By DON SIMPSON
As seasoned driver Mario Clare steps aside from his role with Team ONE GM Paillé, Felix Roy will take over as the second driver for the storied team.
The GM Paillé company released the following statement: “Napierville, February 15, 2023 — Up-and-coming driver Félix Roy will be behind the wheel of the renowned team ONE’s second car, a dirt stock car, for the 2023 season. Roy will compete in eight races at the wheel of the GM car Paillé in the Modified 358 class, at the Autodrome Drummond. Roy, who completed his first full season in the Modified category last year, is already establishing himself as one of the most formidable up-and-coming stock-car drivers on clay, having enjoyed great success in various categories. on clay and in virtual races on simulators.”
For Felix, driving for Team ONE Paillé alongside one of racing’s top drivers, David Hebert, is a dream opportunity. Felix explained, “I am super pumped that I have been chosen by Team One Paillé to drive their car at the Autodrome Drummondville and be teammates with David Herbert, a multiple track champion, is a dream come true for me.”
Felix, who follows in his dad’s footsteps, Martin Roy, grew up in an environment rich in racing history. It was 2016. At the age of eleven, Felix began racing slingshots under the guidance of his dad. During that first re3year, this division was touring from track to track, racing on dirt and asphalt. Felix adapted well to this class, winning the Revstar Slingshot JR Series championship.
Felix would move up to the Sportsman Modified division at the age of 14, becoming the youngest DIRTcar driver to win a feature race in Canada’s history, a record he still owns today.
Felix moved up to the 358 Modified class in 2022, where he won his first feature at the Autodrome Granby in August and earned several more podium finishes that season. Felix went on to place seventh in points at both Granby and Drummond in his debut season.
But the news of being selected by Team ONE Paillé to drive their second car was a game changer, as his team had already planned to run a very heavy schedule this season.
Plans are to run the full Super DIRTcar series along with the DIRTcar 358 series. They intend to run Granby Fridays weekly and switch between Autodrome Drummond and Airborne Speedway biweekly, to challenge for the DIRTcar track championship at either track under their team colors. For now, Felix will be driving the one car at Autodrome Drummond, competing for the top spot in points alongside David Hebert.
David Hebert said, “I’m thrilled to welcome this young driver to our squad. I’ll work hard to teach my knowledge to Felix as the season goes on so that he can become faster. Hopefully, this will yield positive results.”
Felix’s father, Martin Roy, is overjoyed about what both of his sons have accomplished in racing over the past years and is very excited about this new direction for his team
However, as Felix prepares to begin his season at Volusia Speedway Park, being selected to drive for Team ONE Paillé is an honor. Martin stated, “I am very proud of this partnership between us, and Team ONE Paillé. In my view, Team ONE is the best dirt racing team ever, and for Félix to be a part of this and take advantage of the knowledge and experience of the champion, David Hébert, is fantastic.”
It is a positive development for Team ONE and its fans that Felix Roy has joined the team’s roster. As he prepares to compete in the upcoming race season at the Autodrome Drummond, there is no doubt that Roy’s skills will be put to the test. However, with the full support of GM Paillé and the rest of the team behind him, there is every reason to believe that he will excel on the track and help Team ONE achieve even greater success in the future.
