CTCC - Drivers compete in tough conditions at Calabogie

Markham, ON’s Gary Kwok became the first three-time winner of the CTCC tour this year, scoring back-to-back victories in the Grand Touring class despite suffering mechanical difficulties in the late stages of Sunday’s feature event.

“I broke a front drive shaft with three laps to go and the car just wouldn’t steer,” explained the driver of the No. 66 M&S Racing Mitsubishi Evo. “I tried to transfer the power to the rear wheels, but I still needed to steer it with the throttle.”

The Blanchet Racing/ Hyundai Canada teammates shared the second step of the Grand Touring podium with Bob Attrell (No. 88 Genesis) taking second spot in the weekend opener. An opening-lap crash in Race Two eliminated Attrell from the finishing order, but it opened the door for Damon Sharpe in the No. 84 car to secure that position.

Series newcomer Chris Sahakian (No. 99 Ford Mustang) notched his first ever pro series podium with a third place result on Saturday, and repeated the accomplishment one day later.

Eric Hochgeschurz was overwhelmed when he scored his first career CTCC Super Touring class win at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park. The driver of the No. 11 8-Legs Racing BMW was even more surprised when he inherited the class lead at the mid-point of Saturday’s race when Scott Nicol developed an issue. It was later discovered to be an electronic problem with the throttle position sensor aboard the No. 41 Civic, when he entered the Quarry complex of turns.

Said Nicol, “The car just quit. I knew it was something with the electrics, so I had to reset the whole thing. By the time I got the car back under power, Eric was past.”

Attempting to rebound from his mechanical woes, Nicol began a spirited pursuit of Hochgeschurz’s BMW but overdid the braking coming off of the back straight, ran wide, and was forced to settle for the runner-up position in the opening race.

Things did not go much better for the Velocity Motorsports Team on Sunday as a three-lap pit stop to repair a similar throttle condition left them out of the running.

Daniel wins Super Touring class

With two of his major rivals either out of contention or running deep in the field, Jerimy Daniel cautiously raced his way forward from his fourth row starting position to move past first time Super Touring class pole sitter Karl Wittmer on Lap 3 to assume the class lead. Managing the damp track conditions, Daniel guided his No. 10 Porsche Cayman S to the victory; his first win in CTCC competition.

“The wet conditions definitely helped me,” admitted Daniel, “but I was able to keep a good consistent pace and turned safe laps until the end.”

Touring class action

Former open-wheel racer Mac Korince may be a novice in CTCC, but he has definitely proven that he has the speed and talent to fit into the Touring class title hunt.

Pursuing past champion Michel Sallenbach (No. 46 MINI Coupe) throughout the first half of Saturday’s 40-minute contest, Korince took advantage of motor problems in his rival’s MINI to snatch the lead away and carry it to the checkered flag to secure his first CTCC victory.

“I could see the 46 was having motor issues, he would be running okay and then he would slow, it seemed to be an off-and-on problem for him. We exchanged the lead a coupled of times before I finally got past him on the back straight,” recalled the driver of the No. 52 Honda Civic.

Relegated to his back-up MINI Cooper for Sunday’s feature race, Sallenbach returned to competition but was forced to start from the tail end of the field. Displaying the discipline and skill of a series veteran, Sallenbach picked off his opponents one at a time, eventually working past Octane Racing teammate Andre Kisel on Lap 11 to grab the Touring class lead. Opening a slight advantage over his pursuers, Sallenbach accepted the checkered flag for the victory, crossing the stripe 4.712 seconds in front of Korince, with the No. 48 of Paul Gravel completing the podium positions.

“This car has been good to me,” smiled Sallenbach. “And it’s just a marvellous little car in the rain!”

RACE RESULTS (top 3) Calabogie Motorsports Park

June 4, 2016
GRAND TOURING: 1. No.66 Gary Kwok, 2. No.88 Bob Attrell, 3. No.99 Chris Sahakian.
SUPER TOURING: 1. No.11 Eric Hochgeschurz, 2. No.41 Scott Nicol, 3. No.10 Jerimy Daniel.
TOURING: 1. No.52 Mac Korince, 2. No.46 Michel Sallenbach, 3. No.48 Paul Gravel.

June 5, 2016
GRAND TOURING: 1. No.66 Gary Kwok, 2. No.84 Damon Sharpe, 3. No.99 Chris Sahakian.
SUPER TOURING: 1. No.10 Jerimy Daniels, 2. No.91 Karl Wittmer, 3. No.55 Tom Kwok.
TOURING: 1. No.46 Michel Sallenbach, 2. No.52 Mac Korince, 3. No.48 Paul Gravel.

CTCC