Coupal and King Win Two Spectacular Races at Mont-Tremblant
The Nissan Micra Cup held its third and fourth races of the 2016 season as part of the Spring Classic at the Circuit Mont-Tremblant this past weekend. It was an action-packed two days in summer-like temperatures which resulted in another win for Xavier Coupal on Saturday, and one for Kevin King on Sunday.
Second in the championship after the first event, Albertan Stefan Rzadzinski (Pneus Touchette) showed his determination right away as he earned pole position heading into Saturday’s race. Rzadzinkski was just ahead of series leader, Xavier Coupal (Albi Nissan) - who was no less than eight-tenths of a second ahead of third place - 2015 champion Olivier Bédard (Albi Nissan). Rzadzinski and Coupal’s intense performances in the series’ identical and practically stock Micra S’s were a highlight for all spectators.
The start of the first race took place under extreme heat on Saturday afternoon and a battle for the victory quickly took shape between four drivers. The lead changed hands many times between Rzadzinski, Bédard, Coupal and Kevin King who is the winner of the first round of the season. In the end, King won with a slim two-tenths of a second lead over Coupal and half a second over Rzadzinski.
However, after reviewing on-board footage, series officials stated that both King and Rzadzinski were guilty of making avoidable contact during the last lap. King received a 35-second penalty and Rzadzinski a 30-second penalty on their overall race times, dropping them far down the final standings. Xavier Coupal was eventually declared victor ahead of Valérie Limoges, giving the Quebecker his second consecutive win.
Valérie Limoges was never able to take the lead during the 30 minutes of competition, but she nevertheless remained just behind the leaders throughout the entire duration. Finishing less than a second behind Coupal, her first podium of the season was well-deserved. Along the way, she passed Marc-Antoine Demers, Normand Boyer and Olivier Bédard, who lost several places in the last lap as the victim of a collision. Chris Sahakian completed the Top 6 ahead of Yves Aubé, Pierre Clavet, Frédéric Bernier and Brian Makse.
The following day, Olivier Bédard had pole position ahead of Stefan Rzadzinski, but it was Kevin King, starting in third, who quickly challenged Bédard for the victory. The two former karting teammates provided a tight and respectable battle right until the end, which saw King earn his second win of the season. Bédard finished seventh-tenths of a second behind him, followed by Rzadzinski and Coupal, who has been penalized by series officials after the race and dropped to seventh place which now slightly closes the gap in the drivers’ championship. Another good battle occurred between Metod Topolnik and Valérie Limoges, as both took advantage of the Micra’s agility at every turn in hopes of passing one another. Topolnik eventually finished fourth ahead of Limoges, Marc-Antoine Demers, Xavier Coupal, Pierre Clavet, Chris Sahakian and Normand Boyer.
In the drivers’ championship, Xavier Coupal remains in the lead with 136 points ahead of Stefan Rzadzinski (105), Valérie Limoges (104), Kevin King (90), Marc-Antoine Demers (78) and Olivier Bédard (65 points, tie with Jacques Bélanger and Metod Topolnik). For the rookies, Ashley Sahakian was the only driver competing this weekend and therefore earned both wins, further increasing her lead at the top of championship standings for this category.
Following this weekend at the Circuit Mont-Tremblant, the next outing for the Nissan Micra Cup will be on Sunday, June 19th for the fifth and sixth rounds of the season at the Autodrome St-Eustache. This marks the only time on the calendar that the two races will take place on the same day.
Overall championship standings after four races: http://www.micracup.com/Results_2016_ClassGen
Nissan Micra Cup 2016 Season Calendar:
May 13 - 15 Calabogie Motorsports Park, Ontario
May 27 - 29 Spring Classic, Circuit Mont-Tremblant, Québec
June 19 Autodrome St-Eustache, Québec
July 8 - 10 IMSA Weekend, Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, Ontario
July 22 - 24 Summer Classic, Circuit Mont-Tremblant, Québec
August 12 - 14 Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières, Québec
September 2 - 4 NASCAR Weekend, Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, Ontario
September 23 - 25 Fall Classic, Circuit Mont-Tremblant, Québec
Coupal and King Win Two Spectacular Races at Mont-Tremblant
- In warm temperatures, the Nissan Micra Cup made its return to the Circuit Mont-Tremblant with victories for Xavier Coupal and Kevin King -
The Nissan Micra Cup held its third and fourth races of the 2016 season as part of the Spring Classic at the Circuit Mont-Tremblant this past weekend. It was an action-packed two days in summer-like temperatures which resulted in another win for Xavier Coupal on Saturday, and one for Kevin King on Sunday.
Second in the championship after the first event, Albertan Stefan Rzadzinski (Pneus Touchette) showed his determination right away as he earned pole position heading into Saturday’s race. Rzadzinkski was just ahead of series leader, Xavier Coupal (Albi Nissan) - who was no less than eight-tenths of a second ahead of third place - 2015 champion Olivier Bédard (Albi Nissan). Rzadzinski and Coupal’s intense performances in the series’ identical and practically stock Micra S’s were a highlight for all spectators.
The start of the first race took place under extreme heat on Saturday afternoon and a battle for the victory quickly took shape between four drivers. The lead changed hands many times between Rzadzinski, Bédard, Coupal and Kevin King who is the winner of the first round of the season. In the end, King won with a slim two-tenths of a second lead over Coupal and half a second over Rzadzinski.
However, after reviewing on-board footage, series officials stated that both King and Rzadzinski were guilty of making avoidable contact during the last lap. King received a 35-second penalty and Rzadzinski a 30-second penalty on their overall race times, dropping them far down the final standings. Xavier Coupal was eventually declared victor ahead of Valérie Limoges, giving the Quebecker his second consecutive win.
Valérie Limoges was never able to take the lead during the 30 minutes of competition, but she nevertheless remained just behind the leaders throughout the entire duration. Finishing less than a second behind Coupal, her first podium of the season was well-deserved. Along the way, she passed Marc-Antoine Demers, Normand Boyer and Olivier Bédard, who lost several places in the last lap as the victim of a collision. Chris Sahakian completed the Top 6 ahead of Yves Aubé, Pierre Clavet, Frédéric Bernier and Brian Makse.
The following day, Olivier Bédard had pole position ahead of Stefan Rzadzinski, but it was Kevin King, starting in third, who quickly challenged Bédard for the victory. The two former karting teammates provided a tight and respectable battle right until the end, which saw King earn his second win of the season. Bédard finished seventh-tenths of a second behind him, followed by Rzadzinski and Coupal, who has been penalized by series officials after the race and dropped to seventh place which now slightly closes the gap in the drivers’ championship. Another good battle occurred between Metod Topolnik and Valérie Limoges, as both took advantage of the Micra’s agility at every turn in hopes of passing one another. Topolnik eventually finished fourth ahead of Limoges, Marc-Antoine Demers, Xavier Coupal, Pierre Clavet, Chris Sahakian and Normand Boyer.
In the drivers’ championship, Xavier Coupal remains in the lead with 136 points ahead of Stefan Rzadzinski (105), Valérie Limoges (104), Kevin King (90), Marc-Antoine Demers (78) and Olivier Bédard (65 points, tie with Jacques Bélanger and Metod Topolnik). For the rookies, Ashley Sahakian was the only driver competing this weekend and therefore earned both wins, further increasing her lead at the top of championship standings for this category.
Following this weekend at the Circuit Mont-Tremblant, the next outing for the Nissan Micra Cup will be on Sunday, June 19th for the fifth and sixth rounds of the season at the Autodrome St-Eustache. This marks the only time on the calendar that the two races will take place on the same day.
Overall championship standings after four races: http://www.micracup.com/Results_2016_ClassGen
Nissan Micra Cup 2016 Season Calendar:
May 13 - 15 Calabogie Motorsports Park, Ontario
May 27 - 29 Spring Classic, Circuit Mont-Tremblant, Québec
June 19 Autodrome St-Eustache, Québec
July 8 - 10 IMSA Weekend, Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, Ontario
July 22 - 24 Summer Classic, Circuit Mont-Tremblant, Québec
August 12 - 14 Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières, Québec
September 2 - 4 NASCAR Weekend, Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, Ontario
September 23 - 25 Fall Classic, Circuit Mont-Tremblant, Québec
The Nissan Micra Cup held its third and fourth races of the 2016 season as part of the Spring Classic at the Circuit Mont-Tremblant this past weekend. It was an action-packed two days in summer-like temperatures which resulted in another win for Xavier Coupal on Saturday, and one for Kevin King on Sunday.
Second in the championship after the first event, Albertan Stefan Rzadzinski (Pneus Touchette) showed his determination right away as he earned pole position heading into Saturday’s race. Rzadzinkski was just ahead of series leader, Xavier Coupal (Albi Nissan) - who was no less than eight-tenths of a second ahead of third place - 2015 champion Olivier Bédard (Albi Nissan). Rzadzinski and Coupal’s intense performances in the series’ identical and practically stock Micra S’s were a highlight for all spectators.
The start of the first race took place under extreme heat on Saturday afternoon and a battle for the victory quickly took shape between four drivers. The lead changed hands many times between Rzadzinski, Bédard, Coupal and Kevin King who is the winner of the first round of the season. In the end, King won with a slim two-tenths of a second lead over Coupal and half a second over Rzadzinski.
However, after reviewing on-board footage, series officials stated that both King and Rzadzinski were guilty of making avoidable contact during the last lap. King received a 35-second penalty and Rzadzinski a 30-second penalty on their overall race times, dropping them far down the final standings. Xavier Coupal was eventually declared victor ahead of Valérie Limoges, giving the Quebecker his second consecutive win.
Valérie Limoges was never able to take the lead during the 30 minutes of competition, but she nevertheless remained just behind the leaders throughout the entire duration. Finishing less than a second behind Coupal, her first podium of the season was well-deserved. Along the way, she passed Marc-Antoine Demers, Normand Boyer and Olivier Bédard, who lost several places in the last lap as the victim of a collision. Chris Sahakian completed the Top 6 ahead of Yves Aubé, Pierre Clavet, Frédéric Bernier and Brian Makse.
The following day, Olivier Bédard had pole position ahead of Stefan Rzadzinski, but it was Kevin King, starting in third, who quickly challenged Bédard for the victory. The two former karting teammates provided a tight and respectable battle right until the end, which saw King earn his second win of the season. Bédard finished seventh-tenths of a second behind him, followed by Rzadzinski and Coupal, who has been penalized by series officials after the race and dropped to seventh place which now slightly closes the gap in the drivers’ championship. Another good battle occurred between Metod Topolnik and Valérie Limoges, as both took advantage of the Micra’s agility at every turn in hopes of passing one another. Topolnik eventually finished fourth ahead of Limoges, Marc-Antoine Demers, Xavier Coupal, Pierre Clavet, Chris Sahakian and Normand Boyer.
In the drivers’ championship, Xavier Coupal remains in the lead with 136 points ahead of Stefan Rzadzinski (105), Valérie Limoges (104), Kevin King (90), Marc-Antoine Demers (78) and Olivier Bédard (65 points, tie with Jacques Bélanger and Metod Topolnik). For the rookies, Ashley Sahakian was the only driver competing this weekend and therefore earned both wins, further increasing her lead at the top of championship standings for this category.
Following this weekend at the Circuit Mont-Tremblant, the next outing for the Nissan Micra Cup will be on Sunday, June 19th for the fifth and sixth rounds of the season at the Autodrome St-Eustache. This marks the only time on the calendar that the two races will take place on the same day.
Overall championship standings after four races: http://www.micracup.com/Results_2016_ClassGen
Nissan Micra Cup 2016 Season Calendar:
May 13 - 15 Calabogie Motorsports Park, Ontario
May 27 - 29 Spring Classic, Circuit Mont-Tremblant, Québec
June 19 Autodrome St-Eustache, Québec
July 8 - 10 IMSA Weekend, Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, Ontario
July 22 - 24 Summer Classic, Circuit Mont-Tremblant, Québec
August 12 - 14 Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières, Québec
September 2 - 4 NASCAR Weekend, Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, Ontario
September 23 - 25 Fall Classic, Circuit Mont-Tremblant, Québec