JL racing competed at the Grand Prix of Trois Rivieres this weekend with driver P.J Groenke looking to compete for a top ten finish in one of racing’s most prestigious venues. The weekend was a hot and sunny affair, perfect for race fans but a challenge for the teams in the Castrol Canadian Touring Car Championship. On hand to cheer on the JL Racing Team were guests from Hype Energy and many of Hype Energy’s partners including Pearl White Media, DAI Alloys, and Coach Canada.
Groenke’s Hype Energy Saab 93 immediately experienced these challenges in practice with braking issues that JL Racing Crew Chief Damon Sharpe set to resolve. Despite posting a time of 1:21.361with a speed of over 107 kph, JL Racing and Groenke were confident that the Saab 93 would improve on its performance for qualifying.
Groenke was able to march up the order significantly by waiting for the right moment and posted a greatly improved 1:17:983 to put him in the 14th starting spot in the Super Touring Class for Saturday’s race. The 30 minute race was non stop action as there were battles from front to back. Groenke was able to improve his position to 13th at the finish. Going into Sunday’s race the goal of a top ten finish was looking to be a reality.
Sunday’s race started well for Groenke as he maintained position and stood by his strategy to manage the cars brakes and tires until the end of the race and then to make a push for the top ten. Unfortunately on lap 4 Groenke could not negotiate turn 4’s 90 degree left after a long straight and the car sustained severe damage to the front after contact with a tire barrier. A very frustrating end to a weekend full of promise. However, Groenke drove extremely well on a very tight and dangerous track and looks to capture the elusive top ten in Mirabel in 3 weeks.
About JL Racing
JL Racing is one of Canada's premier sport sedan racing teams. In 2006, JL Racing formed a partnership with Saab Canada to race and showcase Canada's only Saab 93 race cars. The team has made headlines several times with a first race, first place finish and subsequent podium finishes in the Saab 93.
JL Racing wishes to thank its sponsors and partners Hype Energy, Flex Mor Industries, Hawk Performance, Genuine Saab, Brown Window Corporation, Webnetics Inc, AlpineStars, Staubli Corporation, Saab Canada, The William Osler Health Centre Foundation, PeopleNet Canada, Trade Tracker, and FTC Canada.
For more information: www.jlracing.net.
Media Contact:
Phil Reilly – JL Racing
info@jlracing.net
About P.J. Groenke
P.J. Groenke has been racing professionally in Canada since 2001. Highlights of Groenke's racing career include winning the 52nd Annual Indian Summer Trophy and finishing as a semi-finalist on Discovery Channel Canada’s Star Racer in 2006. Most recently, Groenke finished fifth in The Castrol Canadian Touring Car Championship, Touring Class in 2008 and will be competing in the Super Touring Class in 2009.
P.J. Groenke is sponsored by Cheung’s Taekwondo, The Downsview Group, Pfaff and Clairhaven Ltd. Other supporting sponsors include Affinity Luxury Car Rental, Atlas Restoration, Confident Paintless Dent Removal, Desson Manufacturing Ltd., Eventscape Inc., Payne Capital Corp., Proprint Services Inc., Ro-ro Property Management Corp., and Studio Property Consultants Ltd.
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