Mississauga, Ont. – Next weekend, the Nissan Micra Cup is hosting its seventh and eighth races of the 2017 season during the well-known Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières. A record number of tickets have already been sold and fans can expect to see an action-packed race as five Nissan Micra Cup drivers battle for the title. Nissan Canada is also putting on a number of fun events for fans and Nissan owners, extending the excitement far beyond the track.
After slightly increasing his margin at the top of the championship leaderboard following his win at the Circuit Mont-Tremblant last month, Quebec driver Kevin King heads into the event with the hopes of maintaining his lead ahead of Total teammates Xavier Coupal and Olivier Bédard, respective 2016 and 2015 champions. In addition to these three favourites, Jean-Michel Isabelle’s two victories early on in the season cannot be discounted, nor can Australian Keishi Ayukai, who currently sits in fifth place.
Normand Boyer, sixth overall and top ranking in the senior class, will be battling for a victory after being passed by Metod Topolnik in three of the last four races. Nicolas Barrette, the son of famous comedian and fellow series driver Michel Barrette, currently dominates the novice class.
In addition to being acknowledged for his performance on the track as part of the Nissan Micra Cup, Michael Barrette, the well-known actor and comedian, will also star in the free show “From the Track to the Stage”, presented by Nissan Canada. This show will take place at the Trois-Rivières Parc Portuaire downtown on Saturday, August 12 at 8:00 p.m. Kevin Bazinet, winner of the popular Quebec reality show La Voix 3, will follow Michel Barrette on stage with a few of his own songs as well as covers.
“We wanted to organize a unique family event that could unite Nissan owners around the Nissan Micra Cup in order to thank them for their loyalty to the brand,” explained Joni Paiva, president, Nissan Canada. “It’s important for us to meet and thank our clients and for that reason, we have put together this event for them to enjoy. We are really looking forward to welcoming Michel Barrette and Kevin Bazinet, two Quebec celebrities, for an exciting show that will combine humour and music. Trois-Rivières is the ideal location to hold this event. The Mauricie region is in the middle of Quebec, enabling many of our clients from all over the province to attend and discover the superb spectacle put forth on the track by the Nissan Micra Cup drivers.”
A VIP section in front of the stage will be reserved exclusively for Nissan owners. In order to access this section, all people need to do is bring their Nissan car key. They can also take advantage of the perfect vantage point to admire the evening’s fireworks display “La Magie des Feux”, which will take place immediately following the show.
In addition, Nissan owners are once again invited to attend the event free-of-charge (two general admission tickets per owner), by registering at: http://www.micracup.com/eventregistration/. The offer is open to the first 350 people who register.
Many on-site activities will also be available for Nissan owners to take part in. By showing their Nissan keys, Nissan owners can gain access to the Nissan hospitality tent featuring a relaxing area within the Nissan Micra Cup paddock. They will also have the chance to drive a Nissan GT-R race simulator, participate in exclusive contests, enjoy refreshments, and more. Visitors will also have access to the Nissan Micra Cup teams’ area and will have the opportunity to meet the series’ drivers.
Nissan owners that visit the Nissan hospitality tent at the Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières site will also receive an exclusive invitation to participate in the “Grand BBQ Nissan”, which is taking place on Saturday, August 12 at 6:00 p.m. near the main stage located at the Parc Portuaire downtown.
There are at least 26 Nissan Micra Cup drivers entered to compete this weekend, and they will be on the track a total of four times:
- On Friday, August 11, from 12:15 to 12:45 p.m. for a practice session, followed by a qualifying session from 3:55 to 4:25 p.m.
- On Saturday, August 12 for the first of two races at 10:45 a.m., followed by a drivers’ autograph session at 12:00 p.m. in the Nissan Micra Cup paddock, located behind the track’s first turn.
- And on Sunday, August 13, for the second race of the weekend at 11:15 a.m., just before the start of the NASCAR ceremony. A second autograph session will also take place from 1:00 to 1:30 p.m.
Twitter users can obtain real time information live from the track by following the series @MicraCup.
All those who aren’t able to attend the Grand Prix de Trois Rivières to see the drivers in action will be able to watch the Nissan Micra Cup qualifying session and two races LIVE on the series’ Facebook page.
Overall championship standings after four races:
http://www.micracup.com/2017-Results_ClassGen.
For more information on the Nissan Micra Cup, please visit: www.nissan.ca/micracup.
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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