TORONTO, ON – After a number of seasons piloting Compass360 Racing Honda Civic Si’s in both IMSA’s Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge and SCCA Pro’s Pirelli World Challenge, long-time team drivers Ray Mason and Ryan Winchester will team up to lead development of the squad’s new Subaru program in CTSCC.
Ryan Winchester continues with C360R for his third consecutive season, having won the World Challenge Touring Car championship in 2013. “After two strong seasons in PWC, we felt it was a good time for Ryan to move to Conti,” remarked Team Principal Karl Thomson. “After such a strong year, taking six wins against some tough competition, he’s really earned the opportunity to race the Subaru.”
Winchester is similarly enthusiastic. “I had a dream season in World Challenge last year. The Compass guys gave me a great car every weekend, and I’m grateful for the chance to work on the WRX project with ‘the Rays'” (co-driver Ray Mason and C360R Technical Director Ray Lee).
This year marks the fourth straight season that Mason will don the signature black-and-orange C360R driver’s suit. “I can’t wait to get the year under way,” he noted. “Ryan and I drove together in a GS Mustang a few years back, and I’m excited to get to work with him and the team to develop the Subaru. I’ve had fun and done pretty well in the Hondas but am really looking forward to being in a more powerful car in the top class.”
The team will run two GS-class Subarus alongside two full-season ST-class Honda Civic Si’s, which have formed the backbone of their decade-long run in CTSCC. “The WRX’s will be a great addition to our program for 2014,” said Technical Director Ray Lee. “We’re as committed to ever to our HPD Hondas and expect to be in championship contention once again. We’ve got a good handle on the Subaru package and feel we’ll be on pace right out of the box.”
The team has already announced Kyle Gimple and Ryan Eversley returning to championship battle in their #75 Honda and will release details of the #74 Honda shortly. Funded drivers are currently being interviewed for the final slots in the #77 Subaru. Interested parties should contact Thomson at +1.416.993.3951.
C360R has private testing scheduled in December and will make its first official outing in Daytona at the Roar Before the 24 January 3-5, 2014.
From Karl Thomson // 416.465.2299 x21 or karl@compass360.com
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