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Sep 8, 2021 / news

JACOB ABEL TO JOIN COMPASS RACING AT LAGUNA SECA

HPD Academy Graduate to join Mario Farnbacher in No. 76 Richard Mille Acura NSX GT3 Evo

MONTEREY, CA — Honda Performance Development Academy graduate Jacob Abel will make his IMSA WeatherTech Sprint Cup debut at the helm of Compass Racing’s No. 76 Richard Mille Acura NSX GT3 Evo at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca this coming weekend alongside HPD Factory driver Mario Farnbacher.

Abel – who notched a podium finish this season at Virginia International Raceway in an NSX in SRO GT World Challenge America competition with co-driver Taylor Hagler – is stepping in for regular pilot Jeff Kingsley.

“I’m grateful to HPD and Compass Racing for the opportunity to join Mario at Laguna,” remarked Abel. “Building on all I learned with the NSX in the Academy last season, and my World Challenge races this season is something I’ve been working towards.”

Abel joins the team in their strong debut season with the Acura NSX GT3 Evo, and a return to the Acura brand, which Compass first competed with in 2006.

“We’re so pleased to welcome Jacob to Compass Racing, and are excited to have him drive with Mario at Laguna Seca, a track that traditionally has suited the NSX,” noted Team Owner Jill Beck. “Laguna Seca and Long Beach are ‘home races’ for us, and we could not be more thrilled with our driver line-up for this round.

The livery of the No. 76 is a tribute to visually-impaired philanthropic artist and long-time Compass collaborator Jeff Hanson, who suddenly passed away last December at the age of 27 from neurofibromatosis, the genetic disorder that took his vision 15 years prior. Compass has honored Jeff's legacy throughout the 2021 season, with its' NSX liveries featuring Jeff’s vibrantly hued painting “Light Show at the Louvre”. The team has established a fundraising campaign in memory of Jeff, via their partner non-profit the Race Day Foundation (http://racedayfoundation.org/jeffhanson), in hopes of helping to reach Jeff's goal of raising $10 million for charity by his 30th birthday in 2023.

“We ran cars featuring Jeff’s artwork throughout the 2014, 2015 and 2016 seasons, and it warms my heart to see his work return on our new Acura NSX GT3,” remarked Team Principal, Karl Thomson.

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About Compass Racing
Compass Racing is a professional motorsports operation that competes in top-level sportscar series in North America. Based in San Diego, California, the multiple championship-winning team has fielded cars in IMSA's WeatherTech Championship, the Michelin Pilot Challenge, SRO GT World Challenge America, GT Celebration and Canadian Touring Car. The squad is one of the continent’s longest-running teams, having competed at the pro level continually since January 2004.
 
About Honda Performance Development
Honda Performance Development, Inc., (HPD) has a rich heritage creating, manufacturing, and supporting Honda Racing and Acura Motorsports customers since 1993.  From pinnacle racing in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES and IMSA Sports Cars to commercial racing programs, HPD powers the dreams of professional and amateur racers. HPD is a wholly-owned subsidiary of American Honda Motor Co., Inc. and leads all of Honda and Acura’s high-performance racing programs in North America.  HPD specializes in the design and development of race engines, chassis and performance parts, as well as technical/race support across a wide palette of racing programs that make Honda racing products available to amateur and professional racers alike, from karting and Quarter Midgets to the highest levels of sportscar and open-wheel racing.
 
About Richard Mille
The first watch to carry Richard Mille’s name, the RM 001 Tourbillon, launched the millennium: the year was 2001, and the model marked the beginning of a new era in watchmaking. Today, the collection points resolutely towards the future, while holding steadfast to the time-honored traditions of fine watchmaking. Richard Mille endeavored to apply the techniques and materials found in the most innovative sectors such as in the domains of F1 racing car development and the aerospace industry to watchmaking, with the goal of creating an extreme timepiece, without compromise, without gimmicks.
 
About Ebullition Brew Works
Ebullition Brew Works is at the crest of Southern California’s craft brewery wave. With more breweries on tap than any other county, rising to the top requires the blending of quality ingredients, expertise and experience. Voted Best North County Brewery by San Diego Magazine in 2018, Ebullition opened its Gastro-lounge in Bressi Ranch to rave reviews earlier this year, joining its industrial-chic brewery in Vista as one of the “must-visit” locations in San Diego.

About AERO™ Advanced Paint Technology
AERO Advanced Paint Technology™ is an environmentally sustainable paint applique that eliminates the need for harmful sprayers. AERO was initially designed for The Boeing Company as a lightweight paint film technology for the 787 Dreamliner. As such, the technology provides significant performance gains in weight reduction while enabling the finish to be a fully strippable system. AERO has proven to be successful in the motorsports industry due to the ease of install, significant weight savings, and enhanced durability.

About The Race Day Foundation 
The Race Day Foundation is a 501(c)(3) for-good foundation, offering children and families living with life-threatening illness a "day away" from their daily challenges. By harnessing the power of the racing and automotive communities, we are able to provide a uniquely empowering, hope-filled Race Day - a positive experience shared by patients, parents and siblings alike.

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Image credit: “Jacob Abel”. Rights granted for editorial use.