Quebec drivers added to Mont-Tremblant race

Quebec Drivers Added to Mont-Tremblant Race
Powell Motorsport and G&W Motorsports Complete Line-Up

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (May 11, 2004) - As the Grand American 6 Heures du Circuit Mont-Tremblant weekend draws closer, the number of Quebec drivers who will be competing in the featured Rolex Sports Car Series race on Sunday and Saturday's Grand-Am Cup Series Mont-Tremblant 250 event is growing. There are currently eight Quebec natives slated to run in the two races.

Both Powell Motorsport and G&W Motosports have added local drivers for the Rolex Series six-hour endurance race.

Former Formula 3000 driver Bertrand Godin, of Quebec, will share driving duties with Marc Antoine Camirand and Normand Guindon in the Canadian-based Powell Motorsport No. 07 Corvette in the SGS class.

"The Chemcraft Corvette is a serious entry in a class that has been dominated by Porsche," team leader John Powell said. "Now that Bertrand has joined the driver line-up, we are set for the race. My choice is always to have experienced drivers, and open wheel drivers are among the best."

Godin has extensive open wheel experience racing in North America. From 1995-1998, he was part of the Player's driver development program. In his rookie season with the Player's Formula Atlantic team, he clinched two victories at Montreal in the Grand Prix of Canada and in Cleveland.

In Europe, Godin raced in F3000 in his last full year of competition. Contesting the FIA International championship driving a three-year old chassis, Godin finished eight in his first F3000 race. He competed in all 12 events, including races at Imola and Monaco.

"I am really happy to be part of the Powell team for Tremblant," Godin said. "It will be great to come back to this fabulous race circuit, and the Corvette will be an interesting experience."

"This is great news for our sponsors, Chemcraft and Comet Chemical, and for our Quebec-based friends like Breton and Pellerin," Guindon said. "I am so glad that Bertand has joined us. I am the rookie of the team, and six hours is a long race. With Marc Antoine qualifying and starting the car, and Bertrand able to finish the race, I feel that my job will be to preserve the car and maintain our position. This is really a dream come true. I believe we can consider ourselves a contender in this class."

G&W Motorsports will field a BMW-powered Daytona Prototype with three local drivers. Hugo Guenette, of Blainville, Jacques Guenette, of Laval, and Philippe Letourneau, of Montreal, will pilot the No. 80 BMW Picchio in the six-hour race. Letourneau is the chief instructor at the Jim Russell Racing School in Tremblant.

"I am very excited about the race and really looking forward to racing with my father and Philippe," Hugo Guenette said. "Tremblant is our home track, so it should be a very fun weekend. I have never driven a DP on a natural course like Tremblant, but I am sure it is going to be a blast as the track and the cars are awesome. The G&W Motorsports BMW Picchio team did very well last year, I am sure this will help us start on the right foot."

"This will be my first try in a Daytona Prototype, so I' m really happy that it will be at Tremblant," Jaques Guenette said. "It's one of the most awesome tracks anywhere. And I' m driving with my best coach, my son Hugo, and my first instructor, Philippe. I'll get plenty of help."

In addition to Godin, Letourneau and the Hugo and Jacques Guenette, other Quebec drivers racing in the Rolex Series 6 Heures du Circuit Mont-Tremblant include Jean-Francois Dumoulin, of Trois-Rivieres, in the Doncaster Racing No. 91 Porsche GT3 Cup and Normand Guindon and Marc Antoine Camirand, both of Montreal. Quebec City resident Benoit Theetge will be co-piloting the SpeedSource No. 66 Mazda RX-8 in Saturday's Mont-Tremblant 250.

All eight Quebec drivers can be seen at Le Circuit Mont-Tremblant May 21-23 for the Rolex Series 6 Heures du Circuit Mont-Tremblant and the Grand-Am Cup Series Mont-Tremblant 250. Tickets can be purchased by calling 800-517-5725. For more information on the Rolex and Grand-Am Cup Series, please visit www.grandamerican.com.

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