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SCC: Compass360 Racing announce Daytona drivers

COMPASS360 RACING SIGNS POBST, ROACH AND SCHWARTZOTT Toronto, Canada -- Compass360 Racing (C360R) today announced their driver line-up for Grand-Am's KONI Sports Car Challenge in Daytona. The race, which kicks off the 11-race 2009 KONI series, ...

COMPASS360 RACING SIGNS POBST, ROACH AND SCHWARTZOTT

Toronto, Canada -- Compass360 Racing (C360R) today announced their driver line-up for Grand-Am's KONI Sports Car Challenge in Daytona. The race, which kicks off the 11-race 2009 KONI series, marks the end of a three-month off-season for the team.

"As always, we aim to win," says Team Principal Karl Thomson. "Within our team, we've got the history and the future of sports car racing in North America!" The team has signed Touring Car veterans Randy Pobst, Bo Roach and Peter Schwartzott to join their young stars Christian Miller, Matt Pritiko and long-time team driver Travis Walker.

Pobst and Schwartzott are absolute icons of street stock racing on this continent, ironically having campaigned together in the early 1990's in Honda CRX's and Preludes. "Being a Honda team, we are so excited to bring Randy and Peter back into the fold," remarked Technical Director Ray Lee. "Having these two with us is like a revival of the glory days of Touring Car."

The glory days of Touring Car are alive and well in the KONI Challenge, with 31 cars currently entered for the Street Tuner Class alone (an additional 30 are on for Grand Sport, for a 60+ car field). ST offers a remarkable variety of cars on track, which will include three new Compass360 Honda Civic Si's, competing with new BMW 328's and Z4's, Subaru Legacy's, MINI Coopers, Chevy Cobalts, Mazda MX-5 Miatas, VW Golf GTI's and many others.

C360R's line-up for Daytona includes:
Honda Civic Si #74: Christian Miller and Randy Pobst
Honda Civic Si #75: Bo Roach and Peter Schwartzott
Honda Civic Si #76: Matt Pritiko and Travis Walker

The line-up includes a number of C360R alumni: Miller, Pritiko, Schwartzott and Walker have all driven for the team in recent years. "I think that shows we've been doing things right," said Thomson. "Our drivers who try other teams seem keen to come back to drive with us, and I think that's a reflection on the great group of guys we have on our crew." Indeed, Walker has been with C360R for most of his professional career.

Interestingly, Pobst and Roach are the only drivers of the line-up who have not driven for C360R, and they've been strong competitors in recent years (with Pobst most recently in a VW GTI and Roach in a series of Chevrolet Cobalt SS's). "I'm just so excited to be a part of the Compass360 Racing team," said Pobst. "I know they'll give Christian and me a great car that can fight all the way the to the checkered flag!"

But great cars are nothing without great drivers. "Being able to bring this kind of driving talent is very important," noted Lee. "This is endurance racing and we need two drivers in each car who understand that to finish first, first you must finish. Patience must be balanced with speed; that's what wins." With great support from Honda of America, the team is bullish on three strong results.

C360R is no stranger to the Daytona podium, having been on the box for the past two seasons with their now-retired Acura TSX's. Thomson, with co-driver Walker were third in 2008, while Thomson and Billy Johnson took the win in 2007.

"We've done everything we can to put these new Civics on the top step this year," said Thomson. "Ray and our full-time crew have been working on improving the cars since we ended the 2008 season at VIR. We know the competition is still going to be very strong, and we have to bring our 'A' game. With this driver line-up, I think we've got what it takes!"

-credit: c360r

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