Canada TCC: Octane Motorsports Trois-Rivieres summary

Lauzière leads the championship behind the wheel of the GoFast Sports MINI Cooper S; Dion-Viens on the podium in Trois-Rivières

Alain Lauzière, driver of the GO FAST Sports- Octane Motorsport MINI Cooper S, took the championship lead in the Touring class of the Castrol Canadian Touring Car Championship race, after the Trois-Rivières Grand Prix weekend. Lauzière qualified his - MINI Original Accessories - Cooper S in third position, right behind the championship leader. After the start where the 3 Touring-class leaders were fighting together, they were able to catch a back-marker from the Super Touring class. Lauzière was involved with a collision with him: "I thought that our right front suspension was damaged as I had difficulties turning left" mentioned Lauzière. The right front tire was suffering from a slow leak and let go three laps later. The #47MINI Cooper S would lose 2 laps in the process. Lauzière bringing back the Go FAST Sports MINI in 12th position.

The Sunday race did not bring much better results to the team, Lauzière would cross the finish line in 7th position after having problems under braking conditions.

Trois-Rivières represented an important event for the Octane team as they were debuting the second MINI Cooper S in their stable. Local journalist Jacques Deshaies and Simon-Dion Viens would share driving duties, each one taking turn to ster the #46 MINI Cooper S.

Deshaies qualified the Castrol MINI Cooper S in 12th position, without any prior practice in the car. He would drive all the way back up to finish in 4th place during Saturday's race, but the car was unfortunately disqualified for a ride height infraction: "We feel sorry for Jacques; he deserved this fantastic finish having driven a very intelligent race, but unfortunately these adjustments are part of setting-up a new car and can happen", mentioned team-owner Lauzière.

Because of the driver change, Dion-Viens started from the back of the field but would drive the car back to 3rd position after a spectacular drive, clinching the last step of the podium. "The MINI Cooper was so pleasing to drive; it's so well-balanced" said Dion-Viens.

The Championship leader of the Touring class would only gather a few points in Trois-Rivières, having issues with his Honda Civic engine all weekend long. As a result, Lauzière is now taking the lead away in the championship.

The GoFast Sports-Octane team will be back on-track on September 5-6 at the Icar circuit in Mirabel.

-credit: om