Strong drive for Canadian teenager at Sebring
Original article courtesy IMSA:
SEBRING, FL – Canadian racer, 16-year-old Jesse Lazare from Montreal, Quebec made his 2014 racing debut this past weekend at the historic 12 Hours of Sebring. Lazare, at the controls of his new www.doordoctor.com / Garaga sponsored 2014 Porsche GT3 Cup Platinum class car impressed in practice.
“We got this car on Monday,” Lazare said of his new Moorespeed prepared 991. “There is a lot to learn – and very little time to do it.” Lazare was stunningly quick right out of the box in his new mount.
“Jesse tested here in the 997 a couple of weeks ago, so I expected him to be quick in practice with the new car,” Moorespeed’s Price Cobb said. At the end of the two series test session, Lazare was 2ndfastest.
A misunderstanding in qualifying concerning the Yokohama tires meant that Lazare couldn’t show his true speed in the qualifying session, where he ended up 14th. “Not what I hoped for,” the Canadian youngster said. “But sometimes these things happen, so we have to move on. What I do know is that I will have a good car for the race,” Lazare added.
At the start of the race, Lazare took a few laps to settle in. He originally dropped from 14th to 16th, but then he found his legs, and in true Lazare form – to the front he went. Lazare methodically picked off drivers one at a time. “This is the first time I drove a GT car, so the racing is way different from what I am used to. I needed a few laps to settle in, but then I got going.” Soon Lazare was in the top 10, then the top 5, and set to challenge for a podium. As the checkered flag fell, Lazare was on the rear bumper of the 3rd place car – he finished fourth.
“Couldn’t be happier,” Lazare said of the race. “My Door Doctor/Garaga sponsored Porsche doesn’t have a mark on it, and we were so close to a podium. I want to thank Price Cobb and the Moorespeed crew for a great car. Also, thanks to my other sponsors Yokohama and Sparco, who are supporting me this year.”
Cobb was equally happy with his young charge’s performance. “When I signed up to help Jesse, I knew from what I’d been told and had seen in earlier results that he was a talented guy. The after testing knew it to be the case. Today his performance cemented that for me – what a great drive. He has remarkable situational awareness and his ability to make on track racing choices belie his age. The rest of the season with him will be one heck-of-a-ride”
Lazare will now prepare for the next rounds of the 2014 Porsche GT3 Cup Championship at Laguna Seca.
Jesse Lazare Quick Facts: Jesse Lazare is a 16-year-old racer from Montreal, Quebec. For 2014, Lazare competes with Moorespeed in the 2014 Porsche GT3 Cup Series in the USA and select races in Canada. In 2013, Lazare scored two podiums in USF2000 championship for Pabst Racing Services. In FF1600, Lazare competed in 16 races. He amassed five wins and seven podiums, including winning the CAN-AM CUP in the Canadian FF1600 Championship. One of his podium finishes was part of the Formula 1 Canadian Grand Prix weekend in FF1600. Lazare is also a three-time Canadian National Karting Champion. In 2011 he was the Canadian Junior Rotax Max National Champion and he represented Canada at the Rotax Max World Finals. In 2012, he captured his third Canadian National Championship, this time in Rotax Max Senior and again he represented Canada at the Rotax Max World Finals.
Away from the track, Lazare enjoys skiing and hockey, and he attends Lindsay Place High School, (Pointe Claire, Quebec ). For more information on Jesse Lazare, visit www.jesselazare.com, or his ‘fans of Jesse Lazare on Facebook page.
Jesse Lazare is supported by Door Doctor, www.doordoctor.com Garaga, Yokohama Canada and Sparco USA