Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge race at Daytona International Speedway

Compass360 Racing’s new 2012 Honda Civic Si’s fared reasonably well at the season-opening Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge race at Daytona International Speedway, with the top-finishing Honda the #75 of Ray Mason and Ryan Eversley leading the team’s charge and crossing the line in 12th spot, narrowly ahead of team-mates John Kuitwaard and David Thilenius’ #76 in 13th, Andrew Novich and Adam Burrows’ #74 in 14th and Bo Roach and Trevor Hopwood’s #77 in 17th.

“At least the cars all finished together and we scored some points,” noted Team Principal Karl Thomson. “We’ll be working with Grand-Am to get the Hondas back into the top ten for the next race.”

 

MASON AND EVERSLEY TO CONTEST 2012 GRAND-AM STREET TUNER CHAMPIONSHIP

 

2011 Championship runner-up to co-drive with long-time Continental Tire Sports Car series competitor

(Toronto, Ontario, Canada) — Ryan Eversley and Ray Mason will both return to Grand-Am competition in 2012 with Compass360 Racing (C360R). The duo will share one of the team’s new 2012 Honda Civic Si coupes, starting with test days at the Roar Before the 24 at Daytona International Speedway in early January.

This season will mark Eversley’s third consecutive season with C360R. As runner-up in the 2011 Continental Sports Car Challenge championship he’ll hope to do one better pairing with Mason, who is also no stranger to the team having raced one of their Hondas in World Challenge Touring Car last year. He finished fifth in that championship.

Mason has extensive experience in Grand-Am, having raced Mustangs and BMWs in the Continental Tire series as well as GT cars in the Rolex series. He’s a fierce competitor and also a veteran who proudly served two tours of duty in Vietnam.

“I’m really excited to announce Ray and Ryan as the first of our driver pairings for 2012,” remarked Team Principal Karl Thomson. “We missed out on a third consecutive championship last year by just a few points and we’re hungrier than ever to get the top spot back. Ray did a great job for us in World Challenge last year and I know he and Ryan will fight hard to bring Honda another Manufacturer’s title with the new Civic Si.”

Eversley was equally pleased. “We’ve been testing the new 2012 car a bunch and I really like it. Ray has been quick in a lot of different kinds of cars and impressed me with his focus behind the wheel. I know he’ll do a great job in the opening stint.”

“I had a great time with this team in World Challenge and am glad to be in a position to go for a championship in Grand-Am,” noted Mason. “This series is so competitive, but these guys have proven they know how to win!”

The duo’s 2012 Honda Civic Si will feature new team livery and be anchored by sponsorship from Columbus Truck, a full-service dealership representing Mack, Volvo and Hino (http://columbus-truck.com).

The team will also extend its relationship with the Children’s Tumor Foundation and their Racing4Research fundraising initiatives by representing the charity at every Grand-Am race event in 2012. For details and to donate visit http://racing4research.org.