F2000 Championship Series …
Rémy Audette Heads to Watkins Glen in an Attempt to Increase his Lead in the Championship
Blainville (Québec), May 31, 2011.– At the wheel of his Dimensions Doors / Novatech Van Diemen, Quebec driver Rémy Audette will contest the fifth and sixth rounds of the F2000 Championship Series this weekend at Watkins Glen in the state of New York. At the track where Formula 1 has been held twenty times in the past, Rémy will attempt to earn two more victories and remain in first place of the overall championship rankings.
” It’s a big weekend coming up, spread out over four days with four test sessions, qualifications, and two races. It’s always good to have a lot of time on the track to practice, especially at Watkins Glens where interruptions due to accidents are not rare. But I know this track well and it won’t be a problem for me ” mentions Rémy, who will be at the New York state circuit for the third time, a circuit that hosted the F1 World Championship from 1961 to 1980 (including Gilles Villeneuve’s victory for Ferrari in 1979).
This weekend, the F2000 Championship Series will support the Grand-Am series’ “6 Hours of The Glen”. It is therefore expected that the track will be subject to a lot more rubber from the numerous cars in other classes, as explains Rémy Audette: ” don’t be surprised if our F2000 cars are slower in qualifying than during our first practice session on Thursday because the prototypes and GT cars will leave a lot of rubber before us. But it’s the same situation for all the drivers and it doesn’t give an advantage to anybody. For me, the game plan is simple: get some seat time as early as possible to ensure the cleanest track and have the chance to set some good times before any potential stoppages for accidents ” he explains. Thirty-seven drivers are entered for the doubleheader this weekend, but a congested track doesn’t bother Rémy Audette: ” I’m usually pretty comfortable in these conditions so I’m no stressed. Our goal stays the same: to enjoy ourselves and to get good results “.
Rémy is also very confident in his Dimensions Doors / Novatech Van Diemen: ” we changed the engine after the last race at Road Atlanta, where we were realised that we had an oil leak. The engine we installed for Watkins Glen has already been used two seasons ago and we were pleased with it. We will adjust the rest during Thursday’s test sessions so that everything is perfect during qualifying and the two races ” says the Audette Racing driver.
Rémy Audette’s goal is to win at least one of the two weekend races and to maintain his spot at the top of the championship standings. He currently has 165 points, 13 more than his closest rival American Kyle Connery. The two races this weekend will take place at 11am on Saturday morning and 11:30am on Sunday.
North American Formula 2000 is the Audette Racing Team’s primary goal for this year, with Rémy Audette at the wheel. Rémy’s brother Mathieu Audette will drive his Acura RSX Type-S in several Canadian Touring Car Championship events this season, starting at the Indy Toronto Grand Prix in July.
The Audette Racing Team benefits form the support of Dimensions Doors, Novatech, Acura Plus Blainville, Les Extrusions du Nord, Verre Select, Jeld Wen, OPM, Amusements Spectaculaire, Les Moulures PFJV, Gulf, Mec-Inov and Omnitech.