Provisional qualifying
World Speed Motorsports drivers, J.F. Veilleux and Marc-Antoine Camirand qualified 10th and 13th, respectively, today in the first provisional qualifying session for round seven of the CART Toyota Atlantic Championship series in Trois-Rivieres, Quebec for the Player’s Grand Prix de Trois-Rivieres weekend.
Camirand who is making his Atlantic debut with the World Speed team this weekend as the driver of the #15 World Speed Motorsports swift 008.a, was aiming for a stronger finish, but contact with the wall in Turn 2 cost him the last eight minutes of the session. “I was running 6th or 7th, but then I hit the wall and broke my push rod. I was done after that. I ended up missing eight minutes of the qualifying session, which set me back several positions. But, I am feeling more and more comfortable with the Atlantic car every time I drive it. The transmission is very different from the F2000 car. Since I’ve driven here many times I’m really familiar with the track, which is to my advantage,” said Camirand, who just a year ago literally dominated in the U.S. F2000 National Championship here in Trois-Rivieres, with a pole position, a win and a new track record.
Camirand, who is currently second in the U.S. F2000 Championship point standings driving for Key Motorsports (Van Diemen Ford), will race in a doubleheader this weekend with Atlantics and the U.S. F2000 series. A native of the Trois-Rivieres area, Camirand is aiming for two podium finishes this weekend at his hometown race with the support of family and friends.
Veilleux, driver of the #15 World Speed – Northwest SpeedWerx/ Walker Racing swift 008.a, qualified 10th after running seventh in this morning’s practice session. “We still need to make some changes on the set-up. It was much warmer this afternoon, which affected the car. I had some trouble with understeer,” said Veilleux, who most recently raced with World Speed just two weeks ago at the Molson Indy Toronto, where he finished sixth after running in the top five.
In last year’s Atlantic race at Trois-Rivieres, Veilleux, a native of Boucherville, finished eighth while driving for P-1 Racing. He also made his professional racing debut at Trois-Rivieres in 1993’s Canadian FF 1600 race, where he finished third.
Final qualifying
Two of Quebec’s most recognized young drivers, Marc-Antoine Camirand and J.F. Veilleux qualified this afternoon for round eight of the CART Toyota Atlantic Championship series in Quebec for the Player’s Grand Prix de Trois-Rivieres. Camirand, a native of the Trois-Rivieres area, qualified 13th for tomorrow’s race on the 1.521 – mile temporary street course. “I’m getting more and more used to the Atlantic car each time I drive. I am just really happy to be given the opportunity to run with the World Speed team, especially on my hometown track,” said Camirand.
Camirand, currently second in the U.S. F2000 point standings, has literally dominated the F2000 race in Trois-Rivieres for two consecutive years. Last year he clinched a first place win, a pole position, and set a new track record. This afternoon, Camirand did it again in front of a hometown crowd capturing the checkered flag from the pole position. “It has been a big transition from the F2000 Van Diemen ford to the Atlantic swift car. I was having trouble downshifting yesterday, but it was much easier for me this morning in the practice session and this afternoon during qualifying,” said Camirand. “I feel a little bit of pressure this weekend, but that is pressure that I’ve put on myself. I would like to do well here, on my home track in front of all of my family and friends.”
Veilleux, driver of the #14 World Speed – Northwest SpeedWerx/ Walker Racing swift, qualified 14th this afternoon with a fast time of 1:02.462. Veilleux, a native of Boucherville, was hoping for a better start on tomorrow’s grid. “We are still trying to find the right set-up. We are struggling a little bit, but I know we’ll get there. The guys have been working really hard this weekend, so I want to thank them. I’m very fortunate to have this opportunity to drive with World Speed,” said Veilleux, who most recently
raced with the World Speed team just s few weeks ago in Toronto, where he finished sixth.
Combined times from two provisional qualifying sessions determined the starting grid for tomorrow’s 45-lap Atlantic race. The green flag drops at 1:45 p.m. There will be a 15 – minute warm-up session at beginning at 9:20 a.m.
The Player’s Grand Prix de Trois-Rivieres will be televised on RDS, Sunday August 6 at 1:00 p.m. and on CTV Monday, August 7 at 7:00 p.m. (Ontario & Pacific regions), Tuesday, August 8 at 7:00 p.m. (Eastern and Western Canadian regions). ESPN2 and ESPN International will televise the race, Saturday, August 12 at 1:00 p.m. All times are Eastern.