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Lombardi Racing Team, last year’s Canadian Touring Car winners, is throwing their hat back into the ring as of this weekend when the 2010 season begins at Mosport Park in Ontario. Defending champion, Montréaler Nick Wittmer, Ontarian Alex Healy and Québecker Benjamin Distaulo will take commande of three Super Touring Honda Civic Si’s with one common goal : to continue their string of success.
The 2010 Canadian Touring Car Championship is comprised of fourteen races taking place over seven race weekends. For the Lombardi Honda Racing Team, the primary goal will be to repeat their winning 2009 season but also to win as many races as possible and to see their three drivers amongst the top throughout the entire season.
The off-season testing was very conclusive, explains 2009 champion Nick Wittmer, who is eager to start the new season : « My goal is to maintain my title, I want the #1 on my car again next year! We worked hard to develop the car during the off-season and I’m convinced that we’ll be even faster this year ».
Multiple karting champion Alex Healy also joined the Lombardi Honda Racing Team with a Touring Car title to his name, that of 2009 Rookie of the Year. « I am really very excited by the thought of getting the season started. I’m certain that it will be a great year for the team. We’re a strong and ambitious team and everyone is working really hard towards a common goal. We’re ready to take to the Mosport track on Friday » confides the young twenty year-old driver from Ontario who earned ten ‘Top 10’ finishes in sixteen attempts last year.
Nick Wittmer and Alex Healy will drive the #1 and #5 Honda Civic Si’s respectively. At the wheel of the #6 will be Benjamin Distaulo, who is also anxious to start competition this weekend : « The winter has been way too long! This is the first time I’ve been so eager for things to get under way, especially with such a competitive and well-prepared car by Lombardi Honda » explains the Ville-Lorraine resident and former open wheel driver (F1600, Atlantic), who joins the Lombardi Honda Racing Team this year after several successful Toyota Cup seasons and one transition year with his own Civic in the Canadian Championship’s Touring class.
Team owner Tony Lombardi is confident that the off-season work will be rewarding for the yellow and black Lombardi Honda Racing Honda Civic Si’s. « We have worked really hard since December. I maintain that our three drivers will all have the same chances and as a result, the three Civic Si’s have all been prepared equally. It takes a lot of teamwork to enter and be committed to such a competitive series as the Canadian Touring Car Championship, in which we’re expecting almost fifty entrants. Our drivers will work together on race weekends, as will our mechanics » he indicates. « Our objective is to keep the title. We know that it won’t be easy but we’re confident and I believe we will see our drivers in the “Top 5” » concludes Tony Lombardi.
Lombardi Honda Racing will compete at all events in the 2010 Canadian Touring Car Championship, including two visits to Mosport to kick off the season before the Grand Prix in Mirabel, Toronto, and Trois-Rivières. The season will end with a third competition at Mosport at the end of August and a mid-September return visit to Mirabel. The team receives support from the following partners : Lombardi Honda, Trim Line Montréal, Discount, Pole-Position Magazine, Distaulo Racing (Puma), Perry Auto Parts, Red Line Oil and Pneu Nicoletti. All information concerning the dealership is available at www.lombardihonda.com. For more information on the racing team, visit the site www.lombardiracing.com or look for Lombardi Honda Racing on Facebook and team video on Youtube.
© RIF | CCTCC
