With 2011 upon us, it's time to look back at the happenings involving Canada and its racers that stood out over the year. Whether on two wheels or four, there were record-breaking performances, championship fights down to the wire, and simple hard-fought racing.
While there were many top performances and racing moments, some were more memorable than others. With that in mind, here a few that should be on any "Best of Canada" racing list for 2010.
Best kept secret: Jordan Szoke, Canadian Superbike Championship
He may not be a household name, but Jordan Szoke's accomplishments cannot be ignored. The Brantford, Ont., motorcycle racer became the first competitor to sweep the Canadian Superbike Championship season, taking the chequered flag in all seven races on his way to a record fifth consecutive and seventh career title. The Honda rider was almost perfect in 2010, also taking a fifth straight Pro Sport Bike crown by winning six of seven rounds.
Canadian driver of the year: Bruno Spengler, DTM
Racing in the highly competitive German touring car series, Spengler continues to be one of the top drivers in a field peppered with excellent young prospects, talented veterans, and former Formula One stars. Although Spengler took the title fight to the last race of the season, he hadn't been in his DTM Mercedes for almost a month prior to the finale in Shanghai, China. On the other hand, his rivals Paul Di Resta and Gary Paffett had just completed two days of Formula One tire testing in Abu Dhabi for Force India and McLaren respectively. And the fact that Mercedes has steadfastly refused to give Spengler an F1 role certainly played a crucial part in the championship outcome. In Shanghai, eventual champion Di Resta and title runner-up Paffett didn't miss a beat, while the St-Hippolyte, Que., native struggled after the layoff.
Best impression of a tire barrier: James Hinchcliffe, Indy Lights
He didn't know it at the time, but James Hinchcliffe may have lost the Indy Light title in the season opener in St. Petersburg, Fla., when fellow Canadian Philip Major tried to go from ninth to first at the start and used the eventual championship runner-up as a makeshift brake, knocking both drivers out of the race. The 15th place in St. Pete's was Hinchcliffe's worst result of 2010 and a bitter pill to swallow considering he started from pole and looked to be a lock for a top finish. Instead, he was out of the race seconds after it began and he left in St. Pete's tied for last in points, while eventual champion J.K. Vernay won. Had the Toronto driver not fallen victim to another's brain cramp and finished near where he started, the championship likely would have been his.
Best race in Canada: NAPA Auto Parts 200
Okay, many argue that NASCAR's Nationwide stop in Montreal simply takes too long to get going, but it's also a darn good bet that the last laps at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve will be worth the wait. The stock car series' only stop in Canada delivered on that promise again this year with a finish that had fans on their feet. Boris Said and Max Papis battled tooth-and-nail for every inch of tarmac in a final lap duel that saw them negotiate the final chicane in tandem and then drag race to the line side-by-side. Said took the chequered flag 0.012 seconds ahead of Papis in the closest road course finish in Nationwide history. Almost as entertaining was the post-race press conference where free spirit Said had the press gallery in stitches and NASCAR officials worried about what he'd say next. It ended with Said pledging to celebrate his maiden Nationwide victory by going to have a nice steak, "drink like hell and maybe French kiss a French girl."
Best-timed payback: Andrew Ranger in the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series NAPA 100
Ranger wasn't about to let another driver push him around at his hometown race in Montreal, so when Jason Bowles braked late and bumped him out of the lead going into the hairpin corner on the final lap at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, the Canadian got even. Ranger took the entire length of the one-kilometre straight leading to the final chicane to plan his attack. As Bowles braked for the final corner, the Roxton Pond, Que., native pulled up on his bumper, got him loose and then pushed his rival straight into the concrete wall lining the outside of the track. As Bowles plowed into the barrier, Ranger sprinted to the finish line to take his third victory in four tries in the NAPA 100.
Best-timed mechanical failure: Daniel Morad, 2010 World DD2 Karting Champion
Competing in the Rotax Max Challenge karting world championship in Italy, GP3 driver Morad faced an uphill climb in the DD2 Grand Final to take the tile. The 20-year-old from Markham, Ont., started 13th on the grid but picked off opponent after opponent until he moved into second and began chasing the leader in the final few laps. Against all odds, he pulled it off and crossed the line as Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals DD2 Champion. Only metres from taking the chequered flag, Morad pumped the air with his fists in celebration just as a tracking rod end on his right front suspension snapped. His kart suddenly veered into another driver and both careened into the fence lining the track. The video of the crash has made Morad a star, with 1.4 million views on YouTube to date.
The Detroit Three turnaround headlines the hit parade