This 19-year-old racer and advocate is truly an inspiration to others.
At Autosphere, we always love celebrating Canadian success stories and Marie-Soleil Labelle’s achievements stand out as truly remarkable.
Like another famous female racer, Danica Patrick, Marie-Soleil (Sunny) started out her motorsport endeavours racing karts in ASN sanctioned events, during her early teenage years.
After competing at both the provincial and national level and winning championships in Briggs & Stratton, Rotax Max and KZ CRG Master Shifter karts, Labelle graduated to cars at just 15 years old.
In fact, she was the youngest ever female rookie driver to take part in the Canadian Nissan Micra Cup series (Labelle was 16 at the time).
Two years later, she achieved the status of Vice Champion and following the COVID-19 pandemic, (during which many motorsports events were placed on temporary hiatus), she stood out, finishing second in the PolePosition.ca Championship in the Micra class of the Canadian Nissan Sentra Cup Series.
Co-founder of museum racing team
Besides being a highly proficient and competitive racer, Sunny is also co-founder and official driver for the Gilles Villeneuve Museum Racing Team as well as an Ambassador for Make-a-Wish Canada. In 2022, after raising more than $16,500.00 she fulfilled the dream of a seriously ill child by enabling them and their family to attend the Formula 1 Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal in June.
Besides being a third-year student in the Double B.Sc.A Mechanical Engineering and B.Sc Computing Technology program at the University of Ottawa’s Faculty of Engineering, Labelle also serves as Spokesperson for the International Committee Raising Awareness in Developmental Language Disorder. Having been born with a developmental language disorder herself, Labelle now inspires others by sharing her experiences in tackling and overcoming learning disabilities. She has been the spokesperson for TDL Quebec since 2021 and has raised awareness for DLD in North America, Europe and Australia.
V-42 Foundation support
Labelle is also a supporter and ambassador for the V-42 Foundation, which supports those who serve in the Canadian Special Operations Command within the Canadian Armed Forces. These individuals frequently contend with extremely unpredictable and dangerous circumstances during their deployments, requiring unique support mechanisms and programs. The V-42 Foundation was created to provide peace of mind for those who so selflessly serve our country, defending our rights and freedoms.
For 2023, Labelle will be participating in the Nissan Canada Sentra Cup Series, racing the #27 Sentra in the colours of the Gilles Villeneuve Museum Racing Team, as well as running this car in the Super Production Challenge Series. She will also be driving a Porsche 944 from the SH Karting Team at the famous Mont-Tremblant Circuit.
Sunny’s exploits have also been covered in Mission No to Labels, a French language book available digitally and in bookstores across four countries (Canada, Belgium, France and Switzerland).
Marie-Soleil Labelle represents a true inspiration and role model for young people in motorsports and Canada. We will continue to watch this rising star, who at just 19 years of age has already given so much and could very likely become a major contender on the NASCAR circuit in Canada. Watch this space!
