The Nissan Sentra Cup enters its tenth season on Canadian tracks, from May 17 to 19

NISSAN CANADA - Next Saturday, May 18 and Sunday, May 19, renown Ontario racetrack, Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, in Bowmanville near Oshawa, will continue  the tradition of hosting the first Nissan Sentra Cup event of the season.  Presented by Nissan Canada and JD Promotion since 2015 (when the Nissan Micra Cup was launched), the Nissan Sentra Cup will begin its tenth season during Victoria Day Weekend SpeedFest.

In addition to this milestone, it will be the first season in history to only feature drivers racing Nissan Sentra race cars, as the Micra class will not be back this year. Between twenty and twenty-five drivers are expected to take part in this 2024 championship which will see Quebec driver Alexandre Fortin compete as the defending champion.

Five-time winner, and driver of the Ste-Foy/Beauport Nissan team, Alex will attempt to become the first driver since the Sentra models entered the series in 2021 to win back-to-back titles. But this goal promises to be difficult, as two former Series' champions will also aim for the title: Valérie Limoges, the first female driver to be crowned overall champion of a Canadian national road racing series in 2022 and who has won three events in 2023, and Xavier Coupal, who clinched the title in his only full season in the 2016 Nissan Micra Cup.

They will not be the only ones competing for the top step of the podium as more than ten competitors can legitimately claim the 2024 title. Among them are veterans Sylvain Ouellet and Éric Chaput, rally champion Simon Vincent, the very promising rookie Nicolas Lévesque (last champion of the Micra class), Nicolas Barrette (a first Series' victory in 2023), Daniel Fortin (Alexandre's father) or the brothers Matt and Nicolas Miron.

This season, seven drivers will be making their first appearance at the wheel of the Sentra race car. Three of them experienced the series during the Micra Cup in previous years while four will be rookies in the Nissan Sentra Cup. This includes owner of the Nissan Thetford dealership, Steve Poulain, along with Stéphane Pouliot, the experienced Martin Harvey (several seasons in the Porsche GT3 Cup) and Rénald Hamelin, who started his Canadian racing career in the 1980s.

Once again, we find several veterans and drivers who simply want to participate and have fun  in a series with low price points  while  at the wheel of beautiful, high-performance production cars. With that said, it will also be interesting to follow the progress of the youngest drivers in the series: Marie-Soleil Labelle who is almost 20 years old, and returning for her second season, along with Vincent Lalande, who impressed during his debut last year at only 15 years old. After having perfected his experience in rally competitions where he has excelled in recent months, he will approach this new season in the Nissan Sentra Cup with confidence.

"I am happy to see that more than twenty drivers have once again entered for the tenth season of our series on Canadian tracks" mentions promoter Jacques Deshaies. "In addition, all the drivers who competed for the Micra class last year have acquired a Sentra to continue with us. It's a proof of loyalty for our series and I thank them for their involvement. I also believe that with so many Sentra's on the track, it will be an exciting season," he adds.

A season which, after the kick off at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (CTMP), will pick back up at the beginning of July at the Complexe ICAR in Mirabel, Quebec, as part of the second edition of the Nissan Grand Prix. An event which was a great success last year and is highly anticipated by fans and competitors of the series.

"I am also looking forward to the 2024 Nissan Grand Prix with great enthusiasm," says the president of Nissan Canada, Steve Milette. "The Nissan Sentra Cup is entering its tenth season of activities in the country and with all these Sentra's on the track there is no doubt that the battle for the title will be thrilling. For fans of the Nissan brand, competitors, partners, I am confident that with six very promising events (three in Ontario, two in Quebec and one in the United States), we will have a show that meets expectations," he adds.

Two weeks after the Nissan Grand Prix, the Nissan Sentra Cup will make its debut on United States soil, on July 19 and 20 for two races at Lime Rock Park, in Connecticut. The always popular Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières (August 9 to 11) will be the third event, followed by a second visit to the Canadian Tire Motorsport Park during the Labour Day weekend in early September, then the final round, which will take place in Ontario, at the Calabogie Motorsports Park, south-west of Ottawa. This site replaces the previously announced Circuit Mont-Tremblant. Calabogie will offer a unique challenge to competitors in the series since this track  has never  hosted a Nissan Sentra Cup race, nor season finale!

Both events held at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park and the Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières, will be broadcast live on the Nissan Sentra Cup Facebook page. During the first event, the Series' drivers will be on track Friday May 17 for three 30-minute practice sessions. On Saturday, a qualifying session will be presented from 8:40 a.m. and the green flag will be given on the first race of the 2024 season at 1:30 p.m., for 40 minutes of action. On Sunday May 19, the second 40-minute race will take place from 11:25 a.m.

For more information on the Nissan Sentra Cup, visit coupesentra.comOpens in a new tab. and the series' social media channels. To watch the 2023 season events on the web, go to the Nissan Sentra Cup Youtube pageOpens in a new tab..

2024 CALENDAR – NISSAN SENTRA CUP

May 17, 18, 19                     Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, Bowmanville, Ontario
July 6 and 7                          Nissan Grand Prix, Complexe ICAR - Mirabel, Quebec
July 19 and 20                      Lime Rock Park, Connecticut (USA)
August 9, 10, 11                   Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières, Quebec
August 30, 31, Sept. 1         Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, Bowmanville, Ontario
September 27, 28, 29          Calabogie Motorsports Park, Ontario

Nissan Sentra Cup announces its 2024 race schedule ahead of the 10th Season

NISSAN CANADA / JD PROMOTION - Nissan Canada and JD Promotion released the official 2024 schedule for the Nissan Sentra Cup at the Montreal International Auto Show. The Canadian Motorsport Series' 10th season will feature six events across five venues in Québec, Ontario, and for the first time in the series' history, the US.

The first race of the Nissan Sentra Cup will begin this spring, from May 17 until May 19. It will take place in Ontario at the Canadian Tire Motorsport Park.

After the kick-off in Ontario, the competition will continue in Mirabel, Quebec at the multi-track facility, Complexe ICAR, July 6 and 7 with the second Grand Prix Nissan.

The Sentra Cup will also take fans across the border to Lime Rock Park in Lakeville, Connecticut between July 18 and 20. This is the first time the series will be held at Lime Rock, one of the oldest continuously operated road racing circuits in the US. Over the years, it has hosted almost every major American road racing sanctioning body including American Le Mans Series, IMSA, Grand-Am, NASCAR, SCCA, Trans Am and World Challenge.

The next two events will take place in August, beginning with the Grand Prix De Trois-Rivières in Quebec (August 9 to 11), followed by a second event in Ontario at the Canadian Tire Motorsport Park from August 30 to September 1.

Finally, competitors will return to the Circuit Mont-Tremblant for the grand finale of this 10th season. The Fall Classic has hosted every final round of the series since its launch.

Since its debut in 2015, the Cup was an immediate success and has been ever since. Talented drivers, including 2023 champion Alexandre Fortin, who will be back to defend his title, will give it their all to try and secure a championship.

The Nissan Sentra Cup Experience at the Montreal Auto Show, powered by D-BOX

With an exciting 10th season ahead, Nissan Canada is bringing the Nissan Sentra Cup experience to the Montreal International Auto Show with D-BOX Technologies. Visitors can enjoy the thrill of being a Sentra Cup race driver on the 5th floor in room 516. While there, guests can visit the dedicated Sentra Cup display on the 5th floor for more information about the series.

The winning Sentra race car of the 2023 series will also be displayed throughout the show and 2023 champion Alexandre Fortin will visit the Nissan booth on Saturday, January 27th, 2024 for a meet and greet.

The complete list of entries for the 2024 Sentra Cup season will be published in the spring. For more information on the series, visit sentracup.com as well as @nissansentracupOpens in a new tab.. To watch all the events from the 2023 season, visit the Nissan Sentra Cup YouTube pageOpens in a new tab..

SCHEDULE 2024 - NISSAN SENTRA CUP

May 17, 18, 19	Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, Bowmanville, Ontario
July 6, 7	Complexe ICAR - Mirabel, Québec
July 18, 19, 20	Lime Rock Park - Lakeville, Connecticut
August 9, 11	Grand Prix De Trois-Rivieres – Trois-Rivières, Quebec
August 30, 31, September 1	Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, Bowmanville, Ontario
September 27, 29	Fall Classic, Circuit Mont-Tremblant, Québec

Nissan Sentra Cup mid-season will be reached this weekend at the Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières

NISSAN SENTRA CUP -  The Nissan Sentra Cup will be one of the featured series presented at the Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières this weekend. The Canadian motorsport series will have two races, one on Saturday August 5th and the other on Sunday August 6th, as part of the ever-popular event, which is expected to draw tens of thousands of spectators once again for this fifty-third edition.

These rounds, 5 and 6 of the 2023 season, will mark the conclusion of the first half of the season. With three wins in four races so far, Simon Charbonneau is undoubtedly the favorite. He currently leads the championship standings ahead of Nicolas Barrette, Alexandre Fortin (winner of the opening round of the season), Simon Vincent and defending champion Valérie Limoges.

Limoges, who holds the record for the most career overall victories at the Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières for a female driver (two wins in the Nissan Cup - Micra and Sentra), will attempt to secure another triumph on this temporary 2.4 km urban track which greatly enhances the abilities of the drivers. On the other hand, after his triumphant performance in front of a packed audience at the Nissan Grand Prix at the Complexe ICAR in Mirabel on July 9, Charbonneau now holds his own destiny is his hands as he aims for his very first victory in Trois-Rivières.

For those unable to be on-site, it will be possible to watch all the Nissan Sentra Cup on track sessions on the series' Facebook page. Free practice, qualifying, races, all will be presented live! Fans in the grandstands will have free access to the Nissan Sentra Cup paddocks to meet the Series' family. Additionally, they can test their Nissan Z driving skills on the Nissan Canada simulator.

Nissan Sentra Cup drivers will be on track from 1:00 p.m. to 1:20 p.m. for a free practice session on Friday, August 4, followed by qualifying from 4:00 p.m. to 4:40 p.m. Saturday, after the formation lap behind the Series' official Safety Car, which will be the new Nissan Z, the first race will begin at 2:10 p.m., providing 40 minutes of action. On Sunday, the second race will be presented from 11:15 a.m. to 11:55 a.m. The podium ceremonies will immediately follow the end of both races.

Between 25 and 30 drivers are again expected in the Nissan Sentra Cup for this Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières 2023. As usual, the racing Sentra field will be completed by the Micra class cars.

For more information on the Nissan Sentra Cup, visit sentracup.com and the series' social media. To watch all the events of the 2022 season, visit the Nissan Sentra Cup YouTube page

SCHEDULE 2023 - NISSAN SENTRA CUP

May 26, 27, 28                     Spring Classic, Circuit Mont-Tremblant, Québec
July 9                                    Nissan Grand Prix, Complexe ICAR - Mirabel, Québec
August 4, 5, 6                       Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, Québec
August 26                              NASCAR Event, Complexe ICAR - Mirabel, Québec
September 1, 2, 3               Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, Bowmanville, Ontario
September 22, 23, 24         Fall Classic, Circuit Mont-Tremblant, Québec

To follow the Nissan Sentra Cup on social media:
Facebook: @CoupeSentraCup
Instagram: @nissansentracup
Twitter: @SentraCup
YouTube: SentraCupTV

Simon Charbonneau wins the Nissan Grand Prix

NISSAN CANADA - The Nissan Sentra Cup presented the very first Nissan Grand Prix this Sunday at the Complexe ICAR in Mirabel. Thousands of spectators came at the invitation of Nissan Canada and among the many activities offered, the two Nissan Sentra Cup races crowned Simon Charbonneau.

Free practice, qualifying and both races took place on Sunday only. The first qualifying session allowed Simon Charbonneau to take pole position, ahead of the championship leader Nicolas Barrette. The young rookie (15 years old) Vincent Lalande completed the Top 3, ahead of Samuel Rowe and Simon Vincent who, after several consecutive victories in the Micra class, started this Sunday at the wheel of a Sentra racecar.

Presented on perfect summer weather conditions and in front of packed grandstands, the first race offered spectacular battles on this track held on the site of the former Montréal-Mirabel international airport. Simon Charbonneau led from start to finish but a full course yellow after 30 of the 40 minutes of the race changed the situation. On the restart, Charbonneau, Rowe, Alexandre Fortin, defending champion Valérie Limoges and Barrette battled for victory. They finished in that order but Samuel Rowe was later excluded from the results for using unapproved tires.

Sixth on the track, Simon Vincent completes the Top 5 in the official standings, ahead of Mathieu Miron, Christian Thibault, Vincent Lalande, André Lapointe and Nicolas Lévesque, winner of the Micra class after overtaking Charles-Étienne Boucher, leader from the start, on the last lap.

The afternoon started with the qualifying session for the second race. Charbonneau again took pole position, this time ahead of Rowe, Barrette, Alexandre Fortin, Lalande and Limoges.

The second race concluded the activities of a day that gave a great and emotion filled spectacle for the drivers and the spectators. Simon Charbonneau again dominated the 40 minutes, en route to a perfect score this Sunday: two pole positions, two lap records and two victories. After several changes of position in the peloton, Alexandre Fortin finished second, ahead of Nicolas Barrette, Mathieu Miron, Simon Vincent, Christian Thibault, André Lapointe, Jean Audet and Daniel Fortin, who was in battle with his son for second place for a few laps before losing places. In Micra class, it’s another success for Nicolas Lévesque, in front of Charles-Étienne Boucher.

For spectators and fans of the brand, this Nissan Grand Prix was also the perfect opportunity to test drive the ARIYA, Armada, Kicks, LEAF, Pathfinder, Qashqai, Rogue and Sentra models. The luckiest people won a lap with one of the series' professional drivers aboard the LEAF NISMO RC, the famous 100% electric prototype, or a Nissan Z. Nissan brand ambassador for Quebec, actress Karine Vanasse was also on site.

“I congratulate all the participants of this first Nissan Grand Prix, which was a great success. The weather obviously helped us but this event was simply magnificent with two very spectacular races, a lot of fans in the grandstands, test drives by the hundreds and lots of interaction with our customers. We have managed to bring the experience of a free motorsport event to our fans and this really connects the brand with the Nissan Sentra Cup but also with our customers and the cars they drive," said Steve Milette, CEO of Nissan Canada.

In the Nissan Sentra Cup drivers' championship, after four races contested, Simon Charbonneau (195 points) took first place ahead of Nicolas Barrette (172), Alexandre Fortin (158) and Simon Vincent (112).

The next event of the season will take place on August 4, 5 and 6 at the ever-popular Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières. Two new races will be presented, to complete the first half of the 2023 season.

For more information on the Nissan Sentra Cup, visit sentracup.com and the series' social media. To watch all the events of the 2022 season, visit the Nissan Sentra Cup YouTube page.

SCHEDULE 2023 - NISSAN SENTRA CUP

May 26, 27, 28                     Spring Classic, Circuit Mont-Tremblant, Québec
July 9                                    Nissan Grand Prix, Complexe ICAR - Mirabel, Québec
August 4, 5, 6                       Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, Québec
August 26                              NASCAR Event, Complexe ICAR - Mirabel, Québec
September 1, 2, 3               Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, Bowmanville, Ontario
September 22, 23, 24         Fall Classic, Circuit Mont-Tremblant, Québec

To follow the Nissan Sentra Cup on social media:
Facebook: @CoupeSentraCup
Instagram: @nissansentracup
Twitter: @SentraCup
YouTube: SentraCupTV

The Nissan Grand Prix at the Complexe ICAR this Sunday: Two races and multiple activities for fans

NISSAN SENTRA CUP - For the first time since 2021, the Nissan Sentra Cup will return to the Complexe ICAR, located on the site of the former Montreal-Mirabel International Airport, this Sunday, July 9. This time, it will be for an exceptional and unprecedented event: the Nissan Grand Prix.

Two races of the Nissan Sentra Cup, the only series on the schedule, will be presented during this day in addition to free practice and qualifying sessions. Fans are invited to the event between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. free of charge with parking and paddock access included They will be able to watch both races from the grandstands and discover a multitude of Nissan models on the site, such as the all-new ARYA, the LEAF, both 100% electric propulsion cars, as well as Pathfinder, Rogue and the famous Nissan Z, one of the sporting symbols of the brand.

Fans will be able as well to book road tests, through on-site registration, and drive the ARYA, Armada, Kicks, LEAF, Pathfinder, Qashqai, Rogue and Sentra models. Between the Nissan Sentra Cup sessions fans will have the chance to win a lap with one of the series' professional drivers aboard the LEAF NISMO RC, the famous 100% electric prototype, or a Nissan Z. Fans can also get behind the wheel of a virtual Nissan Z, as Nissan Canada's racing simulator will once again be installed in the paddocks, giving everyone on site the chance to test their driving abilities.

Brand ambassador in Quebec, actress Karine Vanasse will also be present at this very first Nissan Grand Prix in the history of Canadian motorsport.

"I am happy and proud to see that, in its ninth season of presence on Canadian road tracks, the Nissan Sentra Cup and Nissan Canada are still innovating with an event like the Nissan Grand Prix which promises to be exceptional. For us, this is a very special opportunity to be able to interact more closely with our motorsports fans and our Nissan customers – who will be admitted to the site free of charge. Best of luck to the Series' drivers and a warm welcome to all the spectators," said Steve Milette, CEO of Nissan Canada.

Championship leader after two races competed, Nicolas Barrette hopes to take the opportunity to register his first victory of 2023. To do so, he will have to beat Simon Charbonneau and Alexandre Fortin, who have each won a race this season, or the defending champion Valérie Limoges. These four drivers are not the only contenders for victory, as the start of the season has shown that driving their racing Nissan Sentras, many drivers can hope to clinch top honors. We think here of Samuel Rowe, currently second in the overall standings, the young and promising (15 years old) Vincent Lalande, Daniel Fortin (Alexandre's father), Nicolas Miron, Sylvain Ouellet or the popular radio and TV host Benoît Gagnon, all among the Top 10 in the championship.

It will also be interesting to watch the progress of the second female driver registered, Marie-Soleil Labelle, who begins this season at the wheel of a Sentra after having spent the first seasons of the series in the Micra class. The 2022 Micra class defending champion Raphaël St-Pierre will try to beat the big favorite, Simon Vincent, for the first time this season.

The Nissan Sentra Cup drivers will be on the track from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. for 60 minutes of free practice. Qualifying 1 will be presented from 9:45am to 10:15am, followed by Race 1 at 11:20am for 40 minutes of action. In the afternoon, the second qualification will take place from 1:30 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. and race 2 from 3:30 p.m. to 4:10 p.m. Track sessions for the Nissan Z are scheduled for 10:30 a.m. and 2:15 p.m., those for the LEAF Nismo at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.

For more information on the Nissan Sentra Cup, visit sentracup.com and the series' social media. To watch all the events of the 2022 season, visit the Nissan Sentra Cup YouTube page.

SCHEDULE 2023 - NISSAN SENTRA CUP

May 26, 27, 28                     Spring Classic, Circuit Mont-Tremblant, Québec
July 9                                    Nissan Grand Prix, Complexe ICAR - Mirabel, Québec
August 4, 5, 6                       Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, Québec
August 26                              NASCAR Event, Complexe ICAR - Mirabel, Québec
September 1, 2, 3               Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, Bowmanville, Ontario
September 22, 23, 24         Fall Classic, Circuit Mont-Tremblant, Québec

To follow the Nissan Sentra Cup on social media:
Facebook: @CoupeSentraCup
Instagram: @nissansentracup
Twitter: @SentraCup
YouTube: SentraCupTV

Fourth edition of the 2022 Nissan Sentra Cup Magazine is out now

NISSAN SENTRA CUP - The fourth edition of the 2022 Sentra Cup Magazine is out now, featuring highlights from Nissan Sentra Cup's weekend at the Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières

The action-packed weekend saw Justin Arseneau and Kevin King each take a victory. Friday's qualifying session saw a record in the history of the series, with 33 competitors competing and leaving young Justin Arseneau to take his seventh pole position in seven races so far this season.

As for Valérie Limoges, she jumps on top of the point standings, becoming the first woman to ever lead the Championship in eight years (six years of the Micra Cup and two years of the Sentra Cup). Following her performance this past weekend, Valerie also becomes the first-ever female driver to lead a national motorsports series in Canada.

A notable name in motorsport joined the Sentra Cup during the 52nd edition of the Grand Prix de Trois-Rivieres, Freddie Hunt, son of legendary Formula 1 champion James Hunt. A career first, Hunt made his racing debut in North America by competing in the Nissan Sentra Cup, at the wheel of the #96 Sentra, the number his father had when he competed at the Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières during the Formula Atlantic race in 1976. Freddie finished both races in twelfth and then seventh place respectively. When asked about his experience at the Championship, he said: "I was pleasantly surprised to see that my father's memories were still very present. I knew the story of his participation in 1976, but in Europe, nobody talks about it. Everyone here was talking about it. It was very touching."

Fans can tune in to read all the race weekend highlights in this edition of the Nissan Sentra Cup Magazine. The magazine includes an interview with Freddie Hunt, the driver who competed in a motorsports event in North America, and in the Nissan Sentra Cup, for the first time in his career!

The Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières race weekend is the fourth of six events, in what is shaping up to be a successful second season of the Nissan Sentra Cup. The next event in the 2022 Nissan Sentra Cup series will be the Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, held in Bowmanville, Ontario. 

You can download the magazine by clicking here!

Justin Arseneau and Kevin King are the winners of the Nissan Sentra Cup races at the Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières

NISSAN SENTRA CUP - The Nissan Sentra Cup staged this weekend the seventh and eighth rounds of its 2022 season as part of the 52nd edition of the Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières. Action raged in both races and saw Justin Arseneau win on Saturday and Kevin King finish first on Sunday.

Friday's qualifying session, held for the 33 entered competitors (a record in the history of the series!), saw young Justin Arseneau take his seventh pole position in seven races so far this season. Point standings' leader Simon Charbonneau set the fastest time, but got penalized and had to start the first race from the fourth position behind Arseneau, Alexandre Fortin and Valérie Limoges, winner in Trois-Rivières last year.

Staged in front of packed grandstands, Saturday's race was highly spectacular. Pole position holder Justin Arseneau, who celebrated his seventeenth birthday only three days before the event, made a good start and remained in first place all race long. However, he was under tremendous pressure from Simon Charbonneau, Kevin King and Alexandre Fortin. Those three battled hard to dislodge Arseneau from the lead, but they endured different outcomes. Charbonneau, the championship leader before Trois-Rivières, hit the wall and was forced to retire, leaving Fortin and King to compete for second and third places. They crossed the finish line in that order.

Valérie Limoges enjoyed a solid race to finish fourth, a place that propelled her on top of the point standings - a first in the history of the series. André Lapointe, Éric Chaput, Nicolas Miron, Frédéric Chaput, Sylvain Ouellet and Normand Boyer completed the Top 10. These six drivers fought fiercely for positions all race long.

For his first career race in the Sentra Cup, Freddie Hunt finished twelfth, right behind Nicolas Barrette. Jean-Michel Isabelle captured victory in the Micra class which also displayed intense competition. Isabelle was making his return to the series. He finished ahead of Martin Barrette and Samuel Rowe.

Sunday's race was held in front of an impressive crowd and under beaming sun. Kevin King started the race from pole position, with Alexandre Fortin alongside. If Fortin quickly lost touch with King, the latter remained in the lead throughout the race, put under pressure by Justin Arseneau first, and then by Sylvain Ouellet who drove a stunning race.

A collision between Daniel Fortin and Frédéric Chaput sadly forced the officials to neutralize the race. The cars crossed the finish line behind the official Nissan Z (the safety car of the series). Kevin King captured victory ahead of Sylvain Ouellet and Éric Chaput. After a challenging start to the season, Nicolas Barrette earned a well-deserved Top 4 finish, ahead of Simon Charbonneau, André Lapointe and Freddie Hunt. Valérie Limoges finished the event in eighth place and retains the lead in the drivers' championship ahead of Simon Charbonneau.

In the Micra class, this second race of the weekend was hotly disputed again. Jean-Michel Isabelle was the victor for a second time in succession. Frédéric Bernier and radio host Benoît Gagnon took the other two steps on the podium.

In addition to the two scheduled races, fans of the Trois-Rivières Grand Prix could visit the series' paddocks without restrictions, admire the brand-new Nissan Z and meet the drivers and their teammates. They were also numerous to hone their driving skills on the simulator allowing them to drive the Nissan Z virtually.

Actress and Nissan brand ambassador in Québec Karine Vanasse was also onsite on Saturday to cheer on the Nissan Sentra Cup drivers and present the top three drivers with their trophies on the podium.

The next event will take place early September, on Labour Day weekend, when the Cup returns to Canadian Tire Motorsport Park in Bowmanville, Ontario. This will represent the penultimate event of the 2022 season.

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

Third edition of the Nissan Sentra Cup Magazine out

NISSAN SENTRA CUP - The third edition of the 2022 Sentra Cup Magazine is out now, featuring highlights from Nissan Sentra Cup’s weekend at Circuit Mont-Tremblant.

The action-packed weekend saw Simon Charbonneau and Alexandre Fortin each take a victory. Under a hot summer sun, Saturday morning saw young Justin Arseneau take another pole position, just over four tenths of a second ahead of championship leader Simon Charbonneau. Olivier Bédard followed in third place. Bédard, a three-time series champion during the Nissan Micra Cup era, made his debut in Sentra and immediately climbed into the front runners. Alexandre Fortin and Valérie Limoges followed.

On Sunday, under the threat of rain, the second qualifying and race were just as intense. Once again, Justin Arseneau took pole position, ahead of Simon Charbonneau, Alexandre Fortin, Valérie Limoges and Daniel Fortin, Alexandre's father. In the race, a small contact on the first lap between Arseneau and Fortin opened the door to Charbonneau, Limoges and Fortin for victory. The three drivers swapped positions several times. Charbonneau finally won with only 187 thousandths of a second over Valérie Limoges.

Fans can tune in to read all the race weekend highlights in the latest edition of the Nissan Sentra Cup Magazine. The magazine includes an interview with Olivier Bédard that made his debut in the Nissan Sentra Cup at Circuit Mont-Tremblant.

The Circuit Mont-Tremblant race weekend is the third of six events in what is shaping up to be a successful season of the Nissan Sentra Cup. The next event in the 2022 Nissan Sentra Cup series event will be at the Circuit de Trois-Rivières, Quebec.

You can download the magazine by clicking here!

Simon Charbonneau Mid-Season Nissan Sentra Cup Champion

NISSAN SENTRA CUP - The Nissan Sentra Cup presented this weekend at Circuit Mont-Tremblant the fifth and sixth rounds of its 2022 season. Two races were won by Alexandre Fortin on Saturday, followed by Simon Charbonneau on Sunday, which marked the mid-season.

Under a hot summer sun, Saturday morning saw young Justin Arseneau take another pole position, just over four tenths of a second ahead of championship leader Simon Charbonneau. Olivier Bédard followed in third place. Bédard, a three-time series champion during the Nissan Micra Cup era, made his debut in Sentra and immediately climbed into the front runners. Alexandre Fortin and Valérie Limoges followed.

In the afternoon, the race, which for the first time in the Series' history was run in 45 minutes, was spectacular. The race saw some drivers push very hard during the first laps, at the risk of prematurely wearing out their tires, while others were more economical in an attempt to gain a few places in the last laps.

In the end, Alexandre Fortin came back on the winners' circle, after having won in Ontario at the start of the season. The driver of the Ste-Foy and Beauport Nissan team resisted the pressure of Charbonneau in the first laps, then Arseneau. Justin Arseneau, who started fifth following a penalty, finished in Fortin's rear bumper while Olivier Bédard completed the podium.

Simon Charbonneau, Valérie Limoges, Éric Chaput, Sylvain Ouellet, André Lapointe, Mathieu Miron, Normand Boyer, Frédéric Chaput and Jean Audet followed. In the Micra class, François Angers-Routhier, Simon Vincent and Nicolas Barrette collected the Top 3.

On Sunday, under the threat of rain, the second qualifying and race were just as intense. Once again, Justin Arseneau took pole position, ahead of Simon Charbonneau, Alexandre Fortin, Valérie Limoges and Daniel Fortin, Alexandre's father.

In the race, a small contact on the first lap between Arseneau and Fortin opened the door to Charbonneau, Limoges and Fortin for victory. The three drivers swapped positions several times. Charbonneau finally won with only 187 thousandths of a second over Valérie Limoges. With this victory, Charbonneau takes the honorary title of 2022 mid-season champion.

Additionally, Olivier Bédard collects his second podium of the weekend. He finishes ahead of Normand Boyer, Éric Chaput, Sylvain Ouellet and Alexandre Fortin, who had an off-course excursion in the second half of the race. Frédéric Chaput, André Lapointe and Mathieu Miron complete the Top 10. In the Micra class, it's another success for François Angers-Routhier, ahead of Nicolas Barrette and Simon Vincent.

The next event will take place in two weeks, when the series will be featured at the infamous Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières. More than 30 drivers are expected at the Nissan Sentra Cup on August 5, 6 and 7 in Trois-Rivières, a record for the Series. The britt Freddie Hunt, the son of legendary Formula 1 champion James Hunt, will make his debut in the series at this event.

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

Hilton & Moss introduces an exceptionally rare-breed 1966 Shelby GT350 to its classic and prestige vehicle sales stable

THE HILTON GROUP - Hilton & Moss, the world-class specialists in the sales and servicing of classic and prestige vehicles, bring an octane-fuelled injection of race-primed muscle to their sales showroom with a stunning 1966 example of the Shelby GT350.

 

Fully converted from road-ruling muscle car to pure-blooded racer, this Shelby GT350 was created in the same year as Ford’s legendary win at the 24 Hours of Le Mans against the might of Ferrari – bringing the spirit, speed and sound of Carroll Shelby’s history-making racers from the track to the open road.

 

The ‘Candy Apple Red’ Shelby GT350 acquired by Hilton & Moss exudes a race-ready presence, proudly honouring the monumental achievement of its cousins at the Circuit de la Sarthe with its imposing ‘Le Mans’ stripes.

 

The impressive exterior only offers a small hint of its racing pedigree, however – upholding a particularly rare status as one of only 12 examples produced in 1966 that competed during the period, and making it a truly worthy standard-bearer for carrying Carroll Shelby’s name.

Destined from the start-line for racing, the Shelby GT350 was delivered from the Shelby team’s seasoned hands to Hayward Motors California, where it was prepared from the wheels-up to comprehensive racing specification.

Sold to a Mr Arthur Flores competing in SCCA California, Hayward Motors California supported Mr Flores with the Shelby GT350’s first racing venture, going on to compete extensively at Riverside and Laguna Seca until 1975.

Upholding its racing-inspired heritage, the Shelby GT350 continued to compete at top-flight circuits from Road Atlanta and Sebring, to Palm Beach and Watkins Glen. Following a meticulous restoration, it maintained its racing credentials in the hands of Mr James K Dobbs, a well-known collector, who competed in the storied example at Road Atlanta in 1985 and 1986.

The fourth owner ran the vehicle at the SAAC-19 1994, before transforming its eye-catching red paintwork to the iconic Wimbledon White synonymous with the ’65 generation of Shelby GT350s.

Receiving a full restoration in 1996 at the hands of Liebenberg and Kenworthy, the Shelby GT350 regained its head-turning red and white lustre, opening the next chapter of its journey in the UK in the careful storage of its new owner, who cherished the vehicle until its sale by RM Sotheby’s in 2017.

Undergoing a comprehensive mechanical rework in March 2022 worth over £8,300, the Mustang is fully primed and ready to roar onto the open road – proudly carrying its sporting heritage and the mantle of Carroll Shelby’s track-to-road philosophy.

 

The Hilton Group Founder, Peter Hilton, said: “Carroll Shelby’s achievements on the racetrack and the open road are part of a story every true petrolhead can fall in love with; it’s a tale of hard graft, passion for speed and performance, and giving normal drivers the opportunity to experience the world of motorsport. Offering someone the chance to experience that story with our Shelby GT350 is a truly exciting prospect, and we look forward to facilitating the next chapter of this amazing vehicle’s journey.”

 

Additional detail on the Shelby GT350 can be found on the listing page here, with further information on the Hilton & Moss business available here.

Second edition of the Nissan Sentra Cup Magazine out now

NISSAN SENTRA CUP - The second edition of the 2022 Sentra Cup Magazine is out now, featuring highlights from Nissan Sentra Cup’s weekend at Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve in Montreal as part of the Formula 1 Grand Prix du Canada.

The action-packed weekend saw Simon Charbonneau and Stefan Rzadzinski win the two races. Valérie Limoges and Marie-Soleil Labelle both won a Top 3, a first time since Valérie Chiasson became the first female driver in the history of the Grand Prix du Canada to stand on the overall podium.

Shortened by weather conditions and a long full-course yellow, this first race saw Charbonneau win with just over a second ahead of Rzadzinski. After the rain and cold on Saturday, the sun was back for the second Nissan Sentra Cup race at this 2022 edition of the Grand Prix du Canada on Sunday. With the encouragements of Karine Vanasse, the actress and spokesperson for Nissan in Quebec, and tens of thousands of fans in the grandstands, Stefan Rzadzinski returned to victory, exactly seven years after he triumphed in the Nissan Micra Cup on the same circuit Gilles-Villeneuve.

Fans can tune in to read all the race weekend highlights in the latest edition of the Nissan Sentra Cup Magazine (attached). The magazine includes an interview with Western Canadian driver Stefan Rzadzinski, who tells us more about this winning comeback.

The Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve race weekend is the second of six events in what is shaping up to be a successful season of the Nissan Sentra Cup. The next event in the 2022 Nissan Sentra Cup series event will be at the Circuit Mont-Tremblant, Quebec.

You can download the Nissan Sentra Cup Magazine right here!

Simon Charbonneau and Stefan Rzadzinski win the Nissan Sentra Cup races presented at the Grand Prix du Canada

NISSAN SENTRA CUP - Presented this weekend as part of the Formula 1 Grand Prix du Canada, the third and fourth races of the 2022 Nissan Sentra Cup season were won by Simon Charbonneau, in the rain on Saturday, then by Stefan Rzadzinski Sunday, under the sun.

The popular Canadian motorsport series has also made history at Formula 1 more than once. Valérie Chiasson became the first female driver in the history of the Grand Prix du Canada to stand on the overall podium, during a race Coupe Nissan Micra in 2015. This weekend, Valérie Limoges and Marie-Soleil Labelle both won a Top 3, one in the overall standings and the other in the Micra class, at the end of Saturday's race.

No other motorsport series offers more success to female drivers on the circuit Gilles-Villeneuve in Montreal other than the Nissan Sentra Cup, and while Valérie Limoges is familiar with the Top 3 and even victories in the series, this is a very first podium at the GP of Canada for the young (18 years old) Marie-Soleil Labelle, who is a rookie at the event.

Nissan Sentra Cup drivers had the honour of being the first to hit the track at this Formula 1 Grand Prix du Canada, the country's premier sporting event, back on the calendar for the first time since 2019. On Friday morning, the twenty-eight drivers of the series competed in their free practice session.

Following that, the qualifying session, in front of already full grandstands, saw Justin Arseneau, another young talent of 16, take pole position with his Nissan Sentra from the ICAR Racing Team. Stefan Rzadzinski, Alexandre Fortin, Simon Charbonneau (the winners of the first two races of the season) and defending champion Kevin King completed the top 5.

After the hot sun on Friday, an icy wind greeted fans at the track on Saturday morning. The drivers' task was complicated as the rain made its appearance just before the start of the Nissan Sentra Cup race, forcing the mechanics to do a quick switch from slick to rain tires just before the green flag.

Shortened by weather conditions and a long full-course yellow, this first race saw Charbonneau win with just over a second ahead of Rzadzinski. Valérie Limoges completed the podium, her first on the Gilles-Villeneuve circuit, ahead of Kevin King, Daniel Fortin, Mathieu Miron, Simon Dion-Viens, Alexandre Fortin, Sylvain Ouellet and Éric Chaput.

In the Micra class, Samuel Rowe won his first victory, ahead of François Angers-Routhier, the championship leader, and Marie-Soleil Labelle. She finishes in front of the popular radio host Benoît Gagnon by a few hundredths of a second.

After the rain and cold on Saturday, the sun was back for the second Nissan Sentra Cup race at this 2022 edition of the Grand Prix du Canada on Sunday. With the encouragements of Karine Vanasse, the actress and spokesperson for Nissan in Quebec, and tens of thousands of fans in the grandstands, Stefan Rzadzinski returned to victory, exactly seven years after he triumphed in the Nissan Micra Cup on the same circuit Gilles-Villeneuve.

The Western Canadian driver won ahead of Kevin King and Simon Charbonneau after a short and spectacular race, but ended under yellow flag. Valérie Limoges, Éric Chaput, Sylvain Ouellet, Mathieu Miron, André Lapointe, Nicolas Touchette and Frédéric Chaput completed the top 10.

In the Micra class, Samuel Rowe took his second victory of the weekend, ahead of François Angers-Routhier, while Benoît Gagnon climbed on the podium. Marie-Soleil Labelle and Martin Barrette finished fourth and fifth.

The next event will take place in five weeks, at Circuit Mont-Tremblant (July 23-24).

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

Double-header of the Nissan Sentra Cup at the Formula 1 Grand Prix du Canada this weekend!

NISSAN SENTRA CUP - The Nissan Sentra Cup will be part of Canada's biggest sporting event this weekend, the famous Formula 1 Grand Prix du Canada. Held on the circuit Gilles- Villeneuve, this year's event is expected to be a record-breaking sell-out. For JD Promotion & Competition - promoter of the Cup - for Nissan Canada and for the 30 or so entered drivers and the thousands of fans of the popular Canadian motorsport series, this undoubtedly will be one of the highlights of the 2022 season.

Located on Montréal's Ile Notre-Dame, the circuit Gilles-Villeneuve has been the scene of the Grand Prix du Canada since 1978. This 2022 edition also marks the return of the event and the Formula One World Championship to Canada after it's cancellation for the past two years.

Launched last year on Canadian road courses, the Nissan Sentra Cup will be making its maiden appearance at the prestigious event. However, some of the series' drivers have already raced on circuit Gilles-Villeneuve as the Nissan Micra Cup was part of the Grand Prix program in 2015.

Nearly thirty drivers are entered for this double-header. In addition to the regular competitors, defending Cup champion Kevin King will be making his return to competition. He will surely fight for victory against the first two winners of 2022, Alexandre Fortin and Simon Charbonneau, who captured a victory each in the opening two races of the season held in Ontario in May. Other possible race winners include Valérie Limoges, the young and very promising Justin Arseneau (the current leader in the drivers' championship), veteran Normand Boyer and Sylvain Ouellet. Competitors who've been unlucky in the first event of the season, like NASCAR driver Simon Dion-Viens, Nicolas Barrette, André Lapointe and Éric Chaput who this season is teaming up with his son on the Sentra entered by the Gabriel Group, will do everything possible to climb the podium in Montréal.

Noteworthy is Stefan Rzadzinski's debut in the Cup behind the wheel of one of Groupe Touchette's Nissan Sentras. The Alberta driver captured victory in one of the two Nissan Micra Cup races held at the Grand Prix du Canada in 2015.

In the Micra class, François Angers-Routhier will do his best to extend his domination after winning the first two races of the season at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, Ontario. Popular radio host Benoit Gagnon will be competing in the Micra category in Montréal. Gagnon contested the Micra Cup race held at the Grand Prix du Canada in 2015.  

The Nissan Sentra Cup drivers will be in action four times during the weekend for the delight of the race fans who will sit in packed grandstands, as well as thousands of guests in the suites and other Formula 1 hospitality units. On Friday, Cup drivers will have the honour of being the first to take to the track for the sole free practice session to get to grips with the 4.361-km F1 track. This practice session will run from 8:25 am to 8:55 am and will be followed at 10:55 am by a 30-minute qualifying session for the two races of the weekend.

The first race will go green at 10:20 am Saturday, June 18 and the second race will start at 10:10 am Sunday, June 19, less than four hours before the start of the 51st Formula 1 Grand Prix du Canada, Round 9 of the 2022 Formula 1 World Championship. The two, 15-lap Sentra Cup races will be shown on the giant screens located around the track.

In addition to the on-track action, the 300,000-and-plus spectators expected to attend the event will have the chance to pay visit to the Nissan Sentra Cup paddock, located behind the east hairpin corner of circuit Gilles-Villeneuve. The paddock will be easily accessible and will be the home of the Sentra and Micra cars and their teams. Fans will also have the chance to look at the new Sentra Cup Safety Car, the new Nissan Z.

Actress and Nissan brand ambassador in Québec Karine Vanasse will also attend the event on Sunday to cheer on the Nissan Sentra Cup racers. After the 2021 Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières, this will mark her second appearance at an event of the Cup.

To follow the Nissan Sentra Cup on social media:
Facebook: @CoupeSentraCup
Instagram: @nissansentracup
Twitter: @SentraCup
YouTube: SentraCupTV

Nissan Sentra Cup on-track activities
- Free practice sessions: Friday June 17, 8:25 am to 8:55 am
- Qualifying session: Friday June 17, 10:55 am to 11:25 am
- Race 1: Saturday June 18, 10:20 am to 10:50 am
- Race 2: Sunday June 19, 10:10 am to 10:40 am

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