DMCC Round 2 - Vallée-Jonction Recap

DMCC Round 2 – Vallée-Jonction: Risk vs Reward

This round of DMCC took us to Vallée-Jonction, Quebec — a steep-banked, high-grip track about 7 hours from our shop. The layout is intense: fast transitions, unforgiving walls, and a banked initiation that demands absolute commitment. It’s a proper risk vs. reward course — and that’s exactly what we came for.

Day One – Shaking Things Down

We rolled in and got right to work. The car needed a few small fixes before hitting pro practice — minor oil leak from a valve cover bolt, some system checks — but overall, everything felt solid. On track, we ran the car with no handbrake input. With the momentum this track requires, pulling the handbrake only slows you down.

Our early laps were strong, and with a small gear ratio change via the quick change differential, we found the sweet spot in wheel speed. That extra 10 km/h made a huge difference in how the car floated into zones and transitioned through the bank. It was the kind of adjustment you can only appreciate when you're pushing the edge.

We had one off-track moment early on — into the dirt on the bank — but it ended up being a blessing in disguise. It took the fear out of the equation and helped us commit harder the rest of the session.

Day Two – Refinement and Confidence

Practice continued the next morning after a once-over on the car and some tuning. Camber settings were dialed in, exhaust bolts checked (after board-sliding off a few), and we bumped wheel speed again with another gear change. Now, the car had more room to breathe at high speeds without banging off the limiter — critical when you're threading the needle up on the wall.

We logged a ton of laps — probably 20+ — which is another standout feature of DMCC. You get real seat time here, especially compared to many international series. Leads, chases, gear tweaks — it all added up heading into qualifying.

Qualifying – Top 4 Finish

Qualifying went well. We locked in a 4th place spot with an 82-point run — not perfect, but strong. A slight overextension in zone one cost us down the line, but the judges noted the commitment and style, which kept us in that top group. The top four is all treated equally in terms of seeding, so we were in a good position going into battles.

Battles – Momentum, Contact, and Controversy

The night portion is where DMCC shines. Packed stands, sold-out crowds (literally turning people away at the gate), and a true big-show atmosphere. We battled hard through the bracket, eventually lining up against some seriously fast drivers — including FDF-sponsored competitors.

But it was the final battles that brought the drama.

In the top 4, we faced Jonathan Guitard. There was contact just after the crossover line — light contact — but Guitard didn’t continue the drift. In many judging formats, failure to complete a run is penalized harder than contact itself, especially when that contact doesn’t impede drift ability.

In our eyes, that run should’ve been a re-run at worst. But the judges saw it differently.

Next up was a battle with Dave Windman. On the run-up, he delayed throttle input deep into the bank — well past the zone judges had outlined for full commitment. We were on the brakes hard trying to avoid contact, but still ended up making light contact and had to reinitiate. We finished the battle strong, even gapping him significantly on our lead — but again, the call didn’t go our way.

We don’t take issue with judging often. In fact, we’ve never protested in seven years of competing. But when multiple drivers and spotters are questioning the same calls — and when video evidence tells a clearer story — it’s tough to stay silent. We believe judging could be improved with better replay access, clearer viewing angles, and greater consideration of throttle commitment from the lead car.

Final Thoughts

We left Vallée-Jonction feeling a mix of pride and frustration. The car was dialed, the driving was strong, and we learned a lot from the battles. This series is incredible — some of the best tracks in North America, real driver talent, and a fanbase that shows up in force. But consistency in judging remains a critical piece for fairness and growth.

We’re looking ahead to the next round at Montmagny — another technical, high-speed layout we can’t wait to tear into. 

Follow the journey:
📺 YouTube: Watch the full video recap of DMCC Round 2
🛠 FDF Raceshop: Check out the parts we're running
🏁 Instagram: @fdfraceshop for daily updates