After a three-week break since the last race at Burke Lakefront Airport in Cleveland, Ohio, the CART Toyota Atlantic Championship moves back to Canada for Round nine of the twelve-race season at Trois-Rivieres, Quebec. The feature event at the Grand Prix de Trois-Rivieres, the race will mark the 27th time since 1974 the Atlantic series has competed on the 1.521-mile street circuit.
If the past eight races have been any indication of what to expect at Trois-Rivieres, competition should reach a high pitch at the second of three Canadian stops. The Championship is still squarely in the reach of a number of drivers. P-1 Racing Jonathan Macri piloting the NTN Bearings/Miller Genuine Draft/Battlefield Equipment Rentals, currently sits in 6th position in the Standings, but is only 29 points behind point’s leader Michael Valiante and 21 points behind second-place driver, rookie Ryan Hunter-Reay.
Having posted three podium finishes so far this season, the 20-year-old, Gormley, Ontario, native will be gunning for a win this Sunday. Finishing third in his first ever Canadian Formula Ford 1600 Championship race at Trois-Rivieres in 1999, Macri is looking to repeat his successful performance this August 2nd – August 4th race weekend.
“It’s been a good three-week break. I think we all needed it after our three back-to-back races, but I’m excited to be back,” Jonathan said. I’m especially looking forward to running at Trois-Rivieres. I know the track well both from my two years in the Formula 1600 Championship and last year in my Atlantic rookie season. Trois-Rivieres is an extremely technical track. It’s a small, tight street circuit, and you have to continuously negotiate one corner after another. It keeps you busy. You’re always working the car; gearing up, turning, or braking. There is no part of the track that allows you ease off a bit. The track forces the driver to stay focused throughout the race or might risk making a costly mistake. So there’s a real premium on qualifying well. We didn’t show as well as we’d hoped at Cleveland, but I’m sure we’ll have a quick car come qualifying. My driving style suits the course. It’s definitely one of my favourites and I’m hoping that my race will be as memorable as it was the first time I raced there in 1999.”
Currently 6th, Macri is looking to move up in the Championship Standings. He has demonstrated high levels of consistency and talent in his driving throughout the 2002 season. Hopefully, Jonathan will be rewarded with a podium-finish if not a win. If history is any indicator, success may well be his at Trois-Rivieres.
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