The Nissan Micra Cup enters its penultimate event of the season, and last in Ontario, this weekend.
MISSISSAUGA, Ont. – Just over a week ago, the Nissan Micra Cup participated in the Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières (GP3R) as the second-largest series contested. During the weekend’s events, Nissan also played host to memorable off-track activities including a successful evening show. The series now prepares for the penultimate round of the season this weekend at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (CTMP), northeast of Toronto.
CTMP’s NASCAR weekend hosts the third and final outing of the Nissan Micra Cup Ontario season, prior to the series’ grand finale at Circuit Mont-Tremblant at the end of September. The small, practically stock Nissan Micra S cars will be in the company of two major NASCAR series: the Canadian series, which includes several former Nissan Micra Cup drivers, and NASCAR’s popular Truck American Championship, which amazes tens of thousands of spectators with its monstrous and heavily modified trucks at the series’ only annual Canadian event.
With the Nissan Micra Cup paddocks located just metres from the NASCAR truck paddocks, all CTMP fans can get up close to the world of NASCAR, as well as the big Nissan Micra Cup family, before they take to the track. While the NASCAR truck drivers master the enormous power of their vehicles, Nissan drivers command their agile Micras in battles that come within tenths of a second.
As the winner of the last two races, contested at the GP3R, Olivier Bédard will attempt to use the two rounds at CTMP to increase his lead in the championship. The two-time series champion (2015, 2017) has a 69-point lead in the championship standings ahead of Kevin King. With a maximum of 88 points attainable by a single driver in a two-race event (including qualifying), the title is still up for grabs. However, if Bédard collects more points and King misses a podium, Bédard could secure the 2018 championship this weekend.
Many Ontario competitors (pictured here Vic Simone ahead of Jake Exton and Eddy Wong) are expected this weekend on the track at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park.
While many eyes will be on the battle for the title, several other drivers will draw fans in for the ninth and tenth rounds of the 2018 season. Englishman Jake Exton, the 2017 Novice Champion, currently sits in third place overall in the series standings. He’ll try to fend off advances by Valérie Limoges and Senior Class leader, Normand Boyer. Additionally, American Mike Ogren is hot on Boyer’s heels after excellent performances at GP3R, and rookie leader Fadi Mourad can still climb within the overall standings.
The CTMP event will welcome Nicolas Barrette back to the track; one of the sons of Michel Barrette, Nicholas was a last-minute entry following two top 10 finishes at GP3R. Many Ontario drivers will also be returning to the track to compete on home soil, including Vic Simone and Eddy Wong of the Nissan Alta Group team, Peter Dyck, Austin Riley and Jake Exton.
A first for a motorsport event in Ontario: The Nissan LEAF will be running as the series’ pace car this weekend.
The 2018 Nissan LEAF all-electric vehicle will be back in action as the official security vehicle of the series, after an exciting outing at the GP3R. It will be the first time a 100 per cent electric car is used as a pace car in an Ontario motorsport event. Following the LEAF’s popular appearance in Trois-Rivières, there is little doubt that it will attract plenty of attention at CTMP this weekend.
The Nissan Micra Cup drivers will take to the track six times this weekend for two practice sessions on Friday, plus two qualifying sessions and two races between Saturday and Sunday. Fans are invited to two autograph sessions in the paddocks, one on Saturday and one on Sunday. Additionally, Nissan Micra owners are invited to attend the entire weekend, free of charge. To register, follow the link to the Nissan Micra Cup site before August 22: https://www.micracup.com/eventregistration/.
The autograph sessions are always an opportunity for fans to talk with the drivers of the Nissan Micra Cup (here Eddy Wong, from Toronto), and to obtain signatures on sometimes unusual objects!
For those who can’t make it to CTMP this weekend, they can still watch everything series drivers have to offer online; the two Nissan Micra Cup races will be broadcast live on YouTube: Micra Cup TV.
Schedule and how to follow the weekend’s events:
- Practice sessions: Friday, August 24, 11:40 a.m. – 12:10 p.m. and 2:40 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
- First race qualifying: Saturday, August 25, 8:25 a.m. – 8:45 a.m.
- First race: Saturday, August 25, 4:10 p.m. – 4:50 p.m.
- Second race qualifying: Sunday, August 26, 9:00 a.m. – 9:20 a.m.
- Second race: Sunday August 26, 5:00 p.m. – 5:40 p.m. (immediately following the NASCAR truck race)
Each of the two races will be for a duration of 40 minutes.
Fans can obtain important information, live from the track, by following the series Twitter account @micracup. They can also watch interviews and exclusive reports on Facebook Live by following the Coupe Nissan Micra Cup Facebook page all weekend long.
Overall 2018 Championship Standings after eight races:
https://www.micracup.com/2018-Results_ClassGen
For more information on the Nissan Micra Cup, please visit www.micracup.com.
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