County man representing Canada in world rally championship in France

A County husband and wife team known for their contributions to fun on the water are taking their talents to the roads.

Michelle Laframboise giving the thumbs up!

Local rally and road racing champion Ian Crerar will compete at the World Rally Championship series event in Corsica, France this week. Michelle Laframboise, Crerar’s wife and business partner in ClearWater Design Canoe and Kayak, will be driving in the Rebelle Rally, a women-only off-road navigational challenge, taking place later in October in the deserts of California and Nevada.

Ian, the Canadian Touring Car Championship (CTCC) 2015 Grand Touring Champion, decided it was time to take his years of Canadian road and rally racing experience overseas, for a once-in-a-lifetime run in what he calls the most exciting motorsports event there is – the WRC rally.

“I cannot wait to take on the winding Corsican roads,” Crerar said. “This rally has been called the ‘Ten Thousand Turns Rally’ because of the twisty mountain roads, and that’s what makes it interesting and fun.”

He will be driving a Peugeot R2, an extremely high spec rally car fully prepared and serviced by Chazel Technologie Course, a renowned rally performance shop.

His co-driver is fellow Canadian Pat Levesque, himself a seasoned rally competitor.

With Crerar at the wheel and Levesque calling the notes, the two will challenge the Tour de Corse’s 10 special stages from Sept. 30 to Oct. 2, 2016.

There are 77 teams entered in the event, with the ClearWater Design Racing team the sole Canadians. Pat Richard, four-time Canadian Rally Championship winner, is the only other Canadian to have competed in the rally, which was first run in 1956.

“As a performance rally, the Tour de Corse rewards speed above all, requiring both the driver and co-driver to be fully ‘on’ at all times,” said Crerar. “Any rally requires your full concentration. The extra excitement of being overseas, in a new car and in a WRC event is going to make this intense. This is something I’ve wanted to do as long as I’ve been rallying. I’m fulfilling my dream as the finale of my rallying career.”

Fans can follow Ian and Michelle’s progress online.
Ian: Sept. 29 to Oct. 2, WRC Tour de Corse at www.wrc.com/en/wrc/live/itinerary/page/65-294-59-2605-.html
Michelle: Oct. 13-22: www.rebellerally.com/live/