Second

Frederick
Lelievre, Mont-Joli, Quebec |
First

Norman Boyer -
Ste. Agathe, Quebec |
Third

Kuno Wittmer,
Hudson, Quebec |
BOWMANVILLE, Ontario (May
23, 2004)
Starting at the back of
the 18-car grid, Normand Boyer of Ste-Agathe, Qu�bec worked his
way up the field to win the inaugural Honda / Michelin Challenge
Series race held Sunday at Mosport International Raceway. The
veteran race driver used his wet weather condition experience to
hold off rookie driver Fr�d�rick Leli�vre of Mont-Joli, Quebec
on the last turn of the 16-lap race to cross the finish line
with only a half second lead. Third place went to another
rookie, Kuno Wittmer of Montreal. Quebec drivers dominated the
field taking the top eight positions in the race.
Nick Wittmer, brother of Kuno, brought his Honda Ste-Rose in
fourth place ahead of Robert Boyer of Ste-Anne-des-Lacs. Boyer
had a great last lap, passing the Hamel Honda of Montrealer
Denis Baillargeon and the �nergie/RDS/NAPA Honda Civic of Didier
Schraenen of Mont-St-Hilaire.
''On the grid, I said to myself that a podium finish would be
great,'' said winner Normand Boyer. Then, when I found myself in
fifth place after only two laps and saw that the rookies ahead
of me were making small mistakes, I said, let's go for the win
and I did. On the last lap, I made a slight mistake and I put my
Lombardi Honda a bit sideways, but I was able to hold off
Fr�d�rick (Leli�vre) by staying on the race line.''
As for Leli�vre, he was happy to bring his Rimouski Lamontagne
Auto Honda home in second place. ''We started the race on dry
set-ups and I kept it on the track the whole time, said the
rookie driver. I led the race twice and learned a lot today in
the wet. I know I can win. I made a few mistakes, but obviously
less than most of the others as I finished second. I had a good
run with Normand. Twice we were side-by-side, but he had the
racing line. It looks good for Montreal.''
Kuno Wittmer also had a run
at it, leading the race for four laps, but went off slightly and
lost the lead to finish third. ''I'm happy with the results,
said Kuno. I have little experience in the rain and had no idea
where the racing line was in the wet. Yet, I managed to lead the
race. It's great for the whole Honda de Sigi team with my
brother finishing fourth. I could see him in my mirrors but I
knew that my lead was good for third place if I stayed on the
track. I learned a lot today following Normand (Boyer). You can
see that he's experienced. A podium finish on my first race is
great. A win would have been nice, but It's the title that I
want.''
Polesitter Ryan Kelly of London (ON) led through the first turn
but his inexperience in the rain cost him as he slid slowly down
the field to finish ninth overall. ''This was a learning
experience,'' said the London, Ontario rookie. ''I have very
little experience in the rain and it was raining very hard. I
brought the KelCoating Honda back in the pits in one piece and
that was important. Let's hope that the next race is run under
sunny skies.''
The next round of the Honda / Michelin Challenge Series will be
held on Saturday June 12 as part of the Grand Prix du Canada
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BOWMANVILLE, Ontario (23
mai 2004)
Les pilotes qu�b�cois ont
domin� la premi�re �tape de la S�rie Honda / Michelin disput�e
dimanche sous la pluie � Mosport en Ontario en prenant les huit
premi�res positions. S'�lan�ant en fond de grille, Normand Boyer
a remont� le peloton pour inscrire une victoire �clatante devant
les recrues Fr�d�rick Leli�vre de Mont-Joli et Kuno Wittmer de
Hudson. Au volant de sa Honda Lombardie, le pilote de Ste-Agathe
a doubl� 13 voitures lors des deux premiers tours de la course
avant de se tricoter un chemin jusqu'au premier rang au 11e des
16 tours de cette manche initiale.
Nick Wittmer, le fr�re de Kuno, a termin� quatri�me devant
Robert Boyer de Ste-Anne-des-Lacs. Ce dernier a effectu� toute
une passe au dernier tour en doublant tout d'abord la Honda
�nergie/RDS/NAPA de Didier Schraenen de Mont-St-Hilaire qui a
termin� septi�me, et la Hamel Honda de Steven Laporte (6e) de
St-Sauveur. Le Montr�alais Denis Baillargeon a termin� huiti�me.
� Sur la grille de d�part, je me suis dit qu'un podium �tait
possible a d�clar� Normand Boyer. Puis lorsque je me suis
retrouv� cinqui�me apr�s deux tours et que je rejoignais les
meneurs, je me suis dit que je pouvais gagner car les jeunes
devant moi commettaient de petites erreurs sous la pluie. J'ai
profit� de chacune de leurs erreurs pour gagner mes positions.
Je me suis permis une petite glissade dans l'avant-dernier
virage de la course, mais j'ai gard� ma ligne de course pour
emp�cher Fr�d�rick (Leli�vre) de passer devant. �
Leli�vre �tait tr�s heureux
d'avoir men� sa Honda Lamontagne Auto de Rimouski au deuxi�me
rang. � Nous avions des r�glages pour le sec et la course s'est
d�roul�e sous une pluie battante, a soulign� le pilote gasp�sien.
Dans ces conditions, je suis heureux de cette deuxi�me place,
surtout que j'ai men� � deux reprises. J'ai commis quelques
erreurs et �a ma co�t� le premier rang � chaque fois. Mais, il
faut dire que j'ai �galement profit� des erreurs des autres pour
terminer deuxi�me. � deux occasions en fin de course, je me suis
retrouv� c�te-�-c�te avec Normand, mais chaque fois, il avait la
ligne de course. J'apprends tranquillement et on verra ce qui va
se passer � Montr�al. �
Quant � Kuno Wittmer, il a �galement connu une excellente
sortie. Il a men� la course durant quatre tours, mais il a
commis une l�g�re erreur alors qu'il �tait en t�te pour
finalement terminer troisi�me. � Consid�rant mon inexp�rience
sous la pluie, je suis tr�s heureux de ce podium. Je n'avais
aucune id�e o� �tait la ligne de course sur cette piste
d�tremp�e et j'ai tout de m�me men� l'�preuve. Avec la quatri�me
position de mon fr�re Nick et mon podium, c'est toute l'�quipe
Honda de Sigi qu'il faut f�liciter. Ils ont fait de l'excellent
travail. �
La prochaine �preuve sera disput�e le samedi 12 juin sur le
circuit Gilles-Villeneuve dans le cadre du Grand Prix du Canada.
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