5/28/2013
Max Hanratty
Formula Tour 1600: Exclusive Autosport Captures Five Podium Finishes at Spring Classic at Circuit Mont Tremblant
Exclusive Autosport (EA), the Canadian Spectrum Race Cars factory team, left Circuit Mont Tremblant after the opening round of the Formula Tour 1600 Championship with a lot of hardware. The team earned five podiums (1 win, two second place finishes and two third place finishes), two pole positions and one track record during the double-header weekend May 25 and May 26. Exclusive Autosport drivers currently are 1, 2, 3 and 11 in the overall points championship and 1, 2, 3 in the Rookie of the Year championship.
Jack Mitchell Jr. , in the #90 Exclusive Autosport / Exclusive Management Inc. Spectrum Honda earned the team’s first win Saturday, in a hard fought battle between his teammate Tristan DeGrand. On Sunday, Mitchell qualified his #90 Spectrum race car on the front row in P2. He and Britain West Motorsports driver Jesse Lazare (who qualified P4) put on an impressive show for the fans as the two went head to head for the top spot on the podium. The two exchanged positions numerous times throughout the 15-lap race, however Lazare passed Mitchell on the final lap to take the checkered flag. Mitchell is currently leading the overall championship points standings.
Tristan DeGrand put his #92 Pro Am Golf USA / Exclusive Autosport Spectrum Honda on pole Saturday and collected a second place finish in Saturday’s race. He qualified 8th for Sunday’s race on a wet track. By the time the F1600‘s were on grid to race, the track had dried and the sun was shining. Tristan made a charge to the front in the opening lap, gaining four positions. He continued to push for a podium, however the leaders had checked out slightly and he wasn’t able to gain enough ground. He finished just off the podium in fourth position Sunday. DeGrand is tied for second, with teammate Thomas McGregor, in the overall championship.
Thomas McGregor in the #93 Exclusive Management Inc. / Dairy Queen Spectrum Honda , hadn’t seen the podium in almost two years until this weekend when he collected not one, but two third place finishes. The 21-year old from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan excelled in Sunday’s qualifying session. Track conditions were less than favorable. It had been raining most of the night and morning. By qualifications the rain had stopped, but the temperature was still cool and the track was wet. McGregor loves racing in the wet / rain. His confidence prevailed as he captured the pole by nearly a second over his teammate Jack Mitchell Jr.. McGregor ultimately finished third in both Saturday’s and Sunday’s races. McGregor is tied with DeGrand for second in the overall points championship.
Racing rookie, Max Hanratty who pilots the #92 SynerComm Inc. / Exclusive Autosport Spectrum Honda, continued to progress this weekend. The young driver has been racing for less than a year. He qualified P9 Saturday and finished P14 after spinning on the last lap. With little experience racing in wet conditions, Hanratty looked to keep his nose clean and learn Sunday. He qualified P13. He raced exceptionally well on Sunday afternoon, gaining a few spots to a respectable 11th place finish. Hanratty is 11th in the overall championship after the opening rounds of competition.
The team and drivers will have a weekend off before their return to racing June 7-9 at F1 Grand Prix of Canada at Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve in Montreal.
Exclusive Autosport would like to thank their technical partners and sponsors, Spectrum Race Cars, Honda Performance Developments (HPD), Sparco USA, Flag World, SynerComm Inc., Pro Am Golf USA, Dairy Queen and Exclusive Management Inc.
For more information about Exclusive Autosport, the drivers or how to purchase a Spectrum Race Car from Exclusive Management Inc. (the Canadian importer and distributor), contact Kimberly directly at Kimberly@exclusivemanagementinc.com, visit www.exclusiveautosport.ca , www.exclusivemanagementinc.com.
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Jack Mitchell Jr. (#90 Exclusive Autosport / Exclusive Management Inc.):
“The race today (Sunday) went well. I started on the front row next to my teammate Thomas McGregor. I took the lead and led for a few laps. I battled with Jesse Lazare for a while. He went defensive on the last few laps. I was right on his gear box, but ran out of time. It was a really great race. I’m leading the championship and looking forward to Montreal. Big thanks to Spectrum, Sparco, Exclusive Autosport, Honda HPD and my family.”
Tristan DeGrand (#92 Pro Am Golf USA / Exclusive Autosport):
“Overall the weekend was really good. The team did very good on their part. I feel that maybe I left a little bit out there, but it was definitely another learning experience. That’s why we are here ultimately, to learn and to progress. Looking into the future, I know the team will have everything perfect and I will work on my fitness level and be mentally prepared for Montreal. I think heading there things will be really good and we will get the results that we are looking for. I also want to say congrats to the other drivers on the team. I think they did really good and it was really great working with them this weekend and I am looking forward to continuing to work with them in the future. I think ultimately the team is on the right path and I am proud to be here and proud to be a driver on the team. I want to thank my sponsors, Pro Am Golf USA and Sparco as well as Exclusive Autosport, Exclusive Management Inc., Spectrum, Honda HPD and my family.”
Thomas McGregor (#93 Exclusive Management Inc. / Dairy Queen) :
“It was a great day for the Exclusive Autosport team. We almost swept the podium again. I was able to get a pole today. I was really pumped about that. I was a little unlucky in the race when I was hit from behind by another driver which dropped me back a little bit. I pushed hard and almost got back to the front. A few more laps and I think the result might have been different. I have to thank Exclusive Autosport, Exclusive Management Inc., Dairy Queen, Spectrum, Honda HPD, Sparco and my Dad and family for everything.”
Max Hanratty (#91 SynerComm Inc. / Exclusive Autosport)
“I was able to gain a few spots in today’s (Sunday’s) race, which was great. I had a nice battle with the 12th position competitor. I made a bit of a mistake midway through the race and ended up in the grass. That cost me a lot of time. I had to fight to catch back up. It took me a few laps but I finally was able to catch up and make the pass. By that time tenth position had checked out. I continued to push until the checkered flag. The car was really great this weekend. I want to thank Exclusive Management Inc., Exclusive Autosport, Spectrum, Sparco, Honda Racing HPD, my sponsor SynerComm Inc., my parents and my teammates for all the support this weekend.”
Michael Duncalfe (Team Owner Exclusive Autosport / President and CEO, Exclusive Management Inc.)
“I am very pleased with our team’s performance over the weekend at Circuit Mont Tremblant. The driver’s did an amazing job. They worked together as a team and reaped the success. I have to thank the entire EA crew - Remi Lanteigne, Sylvain Hetu, Jonathan Cereau, Will Wilson, Christian and Sam - for all of their hard work, attention to detail and their dedication to Exclusive Autosport. I also have to thank Bob Wilson who has been so generous to let the team operate out of his shop this year. I am so proud of this team and the incredibly talented drivers that we have signed to represent Exclusive Autosport and our partners. It was an incredibly humbling and proud moment seeing our cars finish one, two, three on Saturday and emerge from the weekend first, second, third and eleventh in the championship and also set a new track record with Tristan DeGrand. It is also important to say thank you to our partners and the driver’s parents and families who believed in this program that we put together in the last four months. A huge thank you to wife Kimberly Duncalfe for her support and endless hours in the office taking care of all of the behind the scenes administration, PR and track support. We were able to acheive the success we did this weekend because of the support of all of our partners, driver’s, parents, crew and everyone who has had a hand in this program. We are very much looking forward to Montreal and having a solid showing at Canada’s spectacle of racing.”
Submitted By: Admin Account
