CKN and Blanchet Motorsports to Award Canadian Karter with CTCC Touring Car Test!

Canadian Karting News in partnership with Blanchet Motorsports are pleased to announce that we will be selecting one Canadian kart racer to join Blanchet Motorsports for a test day at the end of the season in one of their Canadian Touring Car Championship Honda Civic race cars. Blanchet Motorsports team sponsor Interstate Batteries Canada will be the presenting sponsor of the test as they believe it is a good way to allow young talent come up through the racing ranks.

“I am very happy to make this announcement today,” explains Cody Schindel of CanadianKartingNews.com. “It is an honour to work with Blanchet Motorsports and help select a driver to test one of their CTCC Honda Civics. It is a great car, from a great series that has gained the attention of many past kart racers.”

For Blanchet Motorsports team owner, Frank Blanchet, it is a way to give back to the sport that he spent many weekends with his two sons when they were younger. “For me there is a soft spot in my heart for the karting community as I have spent many years competing with my brother and sons in the ORKA, SRFKC, and BSRKC karting Championships.” explained Blanchet. “2013 marks the 20th season Blanchet Motorsports has been in the sport and I feel that being given the fantastic opportunity to join forces with Canadian Karting News to award a young talent with a test day in one of our Honda Civic Touring Cars is a great way to give back to the sport.” Continuing, “With our team being the reigning champions in the Canadian Touring Car Championship, the lucky winner get the chance to work with a professional team with years of experience as well as training from our championship winning driver Damon Sharpe.”

Contest Entry Form is now open. Click Here to visit the contest form page.

The president of the Canadian Tour Car Championship also see’s this as a great opportunity to showcase the series and the car as a different direction up the motorsports ladder for future racers. “This is an exciting partnership that will help karters to realize their dream of racing in CTCC,” stated John Bondar, President of the Canadian Touring Car Championship.  “Drivers with a karting background are already dominating and we look forward to potentially having another one join, this time with championship-winning team Blanchet Motorsports.”

The selected driver will earn a one-day test at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park (to be confirmed) this fall in the #83 Blanchet Motorsports Honda Civic. The winning driver will be selected by Canadian Karting News not only by their actions and results on the race track and in the paddock but also based on a short essay submitted to CKN (Submission Page to be online shortly), explaining why they feel they deserve this opportunity to test a race car. Drivers must be 16 years of age or older to be eligible and compete in at least one ECKC or WCC race, or the 2013 Canadian Championships.

This weekend at Goodwood Kartways for the Eastern Canadian Karting Championship, Blanchet Motorsports will have one of their CTCC Touring Cars on display and will be on hand to answer any questions about the car or series. Be sure to stop by and check them out.

Blanchet Motorsports Team History:
The team was founded in 1993 by Frank and Mario Blanchet as they entered the Canadian Esso Protec Formula 1600 Series. From there Frank decided it was time to bring his sons, Ryan and Greg, into the sport as they started racing go karts at the 3-S Go-Karts facility competing in the Simcoe Kart Club Championship. After a decade in karting Frank decided it was his turn to get back behind of the wheel as he would compete in the inaugural Canadian Touring Car Championship.

Since 2007 the team has only raced in the Canadian Touring Car Championship and from that first season to 2011 the team enjoyed mediocre results but always finishing in the top ten in points at the end of the season. 2012 would be huge stepping stone for the team as they would bring in Damon Sharpe to drive the number 84 Honda Civic. The first half of the season was a bit tough as Damon would only finish 4 of the 8 races. The second half of the year however was a different story as Damon scored the teams maiden Pole Position and victory taking both himself and the Blanchet Motorsports banner to their first ever CTCC Championship.

Currently the team is tied for the lead of the 2013 championship after the rounds at the Canadian Grand Prix with Sharpe back behind the wheel of the 84 car.

About the Canadian Tour Car Championship:
The Canadian Touring Car Championship (CTCC) presented by Continental Tire is Canada’s only professional road racing series where the words Passion and Performance find their true meaning.

It showcases race cars based on their original stock street version in three different categories (Classes). The entry-level B-Spec Class is the category for compact cars with stock engines and strictly controlled suspension modifications; Touring Class features cars with minimal engine modifications, while Super Class machines have powerful and heavily modified engines and advanced aerodynamics. All three classes compete at the same time on the track and challenge for supremacy in their class.

CTCC is featured in Eastern Canada’s main provinces, Ontario and Québec. Race events generally take place in the Greater Toronto Area, Greater Ottawa Area, Mont Tremblant, Montréal and Trois-Rivières. The competitor base expands reach all over Canada and the north-east United States.

Participating automotive brands include Acura, Audi, BMW, Chevrolet, Honda, Hyundai, Fiat, Ford, Mazda, MINI, Nissan, Scion, Subaru, Toyota and Volkswagen.