Canadian Touring: Rain troubles first weekend in Mosport

The first two races of the 2009 Canadian Touring Championship were held last week-end in Mosport. Drivers and organisers were ready for everything... but rain!

It was the cause of a lot of trouble as all practice sessions and the only qualifying session were held on a wet-track, slowing down the cars and giving the drivers a false impression of what their cars could do.

A last minute change to rain tires was ever more problematic for polesitter Nick Wittmer and drivers Nigel Krikorian (4th), Richard Boake (7th) and Nicolas Krikorian (9th) who missed the mock grid and had to start from the back.

Wittmer and Boake would soon enough get back on top, Wittmer taking the lead after only 7 laps. Their 1-2 finish would not stick for long however as commissioners gave them a lap penalty for starting their way-up-the-grid before the end of the pace-car lap. They would be classified 7th and 8th respectively.

Dave Ciekiewicz becomes the winner of this first race after the penalties. Kuno Wittmer takes the second position and Nigel Krikorian completes the podium after another great drive.

The second race of the weekend was a little less dramatic as it was run on a regular dry surface. Thirty-four cars took the start, a lot of them more powerful than the Lombardi Honda's of the Wittmer's brothers, said Kuno and Nick to explain the results afterwards.

Nigel Krikorian took victory in this second effort. He finished in front of a very strong Étienne Borgeat that started from 15th position and Kuno Wittmer.

Dave Ciekiewicz, Gregory Pootmans, Mathieu Audette and Nick Wittmer completed the top-7 of this second race.

The series will be back on track in two weeks, at the Shannonville Motorsport Park, on May 30th and 31st.