QTCC: Sanair race weekend notes

Another record turnout for the Quebec Hankook Championship in Sanair

Ste-Pie-de-Bagot, May 29, 2005 Almost 70 registrants were in attendance this weekend for the second round of the Quebec Hankook Championship of the Auto-Quebec Federation. In the Hankook Touring class, 23 cars took the start of a race seeing vice-champion 2004 Jocelyn Hébert (Aucra Integra) climb back to the top of the score sheet. While the GTO, GTU and GT class were all led by "old timers", another racing family took the fight to the Audette brothers in the Excellence Chrysler Formula 1600 Cup.

Touring Hankook

After scoring third in the opening round in St-Eustache, Jocelyn Hébert (Trois-Rivières Acura) showed up in Sanair with a mission, take down the GT Racing drivers. Hébert registered the pole position in qualification and quickly shook off the competition to claim his first win of the season. Driver Bobby Hamel (BMW 328i) of the GT Racing team and Ontarian Travis Walker (Acura RSX Type S) of the Kensai Racing team completed the podium in second and third place respectively.

Of note, driver Yves Bédard (VW Golf) again came very close to a podium, with another fourth place like in St-Eustache during the first round. Rookie Babu, Musique Plus video-jockey, showed some progress with a ninth place in qualifying, but lack of experience running in traffic brought him down to fourteenth at the finish line.

Excellence Chrysler Formula 1600 Cup

The 2004 season belonged to brothers Mathieu and Rémy Audette, respectively Champion and Vice-Champion last year. Will 2005 see the rise of a new pair of quick and dominating family members? Michel Bonnet and his son Olivier made their mark early this weekend, scoring the first and second position in qualifying in front of brothers Mathieu and Rémy Audette, third and fourth. Olivier Bonnet took advantage of his pole position to run away for a win, followed by Marcel Lafontaine and Mathieu Audette. Michel Bonnet scored sixth and Rémy Audette fourteenth.

GTO / GTU

The GTO class returned in Sanair, and driver Malcolm Strachan dominated from end to end bringing the Konica Mobil 1 Chevrolet Corvette no 22 to the winner's circle. The Kingston, Ontario racer took the pole in front of Fernand Leblanc (Porsche 911 GT2) and found clear sailing from then on coming in first of the entire GTO/GTU field. In GTU class, Fernando Scottolin brought his Porsche 911 home in first place in front of rookie Jean-Louis Arpin, who scored his second podium in two races. Louis-Charles Cadieux drove his Volkswagen Rabbit to the third place.

The Quebec Hankook Championship finally took the wrap off the new GT class. Populated by cars similar to the ones racing in the american series Speed World Challenge, the GT class came to life with a bang. The double-header saw 2004 GTO Champ Fernand Leblanc (Porsche 911 GT2) on the podium twice, once for the win and another for a second place. Behind him twice was Erik Kerub (Acura NSX SC). The second part of the double-header was claimed by Jean-Luc Hébert (Porsche 911).

The next round of the Quebec Hankook Championship will be held on the St-Félicien circuit on June 24, 25 and 26.

About the Hankook Quebec Championship
The Championship is proud of its prestigious partners : Hankook Tires, Excellence Chrysler, Motul, Cogismaq, Trac Racing Depot, G-nius Communication, Optik Design, Lettrage Provan and RDS Motorisé.

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