Toronto: Hima Maher race notes

Calgary driver holds on for eighth place in Toronto

TORONTO, ON (July 9, 2005) - In a damaged vehicle on a punishing street course that allows for very few passing opportunities, Calgary driver Hima Maher finished eighth at the Trans-Am in T.O. Maher was also the race's top rookie and top Canadian, finishing the afternoon in 1:16:49.623 with an average speed of 72.642 miles per hour on the Exhibition Park raceway in Toronto.

Maher's best lap time occurred on lap 14 when he clocked in at 1:15.833 (83.315 miles per hour). However, his Centennial Motorsports Chevrolet Corvette suffered some front-end damage when he tried to pass fellow Canadian, who was about to be lapped. The minor collision hampered Maher's ability to accelerate through the 11 tight turns on the 1.75-mile circuit.

Being the eight-place finisher won Maher the BF Goodrich Tires Anniversary Award, from Goodyear who has been Trans-Am's spec tire supplier for eight consecutive years.

Maher, who finished the race one position behind series leader and Derhaag Motorsports teammate Randy Ruhlman, is slowly creeping up in the Trans-Am standings. He's now in ninth place overall with 54 points-one point behind Floridian racer Phillip Simms. In the last three races, both Hima and the car have been very consistent, improving and keeping with team strategy.

The Trans-AM in T.O. can seen on Speed Channel Sunday 17 at 12:30 PM ET, the same weekend that brings Maher home to Alberta for the next Trans-Am event in Edmonton July 15-16.

-mr-