Although I participated in one race weekend of the then-known-as the Nissan Micra Cup back in its inaugural 2015 season and attended a half-dozen races over the weekend, I had not yet seen the Sentras lap a track. In short, holy crap they look good leaning into corner #1 at Circuit du Mont Tremblant and are considerably faster than the Micras they will ultimately completely replace.
2023 Nissan Sentra Cup Championship | Photo: Olivier Delorme
The 2023 Nissan Sentra Cup season ended this past weekend at one of my favorite tracks in the world, the Circuit Mont-Tremblant, at the iconic Fall Classic. Over the weekend, two victors emerged: Nicolas Barrette claimed victory on Saturday, while Valérie Limoges was triumphant on Sunday.
Alexandre Fortin, who began the Saturday race in pole position, encountered a mechanical snag causing him to drop out. This left Nicolas Barrette to seal his maiden win in the Nissan Sentra Cup, with Valérie Limoges tailing closely.
2023 Nissan Sentra Cup Championship | Photo: Olivier Delorme
The stage was perfectly set for the season’s grand finale on Sunday. The final outcome came down to two contenders: Alexandre Fortin and Nicolas Barrette, one of whom would wear the champion’s crown by day’s end. The 2022 champ, Valérie Limoges, dominated the race from the get-go, capturing her third win of the season. Fortin’s second-place finish solidified his claim to the 2023 title. In the Micra category, Nicolas Lévesque narrowly defeated Raphaël St-Pierre and Charles-Étienne Boucher, earning him the 2023 championship title and the poleposition.ca Trophy.
Big News for 2024
Looking ahead, the 2024 season holds promising developments for the Nissan Sentra Cup. The series, which was confirmed for both the 2024 and 2025 seasons, will be expanding its horizons with an inaugural race in the United States, scheduled at the Lime Rock Park track in Connecticut on July 19 and 20, 2024. Moreover, the coming season is set to reward participants with $30,000 in cash prizes, complemented by Nissan Canada spare part certificates valued at $50,000, for podium finishers of each race.
2023 Nissan Sentra Cup Championship | Photo: Olivier Delorme
Jacques Deshaies, the series promoter, acknowledged the stellar season and expressed enthusiasm for the upcoming expansion to the U.S. Meanwhile, Nissan Canada President Steve Milette hailed the 2023 season as a monumental success, lauding the champions, participants, and organizers for their roles in its realization.
Lastly, it looks as though the 2023 season was the final one for the Micra – a bitter-sweet moment for many including myself as the little car, my race car, will always hold a special place in my heart.
