Two of Quebec’s most heralded drivers, J.F. Veilleux and Marc-Antoine Camirand, have joined World Speed Motorsports for this weekend’s Atlantic race through the streets of Trois-Rivieres, round eight of the CART Toyota Atlantic Championship series, July 28-30, for the Player’s Grand Prix de Trois-Rivieres.
Veilluex, a native of Boucherville, most recently raced with World Speed just two weeks ago at the Molson Indy Toronto, where he finished sixth after running in the top five for most of the race. Camirand, a native of Saint-Leonard d’ Aston, makes his first Atlantic career start, after literally dominating just a year ago in the Trois-Rivieres U.S. F2000 race.
“We are lucky to have two top-notch drivers that will keep us in the hunt this weekend,” said Chuck West, team owner of World Speed Motorsports. “I was really impressed with J.F. last week in Toronto and see no reason why we can’t have two cars in the top five in Trois-Rivieres. I remember watching Marc dominate in the two litre cars there last year and look forward to seeing how he does in the Atlantic race. Last year, we finished third at Trois-Rivieres with Nicolas Rondet, so I’m certain that we have the combination for a top performance this weekend.”
“Racing in Trois-Rivieres is always challenging for a driver because of the bumpy surface and the unforgiving concrete walls,” said Veilluex, who will drive the #14 World Speed Motorsports – Northwest SpeedWerx/ Walker Racing swift 008.a. “It’s great that I’ll be racing on Canadian soil, especially in Trois-Rivieres, the fans are so enthusiastic and knowledgeable. My parents are originally from that area and I still have a lot of relatives who live there, so it’s like a second home to me. I want to thank Chuck and Rick Waddell for giving me this opportunity.”
Prior to the Toronto race, Veilluex finished ninth and tenth, respectively, in the first two rounds of the Atlantic series earlier this year at Homestead-Miami Speedway while driving for Michael Shank Racing. After Veilleux’s funding fell through at the last minute, he was left rideless until West and Rick Waddell, founder of the Northwest SpeedWerx driver development program, offered him a seat with the team for Toronto and Trois-Rivieres.
Northwest SpeedWerx was established to identify aspiring young drivers and assist them with the resources and promotional guidance to move their careers forward through participation in a multi-year driver development program. Focusing on CART’s ladder system, including the Toyota Atlantic Championship, the goal of Northwest SpeedWerx is to train the next generation of drivers for competition in the CART FedEx Championship.
Recognized as one of Quebec’s most promising young racers, Veilleux, 26, has a winning background in the Canadian National FF-1600 Championship, the U.S. F2000 National Championship and selected Motorola Cup events before moving up to Atlantic in 1999. In last year’s Atlantic race at Trois-Rivieres, Veilleux finished eighth while driving for P-1 Racing. He also made his professional racing debut at Trois-Rivieres in 1993’s Canadian FF 1600 race, where he finished third.
Camirand, currently second in the 2000 U.S. F2000 National Championship points standings, will drive the #15 World Speed Motorsports swift 008.a in Sunday’s Atlantic race as well as the Van Diemen Ford for Key Motorsports in Saturday’s U.S. F2000 race. “It was a perfect weekend for me at Trois-Rivieres last year,” said Camirand, of his U.S. F2000 victory. “I won from the pole and set a new track record. What could be better for my hometown race, especially with all of my family and friends there to support me. I am hoping for the same results in the Atlantic car. We will test for a couple of days, which will give me the confidence I need to be a front-runner. I am aiming for a top five finish.”
Camirand, now in his third year of U.S. F2000 competition, began his racing career at the early age of eight years old. After four years of go-karting in his father’s garage, he entered his first race and captured sixth place in the Cadet class of the Quebec Xhampionship. By age 16, Camirand had amassed six Canadian karting titles. 1996 found him in the Canadian FF – 1600 Championship series, where he won eight out of eight races en route to the F.A.Q. Regional Championship, becoming youngest driver in the history of the series to claim victory at all of the events. As he aspired to move tothe next level of competition, Camirand left the Canadian FF – 1600 with three wins, including a win at Trois-Rivieres, six podium finishes and eight top five finishes.
Camirand entered the U.S. F2000 Championship series in 1998, setting some high standards for his competitors to contend with including the “Rookie of the Year” title, two track records (Watkins Glen and Minneapolis), two pole positions and two 2nd place finishes, all in his first year of competition.Last year, Camirand dominated the podium at almost every race with three wins, two track records, two second place, six top three and nine top five finishes. One win and one track record took place at Trois-Rivieres in what Camirand recalls was a dream come true. This year he has captured four podium finishes in six races, most recently winning at Road America just three weeks ago.
World Speed Motorsports is considered one of America’s most dynamic racing organizations, featuring entries in CART’s Toyota Atlantic Championship, as well as the Star Mazda Pro Series. Founded in 1991 by West, World Speed initially focused on the Formula Mazda series where West finished third overall and won the Rookie-of-the-Year title in his first season as an owner/driver. 1992 resulted in the series championship by virtue of West’s five wins, ten podiums and three track records. Since then, World Speed has captured six Formula Mazda championship and five pro series Rookie-of-the-Year titles under West’s guidance and Doyle’s engineering expertise, featuring such drivers as Ben Massey, Pete Wise, Mike Conte, Mike Miller, Jeff Bucknum and Grant Ryley.
This weekend’s CART Toyota Atlantic activities begin Friday, July 28, with Atlantic practice at 9:25 a.m., followed by the first qualifying session at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, July 29 commences with Atlantic practice at 9:25 a.m. followed by the second qualifying session at 1:00 p.m. Race day, Sunday, July 30, begins with a 15 – minute warm-up session at 8:05 a.m., before the start of the 45-lap Atlantic race at 1:45 p.m. Both Veilluex and Camirand will be available both Saturday and Sunday for autographs.
The Player’s Grand Prix de Trois-Rivieres will be televised on RDS, Sunday August 6 at 1:00 p.m. and on CTV Monday, August 7 at 7:00 p.m. (Ontario & Pacific regions), Tuesday, August 8 at 7:00 p.m. (Eastern and Western Canadian regions). ESPN2 and ESPN International will televise the race, Saturday, August 12 at 1:00 p.m. All times are Eastern.
Round nine of the 12-race CART Toyota Atlantic Championship season takes place at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, August 20 for the Motorola 220, part of the CART FedEx Championship weekend. Akihiro Asai will re-join the World Speed team as the driver OF the #15 World Speed Motorsports – ProStaff/Walker Racing Swift.