CAN: Lombardi Honda Racing Mosport preview

NICK WITTMER AND BENJAMIN DISTAULO EYEING THE PODIUM AT MOSPORT

Montreal (Quebec), August 23, 2010.- The Lombardi Honda Racing team, current leaders of the Canadian Touring Car Championship, is returning to the track this weekend for the series double-header at Mosport in Ontario, accompanied by the prestigious American Le Mans series. Winners of four events since the start of the season, the Montreal team is once again eyeing podiums for their two drivers, Nick Wittmer and Benjamin Distaulo.

The Lombardi Honda Racing team's Honda Civic Si's have always performed really well at Mosport, a fast track that has previously hosted the Formula 1 Grand Prix of Canada. Again this year, the defending 2009 champion and current leader of the 2010 series, Nick Wittmer, has won two of the four races held at Mosport. " The problems we incurred in Trois-Rivières have been remedied. I have to watch out for Audette and Ciekiewicz but I'm remaining positive, Mosport has already brought us two wins this season and our cars are always very fast on this track " explains Wittmer.

Currently sitting at the top of the Super Touring Driver's Championship, Nick Wittmer could take a commanding lead in the hunt for the title with wins this weekend, a possibility that he envisions with confidence even if, given the highly competitive nature of the series, he knows that nothing will be easy : " my goal is to win but I can't lose sight of the fact that we're leading the championship and the ultimate goal is to increase that lead in the points ".

Contrary to Nick, teammate Benjamin Distaulo was less familiar with Mosport's course at the beginning of the year. But after some very promising results in May and June, he's confident that he can help the team with a Top 5 finish. " The car will be perfect for Mosport so I want to get the best start possible to help the team with the championship. I don't personally have any pressure this weekend but I also don't want to relive the incident from Trois-Rivières when a competitor literally sent me spinning. For the most part, I am just really motivated by the idea of a good result " declares Benjamin.

Tony Lombardi, Lombardi Honda Racing team owner, is also very confident leading into the second-last event of the season : " Nick and Benjamin were brilliant since the start of the year and our Honda Civic Si's are ready. It's an important weekend, we need to stay focussed and bring back crucial points to stay at the lead of the championship " he mentions.

At the Grand Prix of Mosport, the two rounds of the Canadian Touring Car Championship will be held on Saturday evening (starts at 5:30 pm) and Sunday morning (11:30 am).

-source: lhr