A very special race was held on the 16^th June at Granby Racetrack in aid of Foundation Mira : at the wheel of 32 stock cars, sighted-impaired drivers, many of whom were accompanied by celebrities, had to complete 10 laps of the course.

DéfiVision, now in its 13^th year, is a race for 32 stock cars driven by as many blind drivers, each helped by someone who has to give them, or rather scream at them, directions. The aim is to complete 10 laps of the course avoiding as far as possible the concrete walls, and the 31 other contestants!

This year, the duo composed of blind driver Jean-Michel Bernier and TVA sports commentator Benoit Gagnon were the best of the twosomes involving a celebrity from the artistic or media world; they finished the race in third position. Victory went to the team of Yves Tougas and Claude Picard.

This special occasion raised $75,000 for Mira - a great result as the target was $60,000 - this will enable the blind to receive the services of guide dogs free of charge.

The event, good-naturedly described as "the slowest race in the world", attracts a capacity crowd. Let us mention that a team of reporters came from Germany to film the sometimes spectacular collisions that take place during this ordeal.

Actor Roy Dupuis, one of the stars of the television series Nikita, was there : it was his 5^th appearance. This year, he was co-driver for Diane Bourgeois. They were in 10^th place at the outset, but they finished in 15^th position. Roy Dupuis, arriving two hours before the start of the race, attracted a lot of attention. He was wearing a little straw hat. He made a point of smiling at the fans who were photographing him, and signed a lot of autographs for his admirers. Being very sociable, he gave encouragement to the other competitors, who were trembling visibly with nerves. It has to be said that most of them were novices; 80% of the 64 drivers and co-drivers were taking part in their first ever stock car race.

"This is the fifth time I’ve taken part in the DéfiVision race, and I love it," he says. "Last year I thought my team had finished first, but for some unknown reason we were placed 12^th…. This evening our vehicle crashed on at least two occasions, and we rammed a car that was in our path! Winning’s not important in this sort of event. What matters is that everyone has fun, the drivers at the wheel of the old bangers as much as the spectators."

Hearing the competitors confessing their inner anxiety, Roy smiled. "It’s quite natural to be nervous before an ordeal of this kind," he said. "These nerves are a lot like the stage fright an actor suffers before going on stage. However, during the DéfiVision race, there’s no need to be worried : given the maximum speed that you can go at, the risk of injury is negligible. There’s no danger at all. There are knocks for sure, but you can turn that to your advantage. You’re allowed to do stuff that’s forbidden on the roads!" (laughs)

Chantal Francke is another DéfiVision regular; she is also on her 5^th appearance. This year she was co-driver for Illyas Aissiani. The actress wasn’t disappointed to come in 30^th. A little before the start she explained she was an unflappable contestant : "I’m not nervous because I don’t go mad during the race. After the signal to start is given, I wait for the opportunities to overtake. I don’t take unnecessary risks."

As for Benoit Johnson, honorary president of the event, he started off 12^th and was placed in 16^th position. Jean-René Dufort, a favourite with the crowd, was 18^th on the starting grid but finished 22^nd, while Éric Salvail, who was 15^th on departure, finished the route in 26^th position.