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Autodrome Drummond… May 12th was the Grand Opening !
Réjean Ouellet
Drummondville,Québec, Canada –
The majority of the fans of races were very anxious for this beginning of season 2007. In spite of the cold which prevailed, all were very happy to be re-examined, find their neighbors of trailer and it was exactly the same feeling for the fans, assiduous and being neighbors since several years with their reserved benches.
With all the new racers, and this in all the series, the final classification this season is almost impossible to envisage the action so much will be present there. The evening of official opening was sponsored by Simplex tools whose representative Bertin Langlois was invited to meet all the drivers of this series on the track at the time of the official presentation of the Modified drivers. Thereafter a splendid fireworks was presented at the crowd which seemed very to appreciate this epic of the direction of the Drummond Motor-racing track.
MODIFIED
The defending champion, David Hébert with his brand new car Bicknell 2007 with the colors of Drummond Honda/Mazda Drummond took the start on the pole position for this feature of 50 lapss. He was followed of Steve Bernard # 54, Sebastien Gougeon # 44 and Yan Bussière # 21. All was held rather well for all to the 16th lap whereas Claude Brouillard # 3 was victim of a trouble to the front control and not being able to control his racing car, it struck the wall with much force; its evening of race was finished. Restart, David Hébert in position of leader was always followed by Bernard but Bussière and Gamache # 66 benefitted from it to improve their position; some other yellow flags slowed down the race of the test including one occurred in particular between curves 1 and 2 implying # 19 of Michel Pelletier and # 29 of Gilles Bessette. During all these restarts, Mario Clair started on 8th position went up the group to finish this race at the third level being preceded by Steve Bernard and by David Hébert finishing good first just like the day before to the Granby motor-racing track.
SPORTSMAN
Exciting season for this class which counts less than 14 new rookies and which season for this group of drivers. It is wise to recall that Patrice Demers Champion 2006 and Michel Dusseault champion 2005 graduated in the Modified this season accompagnied by # 81 Éric Landry. A lot of drivers want to become champion 2007 and they will have to fight all the season trying to accumulate the most points possible on each program and it is exactly what one could note to this first program.
# 95 of Alex Boisvert sprang first position for this feature of 25 laps followed of racing car # 96 of Jean-François Corriveau and Michel Fagnan # 51 in third place. Once again, several yellow flags fell during this race including one in particular; with only 8 laps to be made, a big crash implying particularly the racing cars of Sylvain Turcotte, # 44 of Yvan Rivard, the 88X of Steve Forget, # 46 of Daniel Rivard and finally # 77 of Alain Mathieu. Another major accident implied this time, # 45 of Beaucage and Sebastien Benoit # 75; many damage on the racing car of Kevin Beaucage. In the two last turns, a battle of Giants started between the leader Alex Boisvert and Steve Nadeau # 94… but Nadeau finished good first, follow-up by Alex Boisvert # 95 and finally # 88L of Éric Lefebvre.
SEMI-PRO
Once again, several new drivers came themselves to be grafted with this series; in all, 8 new members for this family. This feature of 20 laps proceeded very well and really of heats fights took shape between # 05 of Jocelyn Roy and the 115 of Stephan Lemire like on behalf of # 31R of Pascal Richard and # 08 of Richard Bertrand champion 2006 of the Drummond Motor-racing track. Jocelyn Roy carried out this test came from beginning to end but well close being made charm its position with the 19th lap whereas Stephan Lemire # 115 was nose with nose under the tower of the flagman but Roy nevertheless managed to remain first. The podium was composed of: Jocelyn Roy # 05, # 115 of Stephan Lemire and # 31R of Pascal Richard.
A very spectacular accident occurred at the time of the qualifications, indeed, at the entry of curve # 3, Steven Hayes # 43 carried out a series of barrels on side before being found completely in position reversed with a part of its racing car on the cement wall. This accident of a very rare intensity for this class, will be certainly one of most spectacular to occur this year. The pilot left himself there that shaken but for his safety, it was transported to the hospital to undergo examinations there.
4 CYLINDERS
Following the qualifications, it is Robert Laroque who left first when Éric Pivin lowered the green flag; it was followed of Éric Beaudoin # 98 named rookie of the year in 2006 and third place by Yves Tremblay # 87. Upon the start, Laroque was made position by Beaudoin which preserved it until semi race whereas at the exit of a curve the racing car of Laroque took again its position of head. A yellow flag was caused by # 88 Côté/Doyon to the 13dr lap in curve # 2. Until the any end, these two pilots delivered a heat fights but it is finally Laroque which deserved the honor to go up on the highest walk of the podium.
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