Trois-Rivières, Québec – Jean-François Dumoulin is known for his silent and spectacular comebacks during races. Today’s race, which occurred on the road circuit of the Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, can be added to his successful track record. Starting in 13th place, the driver of the #04 Bernier Crépeau / Group Bellemare / MIA car was the only Quebecer to step on the podium. A strong contender at the end of the race, Jean-François Dumoulin was able to be opportunistic and finish the race in third place.

With a new team comes a new crew chief in Éric Laperle, and many challenges were overcome brilliantly, this weekend, by the #04 Bernier Crépeau / Group Bellemare / MIA teammates. With strategic overtakes and well-timed pit stops, everything fell into place for Jean-François Dumoulin to end up in front of the pack.

“The objective was to remain competitive up to the last few laps to finish in the top-5. I couldn’t be very aggressive because of the understeer tight out, but I was able to keep up the pace, and the pit stop strategy paid off. It’s safe to say mission accomplished. A podium to start the season is very good for the visibility of our partners Bernier Crépeau, Group Bellemare, MIA, and Trois-Rivières Mitsubishi,” shares an enthusiastic Jean-François Dumoulin.

"It was the first time that the whole team was together, and we had fun over the whole weekend. The qualifying didn’t go as well as we had hoped, but we had a discussion with Mario Gosselin (crew chief for Louis-Philippe Dumoulin’s team), and adjustments were made before the race. JF is a driver that knows how to adapt to a car. There were very few yellow flags [three], and that was what we were waiting for in order to change the tires. It turned out to be a winning strategy at the end of the race, as it played out favorably for us. With our first podium this season, we’re very happy, » explains crew chief Éric Laperle.

As early as tomorrow, the #04 Bernier Crépeau / Group Bellemare / MIA team will once again be on-track on the Sunset Speedway for a day of trials in order to prepare for the next two events on oval track (Autodrome Chaudière, June 13th, and Sunset Speedway, June 19th). “The car is in good shape, we know the direction we must go in to get even faster by August. Tomorrow, we’ll test on oval track. It will be a new milestone for me and we will be ready,” mentions Jean-François Dumoulin.

* The race will be broadcast on TSN on May 23rd at 1 PM, and on June 14th at 4:30 PM on RDS2.

FEATS AND HIGHLIGHTS JEAN-FRANÇOIS DUMOULIN

l The first Quebec-born driver to win twice the Rolex 24 in Daytona; 2004 (SGS and 2007 (GT).
l The youngest racer to have been part of the Player's Development Team.
l Champion of the Grand-Am Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge GS, USA in 2003 (9 podiums).
l Champion of the Grand-Am Continental Tire Sport Car Challenge ST, USA in 2002 (5 podiums).
l In Montreal's 2009 edition of Nascar Nationwide, he finished his first race in the 7th position aboard a badly damaged car and    wins the heart of numerous fans and reporters.
l In 2000, earns a 2nd place championship win in the Motorola Cup Series in which he racked a 1st podium after having begun  the race 52nd at the Molson Indy event in Ontario, Canada.

Bernier Crepeau Chrysler Fiat: With 25 years of experience, the family business has built an enviable reputation in the field of vehicle acquisition. If the future of this company is linked to the loyalty of its customers, it is also held by the reliability and strong communication of its team. This team is at your disposal, ready to listen to you, to hear you. Passion, care, and determination. A team willing to go the extra mile, with its ears wide open. http://www.berniercrepeau.com/.

Group Bellemare: Competitive and dynamic, Thomas Bellemare's innovative and growing family team is ready to take on any challenge. With support from senior members and a qualified team of managers, the third-generation Bellemares are reaching new heights. Built upon a solid past, the company moves forward with an exceptional team of experts and seeks a select group of clients. Our clients continue to benefit from our wide variety of services that target a large number of sectors. As a result, our visibility is constantly on the rise. Working with the Bellemare team has become a measure of success. Start off right by choosing a winning team! www.groupebellemare.com

MIA – Motorsports In Action: With over 50 years of combined Motorsport experience, MIA is making a name for itself in the industry in “La Belle Province”. Being trackside, situated at Autodrome St-Eustache, gives our clients “real time” results, testing their vehicles. One stop shopping is our strength, from high-end mechanics, exotic automotive maintenance, complete race car building and design to prestige paint and meticulous detailing. “Leave it, then enjoy it!” http://motorsportsinaction.com.

Trois-Rivières Mitsubishi is proud to be one of the first Mitsubishi dealers in Canada (opening in 2002). The commitment from Mitsubishi is defined by the quality, reliability and durability of its vehicles, notably with their 10-year warranty, the best in the industry! Pride, integrity and respect are the values of the Trois-Rivières Mitsubishi team. www.troisrivieresmitsubishi.com

Related: LP & JF Dumoulin on the RaceCanada ExpoSystems Live Stage at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park