Nissan: The Nissan Micra Cup in action at the Grand Prix du Canada

Mississauga, Ontario – The Canadian motorsport community is celebrating this week as it gears up for its biggest event of the year, the Grand Prix du Canada 2015, held on the circuit Gilles-Villeneuve in Montréal, June 5-7. After having treated spectators during its big debut two weeks ago at the Circuit Mont-Tremblant, the Nissan Micra Cup will play an integral role in this weekend’s world-class event. Two races are scheduled, one on Saturday afternoon and the other on Sunday morning, shortly before the start of the Formula 1 Grand Prix, which will no doubt be in front of thousands of spectators in the stands.

The Nissan Micra – the reliable and fun car to drive both on the road and race on the track – has already provided plenty of excitement and several novelties for the Nissan Micra Cup, the most affordable series in Canadian motorsports. This second meeting will mark the series debut of veteran driver Richard Spénard, Gilles Villeneuve’s former teammate (Formula Atlantic, 1977), who built his reputation in the racing community by being a racing instructor and winning a multitude of championships. Richard Spénard, whose résumé is surely one of the most exceptional of all Canadian drivers, will be behind the wheel of the fourth car for the ALBI le Géant team.

Other newcomers in the series will be Kevin King, a young Québec driver from karting, and television host Benoît Gagnon, who competed in the Canadian Touring Car Championship in 2013.

These drivers will have a demanding task ahead of them against the 23 others expected to contest the two races. Among the competitors is the young Nissan GT Academy driver and winner of the first two races, Thanaroj Thanasitnitike* from Thailand, as well as drivers matching the calibre of Olivier Bédard, who is the very first pole position winner in the history of the Micra Cup series and second place finisher in Mont-Tremblant’s second race.

It will also surely be of interest to follow the novice drivers, who for the most part, were turning heads during the first two races as they battled tenaciously near the front of the pack.

On the circuit Gilles-Villeneuve this weekend, at least 15 different drivers have the potential of stepping onto the podium, where just a few hours later, the winner of the Formula 1 Grand Prix du Canada winner will spray champagne! However, interest in the series will not be restricted to just the track. The paddock, which is located behind the eastern hairpin, is accessible to all general admission ticket holders and the Nissan Micra Cup teams and organizers are inviting everyone to come see the race-spec Micras and the series drivers.

On Friday, the drivers will be in action for free practice from 8:15 a.m. to 8:45 a.m., prior to their only qualifying session of the weekend from 5:15 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. The first of two races will be at 4:30 p.m. Saturday with the second taking place on Sunday at 10:00 a.m. The Nissan Micra Cup races will be 30 minutes in duration.

Don’t miss Micra Cup news on the Facebook page Coupe Nissan Micra Cup and see the posts/live results during practice and qualifying sessions, and races on Twitter: @micracup

For more information on the Nissan Micra Cup and its driver, please visit www.nissan.ca/micracup.

*Drivers entry list and championship standings are attached to this press release.

Nissan Micra Cup 2015 Season Schedule:

 

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