PSL & KEVIN LACROIX

2005 May 14th

KARTING: IT'S THE ROAD TO MAKE YOUR WAY UP TOWARDS F1, THE CHAMP CART, THE IRL AND THE GT RACING. Far from resembling yesterday's soap box races, karting has today gained in mobility. Karting, which is controled by the "Federation International de l'Automobile" that also manages the Formula 1, is considered, to be the best racing school for future Formula 1, Champ Cart and IRL stars. Great champions, such as Alain Prost, Ayrton Senna, Michael Schumacher and Kimi Raikkonen, have all started there. It is not just a coincidence if almost all of the professional racers have gone to a karting school. Michael Schumacher has recently declared to a French magasine " A kart race is excessively tiring. One must neither commit the slightest mistake nor submit to the pressure while fighting to stay in the leading group that is always in movement." Thus, karting has become an obligatory passage for every pilot who aspires to reach the summit in car racing.P.S.L. Karting has trained renowned pilots such as Marc-Antoine Camirand (F2000), Christopher Green (Skip Barber), Valérie Limoges (Fran-Am), Graham Rahal (Formule Mazda)and Kevin Lacroix (Serie Formule BMW USA).Founded in 1999, this growing enterprise prepares and distributes karting machines as well as sell karting products for competitons. The 32 years old owner of P.S.L" Karting, Dominic Labrecque, a mechanical engineer, has given his company a remarkable reputation. In fact P.S.L. Karting has become an important entity and is recognized throughout the car racing world (karting) in North America. With his 175 podiums, among which 16 championships were won in 2004, and his approximate 156 podiums in 2003, all acquired in the biggest international championships in North America, have shown his know-how and also his professionalism.In order to reach these results, PSL Karting relies on a qualified staff. Thus the frame and engine techniciens, frequently cross the Atlantic or the American border in order to acquire new knowledge in their field of work. Although the primary objective of a team is to win, PSL Karting is aware of the importance of its implication in developping future racers such as Schumacher, Senna and Carpentier.Today PSL is one of the largest North American importers and distributors for sales in karts and karting accessories. More over, PSL is a racing team whose main preoccupation is not only to offer products and services to its clientele but also to develop and encourage pilots who aspire to climb the steps leading to a higher level of car racing.KEVIN LACROIX: A CONSTANT EVOLUTION THROUGH KARTINGBorn March 14, 1989 in Saint-Eustache, a Montreal suburb, Kevin Lacroix has excelled in the car racing world for seven years. Hios dazzeling performances in Karting have made Kevin the best aspirant among the future Canadian pilots of his generation. His aptitude as a pilot is exceptional whereas his attitude is much greater. Kevin has received recognition and respect because of his 39 victories and his 53 podiums in 66 races. Because of passionate parents for car racing, it's in 1995 that Kevin sat behind the wheel of a leased kart so as he could experience the sensations, often indescriptible, of speed racing. Seeing his son's great ability to control his kart, his father bough him his own racing kart a few weeks later. Afterhaving obtained his racing licence in 1996, Kevin participated in the 3 last championship races for the Montreal Cup, junior category.KEVIN LACROIX'S DEBUT.Kevin began competing in 1997 at the age of 8 in the junior category. A year later, Kevin was racing to win. In 1998, he finished first twice and stepped on the podium four times in 6 races. The 1999 season brought a change for Kevin:racing in a new category F100 junior. He won 6 times in 15 races and finished second in ranking for the Eastern championship and fourth in Québec.The year 2000 was a glorius year for the young Québec racer who finished second in ranking for the Eastern Championship and second in the Quebec Championship. In 2001, Kevin started racing in the ICA junior category. He was victorious five times in 12 races and finished second in the Quebec Championship and first in the Eastern Championship.Still supported by the PSL Racing team Kevin has built his racing career with ease. Competing in the elite, ICA jr, group in 2001, he did his bestby winning the Eastern Quebec championship and becoming the vice champion in the Quebec Championship his first year in this category. Destined to win, he confirmed his supremacy the following year.Kevin dominated throughout the year 2002 where he won 9 races out of 12 with sometimes more than 10 seconds ahead of his closest rivals and easily won the Quebec, the Montreal and the Eastern Championships. It was also his first participation in the Promotour de SKUSA in Norway, Illinois where he qualified in third position. He finished first in the pre-final. During the final, he led 19 laps out of 25 but finished in fifth position due to racing errors.Kevin was confirmed as being a future champion. Even before the end of the Eastern and Quebec Championships, he was dubbed champion. Having proven his talent in his country, he knew that eventually he would have to go towards international competitions. therefore, without hesitation, he moved to the United States and Europe in order to acquire more experience.KEVIN IS ALREADY SHOWING HIS KARTING SKILLS IN BMW.After having passed more than 8 years in karting, 6 of which were with PSL Karting, Kevin Lacroix entered the BMW series in 2005. Invited to 2 training camps in Spain Kevin was granted a BMW scholarship for 2005, and during the pre-season treals, he constantly made good time, being among the first three racers. Finally, after a physical training camp at NASA, and at the dawnof his first race, the Formula BMW USA officials confirmed he was one of the winning favourites. Kevin has received another title in 2005 by the renown magazine "Shifter Kart" as being the "Motorsport Rising Star" among all the karting pilots in America. For this young St-Eustache resident, this is the Highest tribute ever rendered to him by the kart racing world in which he evolved for 8 years. This recognition is comparable to hockey, where Kevin would have been chosen as a first choice place in developpment for the draftround.With conclusive results at the begining of the season, Kevin is already among the favorites for the championship. This very competitive series brings forward young karting racers who aspire to reach higher car racing levels. Kevin didn't have to wait very long to obtain his first road circuit victory because he has won the first race of the season in Formula BMW in Laguna Seca and is in head position for the Championship.