MICHAEL DIMEO REPORTS ON 2013 DEBUT SEASON

Michael DiMeo reports on his first season competing in World Challenge with Compass360 Racing, and our friends at Blanchet Racing in Canadian Touring Car.

Finally catching my breath after an incredible weekend in Houston and wanted to reflect on this past racing season. Early in 2013, in collaboration with Compass 360 Racing, I set a goal of competing in one Pirelli World Challenge sports car race this season. Although I have extensive kart racing experience, I had not raced cars and realized that there was much to do if I was to achieve my goal.I travelled with the C360R team to Barber Motorsports Park in April for a Grand-Am race to observe, learn and experience what was involved in a race weekend. Upon my return home, I turned to Karl Thomson from C360R for advice and direction and totally committed myself to completing the tasks required to get into a C360R World Challenge Honda Civic at the season finale in Houston, Texas. Specifically, I needed to successfully complete a professional racing licensing course, attempt to get into a Canadian Touring Car Championship (CTCC) race to gain some experience and, perhaps most importantly, secure the sponsorship support that would allow me to race.

After obtaining the required racing license, I was able to secure sponsorship to race in the CTCC races at the GP3R and Canadian Tire Motorsports Park (CTMP) with Blanchet Racing. GP3R represented my first car race and was particularly helpful as it took place on a street course, similar to what I would experience in Houston. At CTMP, a track which I am very familiar with, I won one race and finished second in the other, which gave me a much needed boost of confidence after feeling a bit overwhelmed at GP3R. Racing with Blanchet Racing was a great experience as I was able to gain valuable knowledge with the support of a great team and group of people.

After the CTCC race at CTMP, I continued to work on securing the sponsorship I needed to race in Houston. With the help of numerous individuals and organizations, I was able to secure the budget to race this past weekend. Without the support of my sponsors and those that have worked tirelessly on my behalf, racing would remain an unfulfilled dream for me, as it continues to be for many other aspiring race car drivers.

The days leading up to Houston were exciting and filled with anticipation, as I knew that the race weekend was going to be a huge learning experience while racing a new car, for a new team, on a new street course, in one of the best racing series in North America. Arriving at the track Friday morning, the Touring Car class was first on-track for practice at 8AM and immediately realized that the track had some issues which were causing cars to get airborne at over 100MPH because of a dip in the concrete on the front straight. The following practice sessions were halted as a fix needed to be implemented. After a four hour delay, a temporary chicane was installed and the day’s schedule resumed. The track issues and delay caused our qualifying session to be cancelled and in its place we took to the track for a 15-minute practice session. The starting grid was based on series points position, which slotted me in 9th, or last. In race one, I finished fourth, which would represent my starting position for race two. My strategy for the second race was to try and get more out of the car and myself, and push as hard as I could while limiting my mistakes. I finished the caution-filled race two in third place.

I was very happy with the weekend. I learned a lot and gained experience which I hope will benefit me in the future. I was also able to deliver good results, considering it was my first World Challenge race with C360R. With the goal I established earlier in the year achieved, I now turn to planning and preparing for next season.