Last week, Jesse Lazare took part in the Rotax Max Grand Finals as part of Team Canada. The Quebec based, www.doordoctor.com supported driver was excited that the event had finally arrived on the calendar. Lazare was one of 72 drivers entered in Rotax Senior.
“This is the event I have waited for ever since the Nationals at Mt-Tremblant,” Lazare said. “For sure it will be a tough challenge, but I think we are as prepared as we can be.”
In practice Lazare was quick and on the pace of the lead group. The qualifying was broken into two groups – odd and even numbers – and Lazare’s group would go second. As the wind kicked up for the second group, Lazare posted the fastest time in his group, but would have to settle for 8th due to the wind.
“Wow, the wind just came up as we went out,” Lazare said. “With a long fast track like this, the wind makes a huge difference.”
Lazare made solid progress through each of his three heats and stayed out of trouble. “It’s good to get to this point and be in a position to challenge in the pre-final and final,” Lazare said.
The pre-final is where the weekend started to come undone for the young Canadian driver. Lazare was severly chopped off on the first lap which caused him to go across the curbing to avoid contact and he spun. Valiantly he rebounded from 27th to finish 20th.
For the final, Lazare and noted tuner Steve Chapman had a plan. “Steve always tells me to get to the inside on the start, but for this one we were going to take a huge risk and go on the outside,” Lazare said.
The plan worked brilliantly, as Lazare moved up to as high as 10th going around the outside. “I got too greedy,” Lazare said. “Rather than try to get back in line I tried to get two more spots and that didn’t work out.”
Lazare was back to 30th at the end of the first lap. Not one to give up, Lazare put on a stellar drive to move all the way back to 16th at the checkered flag.
“Definitely not what we had hoped for,” Lazare said. “I have to thank Steven for all his support and guidance over the past few years – he really has made me the racer I am today. Also thanks to Team Canada and my parents for all their support.”
Jesse Lazare Quick Facts: Jesse Lazare is a 15 year old kart racer from Dollard des Ormeaux, Quebec. He is a three time Canadian National Champion. Lazare’s meteoric rise up the karting ranks has been nothing short of amazing. In 2006, as a Cadet, he was second in the Coupe Vega. In 2007, as the youngest driver in Mini Max he was the Champion in both the Coupe Vega and Coupe de Montreal. Lazare set new records in 2008 by starting out as vice-champion in the Florida Winter Tour, then winning both Honda Jr and Mini Max in both the Coupe Vega and Coupe de Montreal. He was also Canadian National Champion in Mini Max. In 2010, Lazare won the ECKC Rotax Jr championship and the Coupe de Quebec Rotax Max Jr Champion. In 2011 he was the Rotax Max National Champion and he represented Canada at the Rotax Max World Finals. In 2012 he captured his third Canadian National Championship, this time in Rotax Max Senior and again he will represent Canada at the Rotax Max World Finals. Away from the track, Lazare enjoys skiing and hockey, and he attends Lindsay Place High School, (Pointe Claire, Quebec ). For more information on Jesse Lazare, visit www.jesselazare.com
Jesse Lazare is supported by Door Doctor, www.doordoctor.com
