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During the offseason, the Quebec Formula Ford series acquired a new sponsor and would go by the name Coupe Excellence Chrysler Formule 1600.
The 2005 Quebec Formula Ford championship kicks off in early May at Autodrome St-Eustache. Next on the schedule, teams head to Sanair for the Grand Prix de Sanair. Then the series returns to Autodrome St-Eustache for round three. This event is followed by Autodrome St-Felicien. Unlike last season, the race at the Grand Prix de Trois-Rivieres will count towards the championship. This weekend is followed by a second visit to Sanair. The season ends in late September with a doubleheader at Le Circuit Mont-Tremblant. The single-seater, open-wheel race cars in the championship are powered by a four-cylinder, 1600-cc Ford engine, which produces120-horsepower. A mixture of European and North American chassis is used by competitors. Two of the most successful cars are constructed in Canada – the Aero and CMV. Minimum vehicle weight is determined by the suspension design and ranges from 1050 to 1125-lbs., with the driver. Teams are required to use a spec tire (Hankook Z2000). Round five of the Coupe Excellence Chrysler Formule 1600 series was held at the thirty-sixth running of the Grand Prix de Trois-Rivieres. Drivers would compete on the eleven-turn 1.53-mile temporary street circuit for twenty-five-laps. |
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In a repeat performance, last year’s winner, Didier Schraenen, claimed a flag-to-flag victory at the Grand Prix de Trois-Rivieres. The 1998 – 1999 Canadian Formula Ford champion did not participate in the first four rounds of the 2005 Coupe Excellence Chrysler Formule 1600 series but was a quick as ever at Trois-Rivieres. Schraenen started from the pole in the No. 94 Radio Energie / RDS sponsored CMV. |
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Olivier Bonnet returned for another season of competition with LM Scuderia. Bonnet was driving the familiar No. 31 Vector MG-93 with backing from Damafro. To date, the highlight of his season was a victory in round two of the championship at the Grand Prix de Sanair. Bonnet qualified third fastest at Trois-Rivieres. He benefitted from the retirement of his teammate, Michel Bonnet, to finish in the runner-up spot. |
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Last year, Philippe Gelinas had some success in an older Reynard 87SF. Gelinas scored three victories – Sanair, Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve and Le Circuit Mont-Tremblant. In 2005, he was campaigning the No. 34 EuroSwift SC92. This season, Gelinas scored back-to-back wins at Autodrome St-Felicien. He only managed to qualify ninth fastest at Trois-Rivieres, but Gelinas charged through the field to a third-place finish. |
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After an unsuccessful season in 2003 driving the Harfang 2000, Michel Bonnet joined LM Scuderia. It was the right decision as his fortunes turned around. After earning three podium results last year, Bonnet finished third in the final standings. He opened 2005 with a runner-up finish but retired from round four. Bonnet was fast a Trois-Rivieres and started on the front row but failed to finish once again. |
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A driver showing great promise early in the season was Marcel Lafontaine. He is a member of the two-car Max1600 team, which includes Franc Roiron. Driving the No. 27 Cogismag sponsored Van Diemen RF97, Lafontaine captured the runner-up spot in round two at Sanair. In the next two races, he started second and third but faded before the end of the contests. At Trois-Rivieres, Lafontaine qualified and finished in fifth place. |
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| POS | START | DRIVER | CAR | ENTRANT | LAPS | RETIREMENTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Didier Schraenen | CMV | Dynatec | 25 | - |
| 2 | 3 | Olivier Bonnet | Vector MG-93 | LM Scuderia | 25 | - |
| 3 | 9 | Philippe Gelinas | EuroSwift SC92 | Equipe Multi Pret Hypotheque | 25 | - |
| 4 | 6 | Hugo Lafontaine | Van Diemen RF94 | Max 1600 | 25 | - |
| 5 | 5 | Marcel Lafontaine | Van Diemen RF97 | Max 1600 | 25 | - |
| 6 | 8 | Franc Roiron | Van Diemen RF01 | Max1600 | 25 | - |
| 7 | 12 | David Thilenius | Van Diemen RF98 | Specialties Incorporated | 25 | - |
| 8 | 10 | Eric Wannon | Van Diemen RF94 | AMRAN Contruction | 24 | - |
| 9 | 13 | Eric Van Peperstraete | Van Diemen RF01 | Excellence Motorsport | 24 | - |
| 10 | 14 | Patrick Sweeney | Van Diemen RF98 | RPM | 24 | - |
| 11 | 4 | Serge Bourdeau | Van Diemen RF01 | Excellence Motorsport | 24 | - |
| 12 | 12 | Michel Bonnet | Vector MG-93 | LM Scuderia | 25 | - |
| 13 | 12 | Marc Arseneau | Van Diemen RF00 | LM Scuderia | 25 | - |
| 14 | 15 | Yannick Bourdeau | Van Diemen RF01 | Excellence Motorsport | 22 | - |
| 15 | 15 | Eric Paradis | Mygale SJ02 | Excellence Motorsport | 22 | - |
| - | - | Ghislain Theriault | Mygale SJ02 | Excellence Motorsport | 22 | - |
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