16/02/2007
NEWS STORY
A1 Team Canada is delighted to announce today that Québec racer Kevin Lacroix (right) will join its driver line-up in the 2006-07 A1GP World Cup of Motorsport starting with next weekend's street race in Durban, South Africa, Friday 23rd – Sunday 25th February, Round 8 of the winter-based nation versus nation series.
The 17-year-old Saint-Eustache resident, runner-up and 'Rookie of the Year' in last season's North American-based Star Mazda Championship, joins the Canadian entry to fulfill rookie duties on Friday morning's at each remaining A1GP round with regular racer, Toronto's James Hinchcliffe, no longer eligible to run in the hour-long Rookie-Only session having exceeded six race starts this season.
Having excelled in the Formula BMW USA Championship in 2005, finishing second overall with four wins, Kevin's graduation to the Star Mazda Championship in 2006 and early successes there led to a test with A1 Team Canada last July along with Hinchcliffe at the Pembrey Circuit in the United Kingdom. Despite having never driven anything as powerful as the 550bhp A1GP car, Lacroix proved himself to be a fast learner, picking up both the car and track to set some impressive lap times throughout his day-long test.
"I'm really excited to have this opportunity to drive for A1 Team Canada," Lacroix commented. "I'm looking forward to working with the team again following our first meeting at Pembrey. South Africa's going to be a challenge as I get reacquainted with the A1GP car and learn the track layout but I'm confident in my ability and I know I can meet the team's expectations for the Rookie session. It's great to get the seat-time and I'm hoping it will lead to a shot at racing for the team in the near future."
"I'm delighted to officially welcome Kevin into the A1 Team Canada driver line-up," stated Canadian Seat Holder Wade Cherwayko. "Québec boasts such a rich history of producing talented open-wheel racing drivers and Kevin undoubtedly represents the next generation."
Cherwayko continued, "He (Kevin) impressed us massively when we tested him in the A1GP car at Pembrey last July and we're looking forward to seeing how he performs as part of the team over the course of a race weekend. His input in the Rookie-Only Session will be extremely valuable to the team's overall competitiveness and I'm looking forward to seeing him attacking the streets of Durban next weekend."
Kevin becomes only the fourth Canadian to compete for A1 Team Canada with Vancouver's Sean McIntosh and Lacroix's fellow Québec-native Patrick Carpentier representing the team in the inaugural 2005-06 A1GP Championship while Ontario's Hinchcliffe has enjoyed the lion's share of driving duties this season, starting five rounds to McIntosh's two.