Montreal, April 6th, 2009 – Tony Lombardi, president of Lombardi Honda Racing, announced today that race driver Jean-François Dumoulin will campaign one of his Honda Civics with Nick et Kuno Wittmer in the Castrol Canadian Touring Championship in the Super Touring class. Lombardi Honda Racing, one of the most victorious race teams in the country, will hand Nick Wittmer a new Civic sedan to contend for the driver title while Jean-François Dumoulin and Kuno Wittmer will share the second car. Because their respective schedules were conflicting – Grand-Am and SCCA World Challenge – neither one was available for the 15-round CCTCC schedule. Nick will be returning with his familiar #06 while Kuno will pilot the #44 and Jean-François #22.
"What an outstanding roster," declared Tony Lombardi. "We always had talented and skilled drivers throughout the years and this trio is no exception. The Wittmer brothers joined us last year and we were pretty successful in a very competitive league. This year, we are focusing on Nick who will get a brand new 4-door in order to contend for the driver title. Kuno was so sorry he couldn't enter all the rounds because of his SCCA commitment but I think we struck gold again with Jean-François Dumoulin sharing the second car. JF comes with an impressive racing record in the last 15 years."
"The three guys are great to work with in the paddock but they are very aggressive when the green flag drops. On the other hand, they are all considered like gentlemen on the track. I am convinced Lombardi Honda Racing will top the chart again in 2009 and we can vie for the driver and the team titles."
The three friends are happy to team up with Lombardi. At 24, Nick Wittmer is still a diamond in the rough that will improve with years: "The new car looks like a winner and I know the crew is working hard to make it the best on the track." A recent winner of the Bertrand-Fabi Trophy at the age of 26, Kuno's reputation already spreads across North America: "I like to work with the Lombardi team. It's always interesting to find the proper setup and improve the car every time we take to the track. I will be driving on two of my favorite tracks, Mosport and Toronto."
Finally, the arrival of Jean-François Dumoulin will send a message to all the drivers in the series. Dumoulin is the most versatile driver in North America, having raced in Daytona prototypes, Stock-car, Atlantic single seaters, GT cars and even the former Echo Cup. The Trois-Rivières native has a proven record and a few Rolex watches to prove it. He said of his new team: "The Wittmer brothers only had good words about this team. And I felt confortable with Tony (Lombardi) the moment I sat in his office. I will have a few rounds to stretch my legs with the #22 Civic before I enter my hometwon event, the Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières."
Lombardi Honda Racing team is competing in the Canadian Touring championship for a fourth season. The 2009 schedule shows 15 rounds heading to six facilities, It will star twice on the new ICAR track in Mirabel and the most important double header of the summer will obviously be the GP3R."
For more information, go to Lombardi Honda web sites at www.lombardihonda.com or www.lombardiracing.com.
From Michel Poirier-Defoy
