
Harry Gottsacker IV: "It's pretty cool to go north of the border and have a podium sweep for our BHA squad. We had a great Elantra N TCR all weekend that made it easy to fight at the top end of the field this weekend. It was a little more of a fight than normal, but we ended up coming out okay in p.3."
Canadians In BOLD