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Sep 14, 2010 / reports

RAPONE WINS CANADIAN TOURING CAR CHAMPIONSHIP

Circuit Icar, Montreal -- Anthony Rapone rounded out the Canadian Touring Car season with another podium place, finishing second in Sunday's Feature race, winning the Touring-class Championship in the process. The weekend capped off a dominant year for Rapone, who led the championship points standings from the very first weekend, at Mosport in May. He finished on the podium at every race weekend.

"I just can't believe it," enthused Rapone. "I've been chasing this championship for three years and it's amazing to finally stand on the top step. The crew deserves this as much as I do, so thanks so much to my brother Andre, Turtle, Sean, Mike and all the guys. A special thanks to Karl who brought so much to the program, helping us all step up our game."

The Durabond/Compass360 Racing squad had an impressive year, which included a series-first podium sweep (at Trois-Rivieres), and saw the team win the Driver's Championship (for Rapone), Team crown (for Rapone's #72 Civic Si) and the Manufacturer's title for Honda/HPD. The team also managed to take third spot on the year-end podium, with Karl Thomson's #71 car moving from fifth to third over the course of the final weekend's battles (he finished first and third at the Montreal finale).

Without question, weekend after weekend, Rapone was the class of the field. He qualified on pole more times than not, and demonstrated great race-craft at the very different tracks Canadian Touring Car visited through the season. "The goal was always to have two cars in the championship hunt," noted Thomson. "Anthony had proven he could race at the front over the past two seasons, but this year he really pulled out all the stops and pretty much drove flawlessly every lap of every race. I'm thrilled to have been his team-mate this year."

 

The squad plans to return to the series in 2011 and eagerly awaits the release of the schedule from the series. In the meanwhile, the cars are back at the shop, getting prepared for more great Touring Car battles.