Canadian Weekly Notebook - DeFrancesco scores double podium

The Toronto native was second fastest in two of the three free practice sessions and qualified second fastest. He made a good start in the first race, but remained in second place.

The 17-year-old built a comfortable gap over the chasing pack, posting the second fastest lap of the race before a safety car bunched-up the field. A solid restart saw the Canadian pull away again, finishing a deserved second.

After encountering traffic during his fastest lap in the second qualifying session, the Carlin driver lined up in third for Sunday’s race. He made another good start, but had to settle for third on this track where passing is difficult.

“We actually had more pace in Race 2 and if we were able to get into second then I would’ve been able to challenge for the win," said DeFrancesco. "It’s a good result for the championship though, the aim is to finish third so we will need a strong showing in Barcelona, which I think we can do."

Raphaël Lessard forced to retire at the Winchester 400

Raphaël Lessard had a strong qualifying run and lined up eighth for the start of the Winchester 400 in the ARCA CRA Super Series. The teenager ran with the leaders, but on Lap 188, the left rear axle broke on the No. 99 Toyota Camry FRL Express/Toyota-TRD/JBL Audio, which caused Lessard to hit the wall. The entire rear wheel detached from the car and rolled down the track.

“I was very careful with the car because I knew we had a long race ahead, I was taking my time and not taking any risks,” said Lessatd who was running in fourth place at the moment of the accident. “The car was not 100% to my taste, but we were trying to make it better during the pit stops. I had two pit stops during which we changed the tires and put gas in the car. As for the accident, we couldn’t control it, there is, unfortunately, nothing we can do about it.”

Victory for Lazare, Green and Team MIA in Georgia

Jesse Lazare and Chris Green drove their Motorsports In Action (MIA) Team No. 69 McLaren 570S to victory in the season’s finale of the North American Endurance IMSA Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge on the Road Atlanta circuit in Georgia.

Green qualified the McLaren on the front row. He ran in second place before taking advantage of the first full course yellow to pit and refuel. It was good decision as Green was the leader when the race was restarted. Jesse Lazare took the wheel of the car still in first place. He drove well despite the pressure of his rivals, and crossed the line in first place. When it was time to switch drivers, refuel once again and change the tires, the MIA team did another remarkable job and Jesse Lazare took to the track still in first place.

"Honestly, when I got in the car I knew it was the perfect opportunity, it was the perfect sprint stint" said Lazare after the race. "I had the car to go to the end - the fuel, the tires. The team did a perfect job. Chris did an outstanding job bringing me the car completely straight, like brand new. I was keeping every tire on out there and I was maintaining my gap and this is just a taste of what Motorsports In Action can do."

More points for Nicholas Latifi in FIA Formula 2 Championship

Renault Sport F1 Development Driver, Canadian Nicholas Latifi added more points to his tally when the FIA Formula 2 Championship ran races at Jerez, Spain this past weekend. Latifi showed promising speed in practice with the fifth fastest time, before qualifying in ninth for the Feature Race.

Opting to start on the medium tires for the Feature Race, the Toronto resident led the alternate strategy runners. After stopping for softs, the he worked his way through to finish fourth. Another strong Sprint Race saw him storm from fifth to second after excellent tyre management.

“With the Safety Car coming out in Race 1, we could’ve fought for the win, were it not for back markers getting in the way. I had a good start in Race 2 and unfortunately we just didn’t have the speed to get the victory. I’m still happy with the podium and the points haul is great for the team,” said Latifi.