Legends of Motorsports, a Bobby Rahal Signature Event, made its Canadian premiere on July 9 – 11, 2010 at the 2.65 mile, 15-turn Circuit Mont-Tremblant, located in the picturesque Laurentian Mountains in Quebec. Headlined by event Grand Marshal and race participant Jacques Villeneuve, the three-day event celebrated Ferrari as the official marque.
Villeneuve, the 1997 Formula One World Champion and 1995 Indianapolis 500 winner, thrilled the assembled crowd by taking to the track himself. Driving a McLaren GTR, the national racing hero finished runner-up in the Group C/GTP Category on Sunday, July 11.Fellow Canadian open-wheel stars Alex Tagliani and Claude Bourbonnais joined Villeneuve in autograph and Fan Forum interview sessions during the weekend.
“I’m having a blast,” Villeneuve said. “The atmosphere here is good. It’s great for [the participants] to have this opportunity to get in these amazing cars that made them dream when they were kids. The same for the people who come to watch. Maybe they didn’t get a chance to see them run back in the day and now there’s this opportunity to hear them and feel them, it’s great.”
“It was extremely gratifying to see fans of all ages turn out in numbers to enjoy the amazing cars and drivers assembled at Circuit Mont-Tremblant,” said series co-founder and 1986 Indianapolis 500 Winner Bobby Rahal. “It’s been many years since I’ve raced at this magnificent track and returning brought back great memories. Clearly, Canadians are not only passionate for auto racing generally, but have a strong and sophisticated appetite for historic racing.”
Equally appreciative of the public’s warm reception of Legends of Motorsports was Circuit Mont-Tremblant owner and fellow avid historic racer Lawrence Stroll.
“Obviously it’s been a fantastic weekend,” Stroll said. “There’s lots of great cars here, great people, great drivers and it’s a great venue. It’s even better than expected. I think the level of professionalism, how the race is run by the organizers, takes historic racing to a new level in North America.”
Participating in the same category as Villeneuve, Mr. Stroll entered a spirited third-place finish in his own Ferrari 333SP, thus joining his friend Villeneuve on the winner’s podium.
Similar to the Legends of Motorsports historic races at Barber Motorsports and Watkins Glen, the field at Mont-Tremblant featured a high quality list of entrants. Notable cars included a Maserati 250F, McLaren F1 GTR, Ferrari 512M, Porsche 910, Lola T70, not to mention the Historic Grand Prix field. The cars and classes were divided into five separate races: Historic Grand Prix, Can-Am / Group C / GTP, USRRC / FIA Championship of Makes, IMSA GT / Thunder & Lightning and Formula Libre / Classic Monoposto / 2.0 Liter Sports Cars.
Legends of Motorsports at Mont-Tremblant – Feature Race Results and Photo Gallery
Can-Am / Group C / GTP – Feature Race Results
1. Travis Engen – Audi R8 LMP, 20 laps, 31:09.098
2. Jacques Villeneuve – McLaren F1 GTR, – 35.390
3. Lawrence Stroll – Ferrari 333SP, – 1:19.816
4. Pilote de Jour – Lola T163, – 2 laps (first in class)
5. Robert Ryan – McLaren M6B, – 2 laps
Fastest Time of Day – Travis Engen – Audi R8 LMP (1:31.552)
Click for Can-Am / Group C / GTP – Complete Results
Historic Grand Prix – Feature Race Results
1. Chris Bender – March 821, 12 laps, 21:20.945
2. Bud Moeller – Ferrari 312 T5, – 10.575
3. James King – Lotus 77, – 10.947
4. Robert Blain – March F1, – 13.620
5. John DeLane – Tyrrell 006, – 22.238
Fastest Time of Day – Zak Brown – McLaren M28 (1:30.598)
Click for Historic Grand Prix – Complete Results
USRRC / FIA Championship of Makes – Feature Race Results
1. Lawrence Stroll – Ferrari 512M, 17 laps, 30:12.369
2. John Monson – McLaren M1B, – 22.599 (First in class)
3. Bob Gett – Chevron B16, – 1:31.978
4. Archie Urciuoli – Lola T70 Spyder, – 1:35.616
5. Marc Evans – Mallock MK XI B, – 1:36.270
Fastest Time of Day – Lawrence Stroll – Ferrari 512M (1:41.701)
Click for USRRC / FIA Championship of Makes – Complete Results
IMSA GT / Thunder & Lightning – Feature Race Results
1. Martin Harvey – Porsche 911, 16 laps, 30:19.097
2. Robert Newman Jr. – Porsche 911 RSR, – 20.901
3. Ken Bain – Porsche 914/6, – 25.130
4. Peter Stoneberg – Porsche 911 RSR, – 27.772
5. Sylvain Julien – Lotus Europa 47, – 51.772 (first in T&L)
Fastest Time of Day – Ivano Scattolin, Porsche RSR (1:50.271)
Click for IMSA GT / Thunder & Lightning – Complete Results
Formula Libre / Classic Monoposto / 2.0 Liter Sports Cars – Feature Race Results
1. Richard Dean – Reynard 90-D, 14 laps, 26:35.389
2. Michael Snowdon – GRD 272 F2, – 21.412
3. David Clubine – Brabham BT30, – 24.101
4. Rick Carlino – Chevron B36, – 1 lap (first in class)
5. Nick Incantalupo – Chevron B23, – 1 lap
Fastest Time of Day, Richard Dean – Reynard 90-D (1:30.996)
Click for Formula Libre / Monoposto / 2.0 Litre Sports Cars – Complete Results
[Source: Legends of Motorsports; photo credit: Michael DiPleco]
