He’s not old enough to hold a driver’s license but Quebec’s Raphaël Lessard is a champion behind the wheel.
On Saturday, the 15-year-old Beauce-native was crowned champion of the Cars Super Late Model Tour, making him the youngest Canadian to ever win the title and the first non-American in almost 20 years to win the title.
Drivers need to be at least 14 years old to take part in the CARS series but Lessard’s closest rivals this year were 23-year-old Brandon Setzer who finished second overall and 17-year-old Matt Craig who placed third.
“It feels amazing, it’s my first championship ever,” Lessard exclaimed. “We got close sometimes in the other series but to get my first championship in Super Late, it’s pretty amazing.”
Lessard had his nerves under control before the race but admits he didn’t have that much pressure going in due to his point lead.
Even though he didn’t need the win, Lessard’s competitive spirit kicked in. He took the pole position in lap 82, of the 125-lap race and held on to win his fourth race of the Super Late Model season.
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Lessard inherited his passion for race car driving from his dad.
“My dad was racing and every weekend I was going to the racetrack with him,” Lessard said.
He got his first taste of driving when he was 11 after his father surprised him with a car of his own.
“One time he came home and he said ‘I just bought a car for Raphaël.'”
Lessard wasn’t the only one who was surprised. “My mom was like, ‘What did you say?'”
Lessard started practicing in his new car and now his track record speaks for itself.
Next on the agenda for Lessard is the Snowball Derby in Pensacola, Florida which he likened to the Superbowl of stock car racing–that and getting his driver’s license when he turns 16.
Long term, Lessard dreams of making it to Nascar.
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