September 3, 2006
Kevin Lacroix, 4th under heavy rain in Mosport
Mosport, Canada, September 3rd, 2006. – Kevin Lacroix added one more race to his Top 5 streak with another fourth place in the tenth round of the Star Mazda championship on a wet Mosport race track in Ontario. The 17-year old French Canadian keeps building points in the standings although he has not realized one of his goals, winning a round. He is now closer to first place while stretching his lead over third and Best Rookie places. Lacroix claimed the #74 UniSelect car lacked a little bit of speed this weekend.
“Another fourth place, he mentioned. I wasn’t able to clock laps under 1:15 all weekend. We tried every possible setup in the five practice sessions on Thursday and Friday, to no avail. The #74 UniSelect was very good in the corners but was short on speed in the long straights. Under the conditions, I’m still happy but I was looking for a podium, if not a victory.
I started seventh and took two positions in the first corners. But to avoid a drifting car, I had to brake and did a 360 spin that set me back in ninth. We ran only six or seven laps under green out of the 21. Every time a car is off course, we go full course yellow, even if there is no danger on the track. With more green laps, I could have stepped on the podium.”
Mosport under the rain
This was Lacroix’s first visit on the famous 2.65 mile Canadian facility. He never had times out of the eighth place in practice or qualifying. “Mosport is a fabulous track where I would have liked to put more time in order to start on the two first rows, he claims. Some guys have been testing here for a week. In the rain, I knew I would get some positions back because I’ve always been comfortable in wet conditions. I long for the next round at Road Atlanta.”
Improving in the standings
This fourth place takes Lacroix a little closer to the top and a little more distant from followers. The standings now read: Carrio, 361; Lacroix, 320; Justice, 293
There are two events remaining in the calendar, Road Atlanta on September 29 – 30 and Mazda Raceway in California on October 21 – 22.
Named the Rising Star among kart drivers in 2004, Kevin Lacroix was a multiple kart champion and a 2005 Formula BMW USA scholar where he finished second in the 14-round championship. Lacroix enters the Star Mazda 2006 series with JWR with the support of sponsors that have trusted him over the years: UniSélect automotive network, SKF MotorSports, Raybestos, Tenneco, Pennzoil, Auto Parts Plus and Lacroix Auto Parts.
By: Michel-Poirier Defoy
