Following on from his racing sucess at the Spring Classic in May on the Mount Tremblant Circuit, Quebec in Canada, he moved on to participate with his newly acquired Unipower GT in an Invitational race at the Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières over the weekend of the 9th – 11th August.
The event is a major attraction in the City of Trois-Rivières (Three Rivers), a province of Quebec, with racing having started back in 1967, when some passionate members of the Club Autosport Mauricien (CAM), decided to organize a race in the streets of Trois-Rivières. Inspired by the races in Monaco's streets, Mr. Jean E. Ryan, Yves Dufour, Paul Charest, Leon Girard and Leon Cadieux, helped by a committee of thirty people, organized what will be for many years a unique event in North America.
GP3R (Grand Prix 3 Rivers) as the event is known, is held over two weekend race weekends. The first caters for mostly the FIA World Rallycross Championship and associated formula on a half tarmac and half dirt course. The second weekend features a great variety of series on the street course, with the exciting NASCAR Pinty’s series, as well as CTCC, Formula Tour 1600, IMSA Mazda Prototype lites and Nissan Micra Cup are in action during the road course weekend.
For Jim’s race, this was by invitation and comprising cars of both large and small bore capacities split into two Classes, with Jim of course competing in the Small-bore Class against cars such as Lancia, BMW and the Austin Healy Sprite.
Such was his pace, in only his second race in his new car and in the rain, that he finished 9th overall. A fantastic result and all the more significant as his race car is based on a road-car chassis, however much modified.
His result along with the rarity of his car, certainly attracted much attention from both competitors and crowds at the event, as Jim tells me that he signed over 500 autograph cards depicting his Unipower GT, over that weekend !.
Before the races, competing cars are displayed near the circuit, making for a very open and friendly event, as spectating at the event is also free.
Well done Jim and really looking forward to seeing and hearing more about your success’ in the Unipower GT.
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