CHILDREN’S TUMOR FOUNDATION’S ART CAR PROGRAM EXPANDS FOR 2015

Long-time supporter C360R to feature multiple “Art Car” liveries in PWC and CTSC

NEW YORK, NY — Building on a highly successful 2014 that saw its partner teams win championships, races and podiums in multiple series, the Children’s Tumor Foundation’s Racing4Research™ effort announced one of its 2015 programs today. Long-time supporter Compass Racing will help the Foundation to expand its inspiring “Art Car” program, using its Pirelli World Challenge Honda Civic Si’s and IMSA Continental Tire Sportscar Challenge Subaru WRX STi.

“We are thrilled to be back with Compass again next season,” enthused R4R Program Director Jill Beck. “This will be the Foundation’s fifth year with this team, and we are grateful to them for their continued support, sharing their paddock with us to host our kids and their families, and allowing us to use their cars as canvases for wonderful, unique art created by an NF Hero."

For 2015, each Compass Racing Honda Civic Si will feature a different piece of art by acclaimed painter, and 2015 CTF Ambassador Jeffrey Owen Hanson (http://www.JeffreyOwenHanson.com). The 20-year-old philanthropic artist is visually impaired from an optic nerve tumor related to neurofibromatosis – known simply as NF – that is a common yet under-recognized genetic disorder that can cause tumors to grow on nerves throughout the body. NF affects one in every 3,000 people, more than cystic fibrosis, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, and Huntington’s disease combined.

Unlike last season, where one single painting was shared by different cars in different classes and series, this year each car will have its own painting, all of which will be auctioned at the Foundation’s year-end fundraising Gala in New York City. In 2014 the Gala raised over $1.3 million to actively support research into treatments and a cure for neurofibromatosis by bringing academics, scientists, clinicians, and companies together to work in collaboration towards an end to NF.

Recent nursing school graduate Emilee Tominovich will pilot the team’s #72 Pirelli World Challenge TCA-class Honda Civic Si, which will feature a piece entitled “Ripple”. “I’m really looking forward to being part of this program,” exclaimed Tominovich. “I’ve seen Jill with the kids in the paddock for the past few years, and the huge smiles are just infectious. As a driver, knowing they are there cheering me on means the world. And if, through our racing, make some of the pain go away for even a little while, we’ve done some good.”

Ray Mason (pictured in the lead photo above) and Pierre Kleinubing will anchor the program in IMSA’s Continental Tire Sportscar Challenge in their #76 Subaru WRX STi, extending their efforts from last year. This year’s art for their car is “Siena Sunset,” and Mason looks forward to the season-opener at Daytona next week. “We’re expecting one hundred people for Daytona. Those kids, with their enthusiasm… they love sitting in the cars and that just thrills me.”

The Compass Racing full-season programs in PWC and CTSC will be complemented by a Daytona-only effort for the TUDOR Rolex 24 Hour race, with a partner team to be announced  later this week.

“Daytona is always a big deal for us, and its a great way to begin the year with such momentum,” explained Beck. “But being able to continue our full-season programs to bring families out across the country with Compass Racing's IMSA and World Challenge efforts means R4R continues to grow, and that’s great for the Foundation.”

The IMSA CTSC season begins at Daytona, FL on January 21st and the PWC season in Austin, TX on March 6th.

Information on the Children’s Tumor Foundation's Racing4Research program and donation options can be found at http://racing4research.com.

(Special thanks to Cary Salerno for his incredible Forza renderings.)