Mississauga, Ont. – After 10 races spread out across five events, each one as exciting as the last, the 2017 Nissan Micra Cup all comes down to the final race weekend. After competing at the Circuit Mont-Tremblant, Canadian Tire Motorsport Park and the Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières, the drivers are back for the grand finale of the season, which is taking place in the majestic area of Mont-Tremblant as part of the Fall Classic, from September 23-24.
Overall, three drivers could mathematically win the Nissan Micra Cup championship title, but 2016 champion Xavier Coupal, who is currently sitting in third place, would need luck on his side in order to defend his crown and displace the top two drivers. It is likely that one-of-two young Quebec drivers, Olivier Bédard or Kevin King, who will be competing in a highly anticipated battle, will win the championship title.
For the third time in the three seasons since its inauguration, fans must wait until the very last event of the season for the Nissan Micra Cup to declare a champion. This is further testament to the incredible level of competition that exists within this Canadian motorsport series.
Olivier Bédard, of team Total, has 342 points at the top of the championship standings, while Kevin King, of team Sorel-Tracy Nissan, has 315. Bédard, who was the series’ inaugural champion in 2015, currently holds the upper hand in the fight for the title. If Kevin King is victorious in both races, Bédard must at least finish third in one race and fourth in the other in order to claim another championship title. Kevin King, however, has nothing to lose this weekend and will definitely be fighting hard for both race victories.
The overall championship title will be the most watched Nissan Micra Cup battle during the final race weekend in Mont-Tremblant but that’s not the only thing to keep an eye on. In the senior class, Normand Boyer only needs one point to guarantee his title. The novice championship is still very much up in the air.
Englishman Jake Exton took over first place from Nicolas Barrette by the end of the last event but the gap in points is still fairly tight with Exton in the lead (79 points), Vincent Doyle second (70 points) and Nicolas Barrette third (57 points). In fourth place, Torontonian Austin Riley still has a slim chance of claiming the novice class title.
Popular comedian and actor Michel Barrette will also be competing on the track this weekend. He is currently sitting in fifth place in the senior class. Regardless of results, Barrette’s main goal is to enjoy the event alongside his sons Nicolas and Martin, and to perfect his time behind the wheel of his Nissan Micra.
The final race weekend of the season is expected to be an exhilarating one, drawing a large number of fans to the Circuit Mont-Tremblant for the occasion. The Fall Classic is, year after year, the most action-packed event held at the track, which is nestled in the heart of the Laurentian mountains. The Nissan Micra Cup program will no doubt bump interest up a notch among the fans. Once again, Nissan Canada is inviting Nissan Micra drivers to attend the event free-of-charge, where they will be able to take part in the post-championship celebrations on Sunday afternoon, after the completion of the second race.
Nissan Micra Cup drivers will be on the track a total of six times. Two practice sessions will be held on Friday, followed by a qualifying session on Saturday from 9:25-9:45 a.m. and the first race at 1:15 p.m. On Sunday, the day will kick off with a qualifying session from 9:00-9:15 a.m., ahead of the final race of the season, which is set to start at 1:15 p.m.
Twitter users can obtain real time information live from the track by following the series @MicraCup. News and updates will also be posted on the series’ Facebook page.
Overall championship standings after ten races: http://www.micracup.com/2017-Results_ClassGen.php
For more information about the Nissan Micra Cup, please visit: http://www.micracup.com.
2017 Nissan Micra Cup Season Calendar
May 19 – 21 Victoria Day Weekend SpeedFest, Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, Ontario
May 26 – 28 Spring Classic, Circuit Mont-Tremblant, Québec
July 21 – 23 Summer Classic, Circuit Mont-Tremblant, Québec
August 11 – 13 Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières, Québec
September 1 – 3 NASCAR Weekend, Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, Ontario
September 22 – 24 Fall Classic, Circuit Mont-Tremblant, Québec
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