NEW SEASON, NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR BURROWS AND HOPWOOD

Daytona Beach, FL (24 January 2012)-- When the  2012 GRAND-AM Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge championship kicks off with the BMW Performance 200 on Friday at Daytona International Speedway (SPEED, February 4, 12:00 PM ET), Adam Burrows and Trevor Hopwood will be experiencing a little something new, and a little something familiar. 

As the first race of the season, the Daytona race weekend is traditionally one that marks a new chapter for the field as drivers join new teams, drive new cars, and try to get comfortable in their new surroundings. That will be the case for Burrows and Hopwood as the championship duo are set for an all-new racing program starting at Daytona. 

The duo, who together scored a GRAND-AM Championship in their rookie season and went on to take wins and countless podiums in over 50 starts as co-drivers, will instead be setting their helmets on different racks this year in pit lane as both will have new co-drivers starting at Daytona.  

Burrows will team with promising young up-and-comer Andrew Novich in the No. 74 Dr. Kimberly Henry / Speed Secrets Honda Civic Si entry, with Hopwood sharing the driving duties with experienced pilot Bo Roach in the No. 77 Joe Marina Honda/Luna-C Racing  Honda entry. 

While the weekend will mark new cars and new teammates for the two, the event should still feel like more of a homecoming as the duo return to Compass360 Racing (C360R).

“Having Trevor and Adam back with us is something that we’ve worked a long time to have happen, and we could not be more excited about getting the year off to a strong start at Daytona,” offered C360R Team Principal Karl Thomson, whose squad has emerged as a top organization in the highly competitive Street Tuner class,  finishing as champions or runners-up every year since 2007. 

“Adam and Trev have a lot of experience as co-drivers and this will be a new experience for them, but they are pros and I know they are going to both be a big asset for our team. We’ve seen that ST is extremely competitive, and the presence of some factory-backed teams only underscores how hard everyone is working and competing in this class. We are encouraged by the performance we’ve seen so far in the 2012 Civic Si and we hope to keep learning and come out of the weekend with some solid points to kick off the year.”

The drive to a championship for the two came aboard a rear-wheel drive BMW for Turner Motorsport, but Burrows and Hopwood made the move to front wheel drive with C360R a winning one in 2008. Ever since, the two have been sought after for their developmental capabilities, speed, hard work, and professional demeanor. 

“We had a very productive test (Roar Before the 24) and I’m excited to be heading back down to Daytona to kick the season off in earnest,” said Burrows. “Andrew (Novich) did a fantastic job, and I’m really looking forward to having him as my co-driver. It’s a little bit different not to be co-driving with Trev of course, but it’s great he’s teaming with Bo (Roach) and we are both excited to be back, driving for (C360R Technical Director) Ray Lee and Karl.”

The Daytona weekend has been one of mixed fortunes for Burrows and Hopwood,  with just two 2 top-10 finishes (2007, 2008) to date.

“I wasn’t down for the test, so I am really itching to get on the plane and get going,” said Hopwood. “I’m like a kid in a candy store--my Patriots are in the Super Bowl, and now I’m heading to Daytona to race for C360R. I couldn’t be more excited.”

SPEED will broadcast the race February 4th  at 12:00 PM ET.