Mississauga, Ontario - April 26 - The Honda / Michelin Challenge Series Officials Team met yesterday for the first time in Mississauga, Ontario, to plan event activities for the 2004 season starting at Mosport Park on May 21, 22, 23 - Victoria Day weekend.

Ralph Luciw, Honda Canada's Series Director, commented, "The Series is delighted with the quality of the Officials Team that will help drivers and teams showcase their talents at events this year... we had a great day!  We  are also pleased that our Timing and Scoring chores will be headed up by the Canadian Timing Association under the leadership of Chris Johnston, and it was good to have Gunter Schmidt with us to represent Chris".   

The meeting agenda included detail planning for event procedures: event registration, tire marking, timing and scoring, post-qualifying and post-race technical inspections, component sealing monitoring, fuel and oil testing, and race start procedures.

"Drivers and teams can look forward to working with a select team of experienced officials", said Paul Cooke, ASN Canada FIA's Vice President of Competition, who facilitated the meeting.  "This is a seasoned team of officials with years of experience who have been communicating for several weeks by email and telephone, and it was great to get them together face-to-face to finalize plans for the re-launch of Honda's classic Canadian racing Series", said Cooke.

"Our Registration Team of Laura Schmidt and Nicole Choquette are gearing up to make registration of drivers and teams as smooth and painless as possible.  As long as competitors have their paperwork prepared and ready.... licences, waivers, and Tech Inspection forms... things should be quick".

"Our Technical Team of Dave Lambert and Nick Berry are raising the bar on monitoring of the Series cars to maintain a level playing field for all competitors",  said Cooke.  "We have a foolproof component sealing package and Dave and Nick will introduce methods and technology to help keep the Honda Civics on spec, particularly where weights and fuel and oil are concerned.  With the aid of electronic measuring equipment used by Honda's dealers to keep customers cars in top shape, our tech guys are able to detect the condition of the stock electronic engine management and fuel delivery systems".

"This is exciting and competitive racing. Our Stewards Team of Marcel Demers and Ron Woltman will work closely with event personnel and officials to oversee driver activity on the track and will work with our drivers to keep things in order.  Communications is the key".

"What an asset we have with Honda Canada's John Sherk on board" said Cooke.   John, with the savvy that comes with being an accomplished driver in his own right, and knowing the Honda Civic inside and out, combined with Dave and Nick makes for a big WOW factor when it comes to keeping these Civics in compliance with regulations".

For more information:
Ralph Luciw - Honda Canada Inc.  416-287-4367
ASN Canada FIA at 905-403-9000