Mississauga - The Nissan Sentra Cup hosted its final two races of 2022 this weekend at Circuit Mont-Tremblant, Québec. This thrilling racing season celebrated a new champion, Valérie Limoges, who makes history by becoming the first female racer to clinch an all-category title in Canadian road racing. Simon Charbonneau claimed victory in both races held this weekend.
"This is a big day for me. I'm delighted to have won the title and to have been so consistent all year long. That was key to my success," said Valérie Limoges after the race. "I hope my title will encourage other female drivers to join this series and to get involved in motorsport in general. I'm certainly hoping to be back in the Cup next year and to carry No. 1 on my Groupe Gabriel/Total Quartz Sentra."
It was under clear skies but in cool weather that the qualifying session started Saturday's track activities, Simon Charbonneau captured pole position ahead of Éric Chaput, Valérie Limoges, Sylvain Ouellet, Alexandre Fortin and Normand Boyer.
The race turned into an epic battle for the lead involving the three most serious contenders for this year's overall title. However, Simon Charbonneau stayed ahead of the pack during the entire incident-free, 40-minute race. Charbonneau captured a victory in front of Valérie Limoges who battled it out with Alexandre Fortin at the beginning of the race. Valérie moved into second place when Fortin was forced to retire. Éric Chaput completed the podium but taking third ahead of Nicolas Barrette and Normand Boyer who had the most exciting of the battle of the race.
However, Boyer was disqualified, therefore promoting Sylvain Ouellet to fifth place, thus losing his last chances for the title. André Lapointe, Daniel Fortin, Paul Dargis (who took his maiden start in the Sentra class) and Frédéric Chaput followed in order.
Simon Vincent dominated the qualifying session and the race in the Micra category, taking his third consecutive win of the season. Rookie Charles-Étienne Boucher and Raphaël St-Pierre completed the podium.
The second race of the weekend held on Sunday was to decide the 2022 titles. This was a fantastic confrontation ahead of an impressive crowd at Circuit Mont-Tremblant bathed in fall colours. Charbonneau again set the fastest time in the morning's qualifying session, beating Alexandre Fortin, Éric Chaput, Valérie Limoges and Nicolas Barrette.
Charbonneau led all laps of this ultimate race of the season with Alexandre Fortin glued to his rear bumper. They crossed the line in that order with Valérie Limoges taking third and claiming the overall title by three points over Charbonneau. Éric Chaput, Nicolas Barrette, Frédéric Chaput, André Lapointe, Daniel Fortin, Sylvain Ouellet and Paul Dargis completed the Top 10.
Simon Vincent enjoyed a perfect day in the Micra class, taking pole position, the race victory and the fastest lap of the race. Vincent won the race from Charles-Étienne Boucher, rookie Nicolas Lévesque and Raphaël St-Pierre who claims the Micra title ahead of Marie-Soleil Labelle.
In the final standings of the overall drivers' championship, Valérie Limoges captures the title with 482 points. Simon Charbonneau is second with 479 points and Alexandre Fortin is third with 417. Fourth in the final standings, Sylvain Ouellet also takes the title in the Senior category ahead of Éric Chaput, Normand Boyer and André Lapointe.
In the Micra class, Raphaël St-Pierre becomes the 2022 champion and wins the poleposition.ca trophy ahead of Marie-Soleil Labelle and Max Poirier who also takes the Rookie of the Year honours.
The 2023 Nissan Sentra Cup season will start on Canadian race tracks next May.