An automobile journalist with more than 30 years of experience, Marc Lachapelle joined The Car Guide after cutting his teeth as a motorcycle journalist and photographer. He spent years as the automobile columnist for Affaires Plus magazine and Les Affaires daily newspaper. In 2000, he became editor in chief of the MSN Autos Canadian websites (French and English) and worked there until 2008, when he returned to The Car Guide.
Marc became the first Quebecker to earn the title of Automobile Journalist of the Year from the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada in 1994 and he earned the title again in 2005. He was also the first to win the Most Professional Journalist award in 1996 and the Photography award in 1999. He has been involved in the AJAC’s annual award program and the North American Automobile Awards since their creation, and he sits on the international jury that selects the International Engine of the Year winners.
After a brief stint in motorcross—which took him up to the Expert category—Marc completed the Spenard-David Formula 2000 racecar driver’s course, registered his own car at the Honda-Michelin series, competed in the 24 Hours of Mosport five times and participated in several races as a guest driver. He drove the first hybrid car at the Newfoundland Targa Rally and won a gold plaque and a second Churchill trophy in 2009, his third year competing.
Marc is a regular contributor to the Guide de l’auto television program on MAtv, where he also presents reviews of sport and performance vehicles. He also writes for CarGuideWeb.com.