Compass360 Racing Press Release
Long-time Pirelli World Challenge team C360R (Compass360 Racing) today announced further expansion of its Audi racing program to include an Audi TT-RS in the series’ highly-competitive GTS class.
The new No. 78 car will be helmed by current C360R driver Paul Holton, with support from partners AERO Advanced Paint Technology, Spyder apparel and Audi Sport customer racing. As they have for the past five years, the team and driver will fly the colors of their charity of choice, the Children’s Tumor Foundation.
“We’ve been working with Paul since the beginning of the year, as one of our drivers in the Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge,” remarked C360R Team Principal Karl Thomson. “We also had him do a couple of non-conflicting World Challenge rounds, and were really impressed with his skills behind the wheel.”
Indeed, in just five starts in one of the team’s TCA-class cars, Paul notched three podiums, including a win at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park. “GTS is really competitive right now, and I am looking forward to going toe-to-toe with the guys at the front,” enthused Holton.
The move to GTS builds on the team’s growing relationship with Audi, which officially started on-track at Sebring, Florida in March with the launch of their new CTSC ST-class Audi S3 program, and expanded with the recently-debuted Audi R8 LMS in the TUDOR United Sports Car Championship. The TT-RS will first compete at the penultimate race of the 2015 World Challenge season, at Sonoma Raceway August 29-30, and will also be at the season finale at Laguna Seca.
Tristan Herbert, Manager, Audi Motorsport and Customer Racing commented, “We are thrilled that C360R is representing the Audi brand in three separate classifications featuring two of North America’s best sportscar racing series: the S3 in Continental ST, TT-RS in PWC GTS, and an Audi R8 LMS in the TUDOR GTD class. This proves that Audi has opportunities to display performance and technology at all racing levels.”
034 Motorsport will serve as technical partners for the program, with the 034 shop in Fremont, CA, serving as home base for the two final west coast rounds and Christian Miller being tapped to lead the squad. “We’ve enjoyed working with Christian since winning the ST Championship together in 2009, and we’re really looking forward to continuing that success with him and the talented folks at 034,” said Thomson.
Like the team’s other Audis, the new TT-RS will be clothed in a striking livery featuring AERO paint. “The response we’ve had to our new Audi liveries has been extremely positive,” said C360R Technical Director Ray Lee. “We recently painted our transporters with AERO and continue to be impressed with the quality and finish of the product.”
No. 78 will carry the Children’s Tumor Foundation logo, and will serve as one of the featured cars on the charity’s paddock tour at each race. “The Foundation is grateful to C360R, who have supported us since 2010, and to all our partner teams in the Pirelli World Challenge paddock,” said CTF Racing4Research Director Jill Beck. “Our families in the blue shirts will now have the chance to cheer for Paul, who like all our R4R drivers, is simply wonderful with the kids.”
While the team begins testing the new TT-RS in the coming weeks in advance of its first race, the team will continue to field its championship-winning Honda Civic Si’s in TCA, with the next race being at Mid-Ohio on August 15-16.
Photo credit: Compass360 Racing
