2013 was the seventh season for the Canadian Touring Car Championship. The series continued to offer racers an excellent opportunity to showcase their talents at some of eastern Canada’s most widely recognized and well-established race circuits. The series provided amateur competitors with professionally organized events that would attract fans and sponsors. The success of the championship was reflected in the number of drivers who participated during race weekends.

This 2013 schedule consists of seven race weekends at six different tracks. The format at each venue includes two races – generally, thirty-minutes in length. As has become tradition, the season kicks off on the Victoria Day long weekend at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park. Next on the calendar is the series’ visit to Circuit Gilles Villeneuve during the Grand Prix of Canada weekend. Early in July, teams will be at ICAR for rounds five and six. This is followed by a trip to Le Circuit Mont-Tremblant. Next up is the series only stop on the street circuit at Trois-Rivieres. The second and final stop at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park is conducted during the NASCAR Truck weekend. Series champions will be crowned when teams visit Calabogie Motorsports Park in early September.

In 2013, there were three classes. To help fans distinguish between the groups, the cars are fitted with different coloured windshield banners.

  • B-Spec – (White Window Banner) – B-Spec is the Canadian Touring Car Championship’s entry-level category. As a result, all adjustments made to a vehicle must be within the manufacturer’s specifications. Brake pads and rotors may be changed, but they have to retain the original dimensions. The maximum wheel size is 15X7 fitted with Continental 205/50R15 tires. There is an extensive list of cars that qualify for this class – Mazda 2, Mini Cooper, Honda Fit, Chevrolet Sonic, Fiat 500, Ford Fiesta, Nissan Versa and Toyota Yaris.
  • Touring - (Blue Window Banner) – Vehicles competing in this class are allowed a minimal amount of performance enhancements. This group is limited to a maximum engine displacement of 2.0-liters. The suspension components are unrestricted, but vehicles have a minimum ride height of three inches. Brake pads and rotors may be changed, but they have to retain the original dimensions. The maximum wheel size is 17X8 fitted with Continental 225/45R17 tires. Manufacturers represented in this group include the Mini Cooper S, Honda Civic, Mazda 3, Volkswagen Golf and Scion.
  • Super Touring – (Orange Window Banner) - Super Touring is the series fastest class. This category allows engine modifications and aerodynamic enhancements. The maximum engine displacement for this group is 3.0-liters. The suspension components are unrestricted, but vehicles must have a minimum ride height of four inches. Unlike the other two classes, the brake components are not subject to any restrictions. The maximum wheel size is 17X9 fitted with Continental 225/45R17 tires. Manufacturers competing in the category include BMW, Subaru, Honda, Pontiac and Hyundai.

Rounds thirteen and fourteen, the final weekend of the 2013 Canadian Touring Car Championship, were held at Calabogie Motorsport Park. Prior to the last event, the Super Touring category was decided in favour of Scott Nicol and Karl Wittmer had secured to the B-Spec title. However, the Touring crown was still up for grabs. By the end of the weekend, Damon Sharpe or Michel Sallenbach would be the 2013 class champion.

The first lap for the final race of the 2013 Canadian Touring Car Championship. Leading the field of thirteen entrants into Calabogie Motorsport Park’s turn two is the pole-sitter, Scott Nicol, in the No. 41 Velocity Motorsport Honda Civic Si-R. Trailing Nicol is the No. 86 G1 Racing Hyundai Genesis of the second-fastest qualifier, Jonathan Rashleigh. Immediately behind Rashleigh are Alex Healy and Nick Wittmer.
The 2013 Canadian Touring Car Super Touring champion, Scott Nicol, concluded his season ‘on a high note.’ He scored a pair of victories at Calabogie Motorsport Park. Nicol qualified second fastest for round thirteen, but after fourteen laps of racing, he was in first-place. On Sunday, Nicol started on the pole but was kept honest by Jonathan Rashleigh – his margin of victory was 0.351-seconds.
After a season-long battle, Damon Sharpe captured the 2013 Touring class championship. Sharpe entered the final weekend at Calabogie Motorsport Park trailing, the class points leader, Michel Sallenbach. Sharpe had to qualify on the pole and win both races to secure the title. He achieved those goals and won the crown by a single marker – (Damon Sharpe -1564 points and Michel Sallenbach – 1563 points).
Sunday’s Touring podium for round fourteen of the 2013 Canadian Touring Car Championship at Calabogie Motorsport Park. In the center is the new champion and race winner, Damon Sharpe, from Blanchet Motorsports. On the rostrum’s left side is the runner-up for the second time this weekend, Michel Sallenbach. Completing the podium is the third-place finisher, Eric Lacouture.
Another driver ending 2013 with some excellent results was Alex Healy. Healy, driving the No. 5 Alex Healy Racing Acura RSX Type S, captured a runner-up finish in the previous round at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park. He kept the momentum going for the final weekend of racing. Healy qualified sixth for Saturday’s contest but finished second. The next day, he started fourth and earned the final position of the podium.
The only championship to be decided at Calabogie Motorsport Park was the Touring category. The class leader, Michel Sallenbach, had a slight point lead but had to finish ahead of his main rival, Damon Sharpe, to capture his first crown. Unfortunately, it was not to be for the driver of the No. 46 Octane Motorsports Mini Cooper S. For the third time, Sallenbach would be the ‘bridesmaid.’
Jonathan Rashleigh not only earned his first series podium in round eleven at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park but also his first Canadian Touring Car Championship victory. For the weekend’s first event at Calabogie Motorsport Park, Rashleigh qualified and finished third in the No. 86 G1 Racing Hyundai Genesis. In the finale, he started second and ended the year with a runner-up result.
Octane Motorsport’s, Eric Lacouture participated in all fourteen rounds of the 2013 Canadian Touring Car Championship. Entering the final weekend at Calabogie Motorsport Park, he had three podium results and finished every race. Lacouture’s steady performance was rewarded with a third in the Touring standings. In the final two contests of the season, he earned two more rostrum finishes.
Sunday’s Super Touring podium for round thirteen of the 2013 Canadian Touring Car Championship at Calabogie Motorsport Park. In the center is the race winner, Scott Nicol. On the left side of the rostrum is Benjamin DiStaulo, who was later disqualified. The final position on the podium is occupied by Alex Healy, who would inherit the runner-up finish. Third place would be awarded to Jonathan Rashleigh.

FINISHCLASSDRIVERCAR / SPONSORLAPSRETIREMENTS
1Super TouringScott NicolHonda Civic Si-R / Velocity Motorsport14-
2Super TouringAlex HealyAcura RSX Type-S / Alex Healy Racing14-
3Super TouringJonathan RashleighHyundai Genesis / G1 Racing14-
4Super TouringRoger LedouxSubaru WRX / Lachute Performance14-
5Super TouringArek WojciechowskiBMW 330i / 8Legs Racing14-
6Super TouringNick WittmerHonda Accord / Ste-Rose Honda14-
7Super TouringBob AttrellHyundai Genesis / G1 Racing14-
8TouringDamon SharpeHonda Civic Si / Blanchet Motorsports14-
9TouringMichel SallenbachMini Cooper S / Octane Motorsport14-
10TouringEric LacoutureMini Cooper S / Octane Motorsport13-
11Super TouringLuc LesageScion FRS / Media Racing Team13-
12TouringCarlos Tesler-MabeMini Cooper S / Octane Motorsport12-
-B-SpecNormand BoyerMazda 2 / Boyer Motorsports-Did Not Start
-Super TouringBenjamin DiStauloHonda Civic Si-R / Lombardi Racing14Disqualified

FINISHCLASSDRIVERCAR / SPONSORLAPSRETIREMENTS
1Super TouringScott NicolHonda Civic Si-R / Velocity Motorsport18-
2Super TouringJonathan RashleighHyundai Genesis / G1 Racing18-
3Super TouringAlex HealyAcura RSX Type-S / Alex Healy Racing18-
4Super TouringArek WojciechowskiBMW 330i / 8Legs Racing18-
5Super TouringRoger LedouxSubaru WRX / Lachute Performance18-
6Super TouringNick WittmerHonda Accord / Ste-Rose Honda18-
7TouringDamon SharpeHonda Civic Si / Blanchet Motorsports18-
8TouringMichel SallenbachMini Cooper S / Octane Motorsport18-
9Super TouringBenjamin DiStauloHonda Civic Si-R / Lombardi Racing17-
10TouringCarlos Tesler-MabeMini Cooper S / Octane Motorsport17-
11TouringEric LacoutureMini Cooper S / Octane Motorsport17-
7Super TouringBob AttrellHyundai Genesis / G1 Racing7Did Not Finish
11Super TouringLuc LesageScion FRS / Media Racing Team4Did Not Finish
-B-SpecNormand BoyerMazda 2 / Boyer Motorsports-Did Not Start

Copyright Notice:
All content (photographs and text) appearing on this website are the exclusive property of © www.zoompics.com and are protected under International copyright laws. The subject matter on this website may not be reproduced, copied, stored or manipulated.

© Copyright 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019


Return to home page.