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For Patrick Seguin, there's nothing quite like being behind the wheel of a sports car, racing at speeds up to 140 m.p.h, his heart rate rising to between 150-185 beats per minute ? dealing with temperatures that are usually about 140 F inside the vehicle.
For him, it's an unbelievable feeling, his nirvana.
"Nothing else matters when I'm in the car," said Seguin. "I'm at peace with myself. It requires my 120% focus. You're one with the car. It's home."
Finding that happiness has been costly. His strong belief in himself, his conviction, saw him max out a line of credit at $40,000. He sold his condo and has already sunk more than $200,000 into his dream.
Now he has to come up with another $300,000. He knows what's at stake. He knows what he can do. Apparently, so do others. He's been recruited to drive for Karl Thomson's high-powered Compass360 Racing next season, where he'll be a co-driver with Ryan Eversley.
There have been plenty of bumps along his road, but Seguin is revved up. Racing in the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge, owned by NASCAR and televised on ESPN and Speed Channel, he believes, is the big opportunity he's been waiting for.
"Last year, I seemed to hit every roadblock along the way," said the 32-year-old Seguin. "Every time there was a positive, it was double that in negative. I just couldn't get any luck. It tested my will and desire. Now, I'm probably more determined than ever. With all my willpower, I can succeed."
Thomson likes what he sees.
"We've always been impressed with Patrick's drive and determination to compete at the pro level," said Thomson. "We're working with Pat and his management to put together a program for him to drive in one of our Hondas in the 2014 Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge, where I'm confident he'll excel and be in the championship hunt."
"In 2010, I still remember introducing myself to Karl for the first time and telling him that one day I wanted to drive for his team," said Seguin. "Now that the opportunity is here, I couldn't be more excited."
One of two Canadians competing in the World Challenge Series, Seguin was inspired to hop behind the wheel while watching a race on TV in 2006.
He had two offers to join a factory-backed team this season, but was forced to step away when a sponsorship program fell short. He knows what he's capable of doing with the right tools.
"The offer I have on the table now, it's the most sellable," said Seguin. "They're the top of the top of the top. You have to make the right moves. A good driver needs to drive for the right team."
Eight days before the first race of the season, Seguin got a call from Branden Peterson Racing. With some help from Theberge Homes and Top Karting, Seguin was able to compete, driving a five-year-old Honda Civic Si. The racing stable committed to building Seguin a 2013 Honda Civic Si in time for the Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio Aug. 2-4.
"Before the season started, I was having some doubts," said Seguin. "I was putting everything in perspective, but when I got in the race car, with 50 horsepower less than everybody in the field, then finished fifth, I felt at that moment given the right car I could win a championship ... no doubt in my mind."
After growing up in Rockland, then moving to Clarence Creek, Seguin now rents a room from his brother Marc-Andre in Ottawa.
He works for Auto Pro PSE as an account manager and, on weekends, helps out with a friend's interlocking brick company out of Embrun-Russell.
Seguin played junior hockey in Ottawa, Clarence Creek, Carleton Place and Perth and was going to play in Germany until he suffered a hip flexor injury. He was also an assistant golf pro at Outaoauis from 1999-2001. But racing cars is really his comfort zone, where he wants to be.
"The only thing I can control is my ability. That's why I'm confident," said Seguin. "I had all the doors open, but without financial backing, that door closes."
tim.baines@sunmedia.ca
Twitter: @TimCBaines
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