This was the case in the final race held late Sunday afternoon when Ken Brodie II resisted the pressure exerted by Jack Lupton aboard the “GP-33” to take the honours of the final at the controls of the “Freedom” GP-50.
The Grand Island, NY resident first battled Ken Lupton on the first lap until the “Lucas Oil” GP-577 went off course on the opening turn on the second lap. As the Waverley, New Zealand racer rounded the exit buoy to get back on course, his brother Jack went after Ken Brodie II.
The two drivers engaged in a duel to the finish before Ken Brodie II distanced Jack Lupton by just over 4 seconds at the finish line. It was a first real-time triumph for the 56-year-old veteran driver, who had already won the final at Beauharnois but due to penalties awarded to his opponents.
While Jack Lupton was securing the 2e position, Eric Langevin secured the 3rde place at the wheel of the “Plomberie Sylco” GP-212. The Châteauguay driver also had a successful weekend, having achieved the 2e fastest time in timed practice with a lap of 33.6 seconds. Only Ken Lupton had been faster with a time of 31.9 seconds in the “GP-577”. Ken Brodie II got the 3e chrono (34.4 seconds), followed by Robin Demers at the controls of the “Canada Boy” GP-757 (35.3 seconds) and Jack Lupton (40.8 seconds).
Ken Lupton won the 1A qualifying event ahead of his brother Jack (GP-33), Ken Brodie II (GP-50), Eric Langevin (GP-212) and Robin Demers (GP-757). During the 2e qualifying session (2A), Ken Brodie II (GP-50) won ahead of Ken Lupton (GP-577), Jack Lupton (GP-33) and Eric Langevin (GP-212).
The “Canada Boy” GP-757 was not in the final because Robin Demers suffered a loss of control at the initial start of the 2A qualification. The car turned upside down in the first turn but the McMasterville driver escaped without injury.
The teams present in Brockville are invited to the second stage of the “Challenge Grand Prix” next weekend in Madison (Indiana). The winner of the Challenge, which will be announced at the 84th Valleyfield Regatta on July 12, 13 and 14, will pocket the lion’s share of a special purse of $40,000 US.
Regarding the HRL Grand Prix championship standings, it reads as follows:
Ken Lupton (GP-577) – 246 points
Eric Langevin (GP-212) – 202 points
Andrew Tate (GP-71) – 188 points
Jack Lupton (GP-33) – 185 points
Ken Brodie II (GP-50) – 156 points
Brandon Kennedy (GP-35) – 142 points
Jeff Bernard (GP-79) – 88 points
Robin Demers (GP-757) – 82 points
John Shaw (GP-135) – 0
Marc Lecompte (GP-104) – 0
