A great Canadian weekend for Tucker

August 4, 2009

August 4, 2009

The scenic and challenging Le Circuit Mont Tremblant was the backdrop for Rounds 9 and 10 as the Ferrari Challenge racers squared off in an ever-tightening battle for the championship. Heading into the weekend, Ferrari of Houston's Mark McKenzie was 145 points ahead of Boardwalk Ferrari's Scott Tucker in a battle that looks like it will go down to the last turn of the last lap at the last race scheduled – the World Finals in Valencia, Spain on November 13-15.

Throwing down the gauntlet in qualifying was championship leader Mark McKenzie who put in a blazing lap of 1:40.352 sec. just eight thousands of a second ahead of Tucker!! Less than a tenth back in third was Ferrari of Beverly Hills' James Henley. The fast five was rounded out by Ferrari of Silicon Valley stable mates Zak Brown and Henri Richard.

When the green flag dropped, McKenzie used the advantage of pole position to take the edge into the sweeping turn one with Tucker falling into second. Over the next 18 laps, the gap between the two leaders would rise and fall as the drivers exchanged fast laps. In the last phase of race Tucker closed to McKenzie’s rear bumper, then after getting a great run off turn 8, Tucker was able to get alongside McKenzie down Tremblant’s long back straight and complete the pass under braking into turn 10 – textbook overtaking. Over the remaining 8 laps McKenzie endeavored to respond but it was Tucker at the checkered flag with a 2.4 second margin.  Zak Brown, driving a solid race, finished third two seconds adrift of McKenzie. Fourth and fifth were captured by Henri Richard and rookie standings leader, Steve Hill, respectively.

As a result of heavy early morning rain showers, Sunday's qualifying was cancelled – the race start order would be based on championship points. With a heavy downpour only moments before the start, all the competitors donned a set of Pirelli’s finest rain wear for the final race of the weekend. When the green flew Tucker pushed his Ferrari to the limits of its adhesion and paddled his way to the lead. Surprisingly, however, McKenzie could not respond and he began to fall into the clutches of Ferrari of Silicon Valley’s Zak Brown. Brown, looking for a way past, was able to motor by on lap five but the gap to Tucker at this point was considerable. This did not deter Brown who pushed hard over the next 18 laps, setting the race fastest lap on lap 21. Over the closing stages of the race, it looked like Brown might have a shot at Tucker but Tucker responded with enough pace to remain in front of Brown.

Rounding out the podium was Brown’s team mate Henri Richard. Turning in another fine performance was rookie, Steve Hill on his run to fourth place. The race for fifth would see a titanic battle between James Henley, Mike Zoi, and Martin Burrowes. Henley, recovering from an early spin that dropped him to tenth, drove superbly in the drying conditions to round out the top five finishers.

With Mont Tremblant in the rearview mirror, the action moves south to New Jersey Motorsports Park on September 19-20. Tucker is now only 30 markers back, having made up 110 points on the weekend to his championship rival. Brown has consolidated his third place position in the championship and looks poised to take on the points leaders as they pursue the 2009 Ferrari Challenge title.