Race Report: Grand-Prix du Canada

The Grand-Prix du Canada has come and gone and JC Cote's first driving experience on the Circuit Gilles Villeneue as a rookie in the F1600 series has been deemed an outright success. With forty-five cars total registered in this series, he consistently improved his position and his lap times through each session over the course of this 3-day event.

Practice and Qualifying
Being Cote's first introduction to Mortimer Racing's car 28, he aimed to use Friday practice to get a feel for its capabilities and to learn the racing line and braking points of this challenging circuit. The loss of clutch and a sticking throttle undermined his best efforts and produced a series of frustrating stalls and slow lap times, placing him in 37th position for Qualifying. Fortunately, with mechanical issues mostly resolved in time for Saturday, and thanks to improved mechanical performance and expert advice from former Formula Atlantic driver, Claude Bourbonais (technical consultant to Mortimer Racing), Cote shaved nearly 9 seconds off his lap time despite a detached rear sway-bar and some serious understeer.

Race One
Having earned 27th position for Race Once by the end of Qualifying, JC's run was notably clean and solid. Avoiding various collisions and numerous incidents along the way, he happily brought the car home in 17th position to a huge, highly animated crowd:

"Wow, what can I say? I feel I should talk about how the car ran today... but I can't get over the crowd and how enthusiastic they were. Going through the hairpin with 50,000 people in that section alone...it's a moment I won't ever forget."

Race Two
The final race of the weekend commenced with fresh tires and an improved grid position. Cote comfortably pushed the limits of the car and immediately attacked from the green flag. Catching two cars ahead of him in turn one, and getting around the outside of a third car exiting the Senna esses, he was quick to slot in with the lead pack at 12th position. A little bad luck on Lap 9 nearing the infamous Wall of Champions however, forced Cote to execute an avoidance manoeuvre which set him back several places:

"I caught the car ahead coming down the straight and I guess he was watching me in his mirrors, because he missed his braking point and cut across the curbs, catching air. I had to stand on the brakes and veer into the run-off area to avoid him. I'm glad he didn't land on me, but still a little disappointed to have lost those crucial positions in the meantime."

All told, Cote maintained pace with the top five cars averaging a speed of 133.315 km/h per lap and earning a personal best lap time on the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve of 1:57.763.

Finishing on a high note
An intact, spotless car and a steady climb from 37th to 16th over the course of the weekend had Cote leave the circuit satisfied and eager to return. He and his team plan to race there again in support of NASCAR, August 27-29.

Very special thanks go to Cote Racing's sponsors and media partners: The Team 990, Redux Media, Produits Neptune, ProSportsBlogging.com, Xtreme Airbrush Designs and Chinook Productions.
 
Anyone interested in having their picture appear on JC's car as part of his ongoing Facecar social media campaign or sponsoring his racing season can contact him at the following addresses:

www.jccote.com
www.twitter.com/jccote
Facebook Group: Cote Racing