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Xavier Coupal wins 2016 Nissan Micra Cup title

The second season of the Canadian Nissan Micra Cup came to a conclusion this past weekend at the picturesque Circuit Mont-Tremblant, Quebec. Xavier Coupal won both races to earn the first title of his career.

Race and championship winner Xavier Coupal

Race and championship winner Xavier Coupal

Olivier Delorme

Olivier Bédard, Xavier Coupal
Championship podium: Winner Xavier Coupal, second place Olivier Bédard, third place Kevin King, rookie Stefan Gauthier
Xavier Coupal
Xavier Coupal/Bertrand Godin, Stefan Rzadzinski
Xavier Coupal
Xavier Coupal, Olivier Bédard
Xavier Coupal

In the final drivers’ championship standings, Xavier Coupal won over Olivier Bedard, Kevin King, Stefan Rzadzinski, Valerie Limoges and Nic Hammann. In the rookie standings, Stefan Gauthier was crowned champion ahead of Peter Dyck and Ashley Sahakian.

In the team championship, the title went to the No. 572 Albi Nissan Team, ahead of Perry Performance/Hull Nissan (No. 86) and Total Canada (No. 220).

The Micra Cup is a spec racing series featuring Canada’s most affordable new car, the base Nissan Micra S, that's been slightly modified for competition.

An intense battle

Coupal, a former top Formula 1600 competitor who also trialed stock car racing a few years ago, was almost speechless after he won the second race of the meeting and the title on Sunday. The pressure was finally off his shoulders after months of intense competition.

“It’s been a tough season and two hardly fought races,” said Coupal, who spent a few years away from motorsport before he made a comeback this year in the Micra Cup.

“I entered the 2016 Nissan Micra Cup with the goal of fighting for the championship title. From the start of the season, I was able to hold a competitive position in the championship standings, and as the season progressed, the goal of winning became more and more realistic. Of course, my most memorable moment of the season is winning the championship title, this weekend. I finished the season with two back- to-back wins on the last race weekend of the year, and on top of that, I was crowned the 2016 champion on my birthday. I couldn’t ask for a better birthday present.”

His Albi Nissan teammate, Olivier Bédard, also a former Formula 1600 race winner and last year’s Micra Cup champion, finished second in the standings, just 14 points down to Coupal (470 to 456).

“Olivier Bedard and I have been friends and teammates for the entire 2016 season. We helped each other, watched videos together and even gave each other advice,” Coupal said. “Competing against my friend and teammate at the end of the season was a challenge, especially since the race was so tight. As teammates on the Albi Nissan team, we had a lot of respect for one another, but towards the end we became significantly more competitive.”

Coupal continued: “We fought very hard and I have to give Olivier credit – he performed extremely well throughout the season. Unfortunately Olivier wasn’t as lucky as me. He consistently performed well, and even though I had a few mishaps along the way, I had Bertrand Godin there to drive the car, allowing me to make up any lost points. That is why I won the championship. We must play by the rules, and I am very happy to be the 2016 Nissan Micra Cup champion.”

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