ACCEPTING THE TEAM’S CHAMPIONSHIP TROPHY

Enjoy a read of Team Principal Karl Thomson's speech at the World Challenge banquet, where he accepted the trophy for winning the Team Championship in Touring Car.

"I've been a fan of World Challenge for many years, going back to spectating during the hard fought races at my local track, Mosport in the late ninties.

We've been pretty successful in this kind of racing over the past few years in the Grand Am series (amusingly both KPax drivers Povoledo and Holland have driven for us), and were keen to become participants in World Challenge.

We were the new team on the block this year in Touring Car, and we could not have been made to feel more welcome. Everyone from the officials to the SCCA staff to the folks at WC Vision to the other competitors, made our first year in World Challenge memorable and more importantly, great fun.

I'd like to thank Tom Ehlen and his great coach Gord Bentley for making this season happen. A year in this series has proved to be a great entry into the ranks of pro racing for Tom, and we are very much looking forward to returning next season with Tom and Gord anchoring our program.

Brett Sandberg joined our team at Miller, after his rather spectacular crash at St. Pete's sidelined his own car. He's been a great team driver, often pushing Lawson to go faster. In fact, he turned a faster lap than our lead driver at Mosport! Many congratulations to Brett on a fantastic year that included a number of trips to the podium.

It's great to stand here and accept a championship trophy, but I'd be remiss if i didnt mention our other contender this year, Ray Mason who was in the Rookie of the Year hunt all season long, just missing out in the final tally.  At 65 years young Ray embodies the spirit of a true racer and he's brought a sense of fun (and pretty ladies) to our program this year.

Of course it's so rewarding to win a championship, especially in your first year. That's a testament to Lawson (nice job, two championships in two years in two different series -- pretty good results I'd say!), to our tremendous technical partners at Honda Performance Development (especially Lee Niffenegger) and to our tireless crew, led by Enrico Diano.

To all our guys, both here and back at Compass360 World Headquarters in Toronto, thank you. This award is for you and all you do."