Grand finale of the Nissan Sentra Cup: Several drivers on the hunt for the 2022 title!
MISSISSAUGA, Ont. – The 2022 season of the Nissan Sentra Cup will conclude this weekend at the picturesque Circuit Mont-Tremblant as part of the traditional Fall Classic event. The decisive 11th and 12th rounds will determine whom of Valérie Limoges, Simon Charbonneau, Alexandre Fortin or Sylvain Ouellet will become the 2022 overall champion of this Canadian motorsport series. Interestingly, none of these four competitors has yet won an overall title in the Nissan Sentra Cup. For that reason, the Cup will crown a brand-new champion, succeeding to last year’s titlist, Kevin King.
Valérie Limoges is currently leading the point standings and is the favourite to capture the title. Valérie enjoys a 21-point lead over Simon Charbonneau. Given that there’s a difference of six points between a victory and a second-place finish, Limoges can afford to finish both races in second or third place to clinch the title, should Charbonneau win both times.
However, several other scenarios are possible. Currently third in the standings, Alexandre Fortin – who just collected two consecutive victories at the end of August at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (Ontario) and is already a four-time winner so far this season – can in fact clinch the title at Mont-Tremblant. Fortin is 37 points behind Valérie Limoges (394 to 357) and can only hope that Limoges, the driver of the Total Canada/Groupe Gabriel Sentra, and Charbonneau make a faux pas this weekend to jump ahead of them.
The situation is even more complicated for the fourth title contender, Sylvain Ouellet. The veteran driver clinched the Micra class’ title last year and has adapted very well to the driving of the Sentra. He’s been very consistent all year long and lies fourth in the standings. Ouellet is 70 points behind Limoges but still has a mathematical chance of taking the title if the top three drivers endure a tough weekend at Mont-Tremblant. This final event of the year promises to be thrilling and extremely competitive, as ever.
Éric Chaput and veteran Normand Boyer are currently fifth and sixth in the standings, with no hopes of a title, however. Both have always run very well at Circuit Mont-Tremblant, and they could easily mix things up in the lead pack.
It’s going to be a terrific weekend for the Nissan Sentra Cup, as more class titles are up for grabs. Ouellet leads Chaput in the Senior category while Max Poirier is the clear favourite for the Rookie of the Year honours. The title chase in the Micra class is wide open with Raphaël St-Pierre, François Angers-Routhier, Marie-Soleil Labelle and Max Poirier who are just 19 points apart.
For the first time since 2019, fans will be admitted without restrictions this weekend at Circuit Mont-Tremblant to attend the Fall Classic. In addition to the two Nissan Sentra Cup races, scheduled to go green at 3:20 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, spectators will have the opportunity to watch the Sentra owners’ track parades on Saturday and Sunday. In the Nissan Sentra Cup paddock, fans will be given the chance to drive the all-new Nissan Z on a simulator. This model is also used by the series as the Official Safety Car of the Cup and will be on display between races.
The Nissan Sentra Cup drivers will take to the track six times during the weekend. Two free practice sessions are scheduled on Friday before the competitors qualify and take part in the first 40-minute race on Saturday. Sunday will begin with a qualifying session for Race 2, and the final round of 2022 will start at 3:00 pm.