Street circuit weekend returns to Trois-Rivières
The Grand Prix de Trois-Rivieres is set to bring the roar of stock cars back to the city’s street circuit from Aug. 7 to 9, as the NASCAR Canada Series hosts one of its season’s marquee rounds. The event is expected to feature a deep field — organisers anticipate more than 30 drivers — and will be televised live on SPEED SPORT 1.
For local fans, the headline name is three-time NASCAR Canada champion Louis-Philippe Dumoulin, who drives the No. 47 WeatherTech Canada | Groupe Bellemare | Omnifab entry and will be bidding for a third career win at the Grand Prix, having prevailed previously in 2014 and 2019. The event is widely regarded as a highlight of the national series and a fixture in Trois-Rivières’ summer calendar.
Format change and championship implications
This year brings a format tweak for the NASCAR Canada competitors: organisers have added two qualifying sprint races late on Saturday afternoon. Those sprints will determine the grid for the main event on Sunday, which will be 25 per cent shorter than in past years. Drivers and teams will have to adapt to the new sequence of races and the strategic adjustments that shorter race distance entails.
The Grand Prix comes at an important stretch of the NASCAR Canada season. Dumoulin arrives in Trois-Rivières after a productive weekend in Edmonton, where he recorded two top-five results. That haul kept him in third place in the championship standings after nine of the series’ 14 races, underscoring the event’s potential impact on the title fight.
"Edmonton was satisfying in terms of the results, but it was still a little disappointing that we couldn’t give the fans a full race in the second event because of the thunderstorms. I had a few battles with DJ Kennington, an experienced driver whom I have a great deal of respect for, and it was enjoyable to come away with those two top-five finishes."
For Dumoulin and his team, the Grand Prix is more than a race; it is a multi-day festival that begins long before the on-track action. The transporter parade and fan events in downtown Trois-Rivières — including appearances in the Old Port — are integral parts of the weekend, giving drivers an opportunity to connect with supporters on home turf.
What to expect this weekend
- More than 30 competitors are anticipated in the NASCAR Canada Series field.
- The series will use two sprint qualifying races on Saturday to determine positions for a shortened main event on Sunday.
- Television coverage will be available live on SPEED SPORT 1, allowing wider access for fans who cannot attend.
Local impact and atmosphere
The Grand Prix typically brings a significant influx of visitors to Trois-Rivières, boosting activity in downtown shops, restaurants and hospitality venues. For local racing fans, the event also serves as one of the few opportunities each year to see top Canadian stock-car talents on a challenging street circuit laid out through the city.
On track, the shorter main race distance and the qualifying sprint format introduce fresh tactical variables: teams must balance aggression in the short sprints with the need to preserve equipment and position for the decisive Sunday event. For fans, that combination should create intense, closely fought action across the weekend.
Championship stakes
With the season reaching its second half, every result in Trois-Rivières could swing momentum in the championship. Dumoulin’s solid run in recent races keeps him firmly in title contention, and the home-track advantage will raise expectations among his supporters. Whether he can convert that pressure into a third Grand Prix victory will be among the storylines to watch as the weekend unfolds.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Event | Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières (NASCAR Canada Series round) |
| Dates | Aug. 7–9 |
| Expected field | More than 30 drivers |
| Notable driver | Louis-Philippe Dumoulin (No. 47) — past wins: 2014, 2019 |
| Championship position (after 9 of 14) | 3rd (Dumoulin) |
The Grand Prix weekend will offer Trois-Rivières residents a blend of high-level racing, festival atmosphere and community engagement. For a city with a long motorsport tradition, the return of the NASCAR Canada Series is another chapter in a summer that pits local pride against national competition on the streets of Trois-Rivières.
