OREANDA-NEWS. July 19, 2016. The Nissan Micra Cup returns to Circuit Mont-Tremblant this coming weekend and two races will take place as part of the Summer Classic, an event that signals the second half of the 2016 season. Four drivers are within 30 points of each other in the overall standings, a gap smaller than the number of points awarded for a win.  Nothing is decided in the championship yet and there are multiple drivers in the top 10 counting on this event to launch them into contention for the title.

This race weekend at Circuit Mont-Tremblant finds itself sandwiched between two of the most publicized events of the season. This includes the IMSA SportsCar weekend which took place just over a week ago at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, which allowed thousands of Endurance race fans a chance to discover and appreciate the Nissan Micras' performance, and the annual Grand Prix de Trois-Rivi?res, which takes place mid-August.

The Summer Classic at Circuit Mont-Tremblant is nonetheless a very important part of the championship. This exciting race weekend often sees thousands of spectators as they take advantage of their summer vacation and the warm weather. On a track that most of them know very well, the Nissan Micra drivers will surely enjoy themselves. Will Xavier Coupal maintain his lead for the title?  Will 2015 champion Olivier B?dard come out on top for the first time this season? Is this where Kevin King will claim his fourth win of the year? Albertan Stefan Rzadzinski sits in fourth place in the standings just ahead of Val?rie Limoges, will he finally get to stand at the top of the podium?

Marc-Antoine Demers, winner of the last race of 2015 at this same track, and 2014 Nissan GT Academy U.S. winner, Nic Hammann, are also on the list of potential winners for the two races on the program this weekend.

For Marc-Andr? Perreault, sports journalist for the Montreal Canadiens professional ice hockey team with TVA network, the challenge will be even bigger as he makes his grand motorsports debut. As one of the two "Volant Coupe Nissan Micra" winners from last season's Pro-Pulsion auto show on TVA, Marc-Andr? will be at the wheel of a media car entered by Nissan Canada.  No doubt his job will be a tough one among a group of seasoned drivers but after showing impressive abilities during the competition, which won him this spot, it will be interesting to follow his progress throughout the weekend. 

The Nissan Micra Cup drivers will take to the track six times this weekend at Circuit Mont-Tremblant. Two practice sessions, each lasting 25 minutes, will be held on Friday, followed on Saturday by a qualifying session (20 minutes) at 9:30 a.m. prior to the first race at 1:30 p.m. On Sunday, the day will start with a qualifying session at 9:00 a.m. for the second race, which will take place at 1:40 p.m. Each races will be 30 minutes, or approximately 15 laps, long.