Formula Tour 1600: Michel Bonnet wins Race 2 at GP Trois-Rivieres

By ,

Veteran Michel Bonnet won Race 2 of the Formula Tour 1600 series held Sunday in the streets of Trois-Rivieres, Quebec.

Bonnet captured pole position for Sunday's race and made a good start to lead the field into the tricky Corner 1. His son Olivier followed him closely with Xavier Coupal in third place. The first lap of the race was surprisingly quiet with no crashes nor contacts.

On lap 4, Olivier Bonnet moved in front of his father by out-braking him at the end of the Du Carmel straightaway. The top three cars were now running nose-to-tail.

On lap 5, Nathan Blok started to put immense pressure on Coupal. It was a splendid battle with the two drivers passing and re-passing each other several times each lap !

Meanwhile, the two Bonnet ran away out in front. Olivier set the fastest time of the race when Blok found a way past Coupal to take third place.

Serge Boudreau and Didier Schraenen fought hard over fifth place.

Blok and Coupal continued to entertain the spectators. It was already 30 degrees C when the competitors reached the half-race point at just 9:15 am !

Schraenen managed to pass Boudreau, but the Bonnet fight was still raging on out in front.

On lap 21, Michel passed Olivier at the end of the Du Carmel straight but one lap later, Michel out-braked his son at the Ryan hairpin corner.

On the penultimate lap, Coupal went straight into the tire barrier after the Duplessis arch and retired. Simultaneously, a car spun on the main straight, forcing race control to send the safety car out on the track.

So the race ended under yellows with Michel Bonnet taking victory in front of Olivier Bonnet and Nathan Blok.

Serge Boudreau crossed the line in fourth place ahead of Didier Schranen, Luc Théroux, Pascal Bellemare and Jean-Philippe Jodoin.