After three programs, Parent is 13th, 74 points behind Félix Roy, who took the lead in the championship last Friday. Granbyen only has one top 10.
“During the winter, I wouldn’t have been embarrassed to tell you that I was aiming for the championship in Granby,” says Parent. But this is a difficult start and I just have to concentrate on having good races and having great evenings. Otherwise, you might go crazy!”
Parent made quite a few changes to his equipment over the winter. And it still seems to be in the adjustment stage.
“We did a chassis change (although still a Bicknell), an engine change (although still a 358) and maybe it was a lot at the same time, I don’t know. We look for what doesn’t work, we work hard on it and we have an idea. We will see.”
Last week at Plattsburgh, Parent scored a top 10 in the Super DIRTcar series or, if you prefer, in the big block. In the past, large bouldering events have often smiled on him and even allowed him to get back on track after a difficult sequence.
“Like everyone, I like to run in big blocks. And I’m comfortable in big blocks. It’s certain that the coming weekend could give us confidence, give us a little morale, which is not very high at the moment.”
Because Autodrome Granby, Friday evening, and Autodrome Drummond, 24 hours later, will host the first rounds of the Canadian big block series. If Mother Nature is willing.
“When you’re struggling, especially at the start of the season, you want to race, you don’t want to miss programs, because you want to get back on track. I hope we go to the races!”
— Michael Parent
That was the big question late Thursday afternoon with all the rain forecast. Contacted earlier, promoter Dominic Lussier affirmed that no decision would be made about Friday evening, where a large crowd is expected, before Friday morning.
Among the other Autodrome Granby regulars who will be racing with a big-block engine in their car will be David Hébert, Steve Bernard, Mathieu Desjardins, Félix and Jérémy Roy, Simon Perreault and François Bellemare. Carey Terrance and Brianna Ladouceur are among the outside drivers expected in Granby.
Parent will board his big-block car Friday evening. (Catherine Trudeau/La Voix de l’Est)
From the competition
Michaël Parent affirms in turn: the competition is strong, as strong as ever, at the Autodrome Granby. But he is aware that even if he had problems last Friday, David Hébert will not be easy to dethrone.
“ONE is such a well-rounded team. And when there’s a problem with the car, there are 10 or 15 guys looking for what’s wrong and they find the time to say it, it doesn’t take long. And David, it’s David…”
However, Parent considers that his team belongs to the top 5. And that’s where he wants to return.
