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| One-on-One: Pier-Luc Ouellette |
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 | Pier-Luc Ouellette carried the Canadian flag to the DD2 World Championship and helped earn his homeland the Nation's Cup title at the 2007 Rotax Grand Finals
(Photo: Ken Johnson - soa-design.com) |
Each year, karting produces some of the top young talent in North America. Over the past couple years, the United States has seen the likes of 'GFC' - Gary Carlton - as the top dog in American karting. For Canada, 2007 was all 'PLO' - as in, Pier-Luc Ouellette. The 20 year-old added World Champion alongside his name following the Rotax Grand Finals back in December, 2007 in Al Ain, UAE.
Ouellette got into karting in 1998, running in the Coupe de Montreal (Montreal Cup) Cadet class. A third place there, along with a third place in the 1999 Quebec Cup 100cc Junior division, led to a championship in Montreal Cup Junior ICA. Runner-up the following year in the Quebec Cup Rotax Junior, Pier-Luc then took both the Montreal and Quebec Cup championships in 2002. A trend was developing.
In 2003, Pier-Luc was chosen to become part of the Alex Tagliani Racing Team, competing in the Stars of Tomorrow ICC division in his first year as a Senior driver. After a year of adjusting to the shifter division, Ouellette returned in 2004, only to have his season cut short following an accident while sitting third in the Western Division championship.
Returning in 2005 with SRA Karting, Ouellette got back to his championship ways by earning the Coupe de Montreal title. That led to a busy 2006 season where he earned many regional titles to go along with his Canadian National Championship in DD2. The title gave him a spot on Team Canada to the Rotax Grand Finals in Portugal, where PLO was among the fastest all weekend long in rainy weather conditions, only to get shuffled back in the Prefinal and out early in the Final.
Looking to return to the Grand Finals in '07, Ouellette competed in the strong Florida Winter Tour Rotax program during the winter months, dominating the series and earning a spot to the ’07 Rotax Grand Finals through the FWT DD2 Shootout on the final weekend. During the summer, he moved his attention to a return to the top level in North America, the Stars of Karting ICC program. Running with SRA Karting/BTK Motorsports, he contested the Eastern Division schedule, earning a highest finish of 12th and ending the season 24th in points.
Preparing somewhat for the Grand Finals, PLO headed to the SKUSA SuperNationals in November to compete in the Rotax Senior division where the winner would earn a spot to the ’08 Rotax Grand Finals. Ouellette was the class of the field in all five on-track sessions, earning the pole for all three heat races ahead of a trio of dominating wins. In the main event, he pulled away early to take a five second victory and a spot to the 2008 Rotax Grand Finals.
Ouellette prepared for the upcoming season by returning to the Florida Winter Tour. EKN was able to track PLO down for a few questions about his past, his World Championship, and his future in karting.
 | Pier-Luc Ouellette
(Photo: Daniel Lamothe) |
Name: Pier-Luc Ouellette
Born: 1/18/1987
Hometown: Terrebonne, Quebec, Canada
Team: SRA Karting/BTK Motorsport/Arrow
Chassis: Arrow
Helmet/Painter:
Years Racing Karts: 10
eKartingNews.com: First off, congratulations on a solid 2007 Rotax season and earning the World Championship in DD2.
Pier-Luc Ouellette: Thank you very much.
EKN: What does it feel like to be called a World Champion?
PLO: When I was in Dubaï (Al Ain, UAE), I did not realize how big it is for me. It was after two or three weeks when I realized that I was the best DD2 driver in the world. The feeling is special, there is no word for that. My first goal was to be world champion, and now I want more!!
EKN: At the 2006 Grand Finals in Portugal, you were among the quickest all weekend in the challenging conditions until a penalty in the Prefinal and a fouled plug in the Final kept you out of contention. Did you have the feeling going into the 2007 event that you would be among the favorites?
PLO: Yes, in the Grand Finals there are always new drivers, so you never know what drivers you are going to challenge. But, for the 2007 Grand Finals in Al Ain, I was more confident and a lot more prepared for the event. I'm sure this is the reason why I made a big step in 2007.
EKN: One of the ways you prepared for the 2007 season was running the Florida Winter Tour, where you earned your spot to the Rotax Grand Finals by winning the championship in March. Was it easier to prepare for the Grand Finals knowing several months in advance that you were going rather than the one or two months preparation time you get following the Canadian National Championships, as you did in 2006?
PLO: I don't think so. The thing that you have to avoid is to think that you will go there and win everything. It is not a championship that you are used to running because you never know who you are going to challenge. And one thing that is good is to do one or two races just before the event like I did in Las Vegas (SKUSA SuperNationals) to keep your focus and reflex.
EKN: Now I assume after you won at the SuperNationals, you were able to party like a rock star on Sunday. Were you able to celebrate in Al Ain?
PLO: (Laughing) In Al Ain, it is very different because of the religion and there is no way you can drink beer, the alcohol is prohibited there, so we did some partying in Al Ain and a big one in Montreal.
EKN: What do you do when you’re not running laps on a Rotax kart? What’s a typical day for you when your home from the track?
PLO: In a normal day, I go to work like everybody and also it’s very important to hit the gym. On the weekend, I just try to have much fun as I can, like going out with friends, skiing and beach in the summer.
EKN: Where is it that you work?
PLO: I do many things, but it’s basically construction.
EKN: What do you think about the current state of karting in Canada? Recently, Sunoco Ron Fellows Karting Championship in Ontario announced the cancelling of their program in 2007. Is karting strong in the Montreal area?
 | PLO has shown his skills in the International or Rotax Senior division - dominating the class at the SKUSA SuperNationals
(Photo: Pete Ryan Photography) |
PLO: The Montreal Cup is a very good championship. I am from the Montreal and I never raced in Europe or other places like that before winning the World Championship. With the cancellation of the Sunoco Ron Fellow Karting Championship, I hope the Montreal Cup will just be bigger in 2008.
EKN: With you earning the World Championship in DD2 and Canada winning the Nation’s Cup as well, what factor do you believe has Canada performing better than the United States in Rotax competition?
PLO: Last year, I think that Canada was more prepared than USA for the Grand Finals, but after the first two round of the Florida Winter Tour, I still believe that Canada and USA are among the strongest countries in the Rotax Max Challenge and will be stronger every year.
EKN: Looking to 2008, what do you have planned following the Florida Winter Tour?
PLO: We don't know yet what is the plan for the 2008 season, but one thing is sure is that I am going back to the Rotax Grand Finals and I really want to win another world championship.
EKN: Do you have any dreams of racing other forms of motorsports, maybe
open-wheel or sports cars?
PLO: Yes, I do, I have learned a lot about NASCAR and I want one day to run this series. It is a different world compare to Formula 1, but I really like it.
EKN: Have you ever been in or raced a stock car?
PLO: Yes. It was a good experience and I might run stock car in the future, because I think that NASCAR is the series in North America right now and I would like to be part of it.
EKN: Well, that ends our questions for you Pier-Luc. Good luck in what you do in 2008 and at the Rotax Grand Finals.
PLO: Thank you. |
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