FORMULA 1600 SUPER SERIES RACE 2 NEWS & NOTES
DeGrand Sweeps Canadian Grand Prix
MONTREAL, QC (June 8, 2014) - Race 2 of the F1600 Super Series at the Canadian Grand Prix was an excellent display of the fierce competition the class has become known for.
The weather was perfect and as the Formula 1 fans were streaming onto the island circuit they were treated to a back and forth display of racing prowess by the entire field – the ideal pre-cursor to the F1 main event.
Olivier Bedard started on pole based on his blistering lap from Race 1 with Duncan Murdoch alongside. The next row had Michel Bonnet in 3rd followed by Race 1 winner Tristan DeGrand.
At the start outside pole sitter Murdoch did get squeezed, allowing Bonnet and DeGrand to sneak by and start to hunt down a hard charging Bedard.
Zacharie Robichon, who started 10th after suffering a failure of the suspension on his car, made his intentions known early and went on a tear right from the drop of the green racing his way up to 4th almost immediately.
For the first half of the race there was a train of cars from the lead to 7th with so much passing back and forth between all of the positions it was almost impossible to follow.
Just past the halfway point the 3rd to 7th place combatants really started to get aggressive with daring passes allowing the lead battle between DeGrand and Bedard to make a 10-car length break. At that point it became a 2 horse race.
DeGrand and Bedard passed each other at least twice a lap to the delight of the cheering fans. With 3 laps to go Bedard slowed suddenly and dropped back to 7th with an ill handling car. It was discovered after the race that he had a wheel bearing failure making the car almost un-drivable. He would still manage a solid finish to the event.
At the line it was DeGrand, sweeping the event. Zacharie Robichon finished 2nd after starting 10th. Chase Pelletier passed 2 cars on the last lap to snatch the final step on the podium followed by Bedard and Duncan Murdoch rounding out the top 5.
Michel Bonnet had complained of some motor trouble but finished a solid 6th, Max Hanratty had a stellar drive from his 20th place starting spot after getting crashed out of Race 1 to finish 7th. Didier Schraenen had a solid 8th place finish and Jeffrey Kingsley and Jayson Clunie round out the top 10.
Next up for the Formula 1600 Super Series will be the Honda Indy Toronto, July 18,19 and 20, 2014 at Exhibition Place.
The Formula 1600 Super Series is the combined premiere events of the Toyo Tires F1600 Championship Series from Ontario and the Toyo Tires Formula Tour 1600 Series from Quebec. The series is comprised of a four event, double-header format and competes at CTMP’s Victoria Day SpeedFest, Formula One Grand Prix of Montreal, the Honda Indy Toronto and the Grand Prix of Trois Rivieres.
Linkback: https://www.canadianracingonline.com/smf/index.php?topic=19406.msg111253#msg111253
