Monday, December 18, 2006

Sharpe Management chosen to lead Sales, Marketing & Promotional Initiatives for The Canadian Touring Car Championship

TORONTO, ON – December 18, 2006 – The newly formed Canadian Touring Car Championship announced on Monday an affiliation with Sharpe Management, Inc., a leader in motorsports sponsorship and strategic partnerships.

The agreement will see Sharpe Management play an integral role in the marketing of the Canadian Touring Car Championship to consumers and corporations nationwide.

The Canadian Touring Car Championship, led by John Bondar, was created to satisfy a pent-up demand for stable, professional sportscar racing in Canada. Sanctioned by CASC – Ontario Region, the Championship has grown from its grassroots success to become a viable, marketable sports property.

Founded in 1997 by Jason Sharpe - motorsports marketing veteran - Sharpe Management is recognized as Canada’s leader in the areas of motorsport sponsorship sales, management and promotion.

Since it’s inception Sharpe Management has helped some of Canada’s most prominent brands make a connection with the racing fan. Clients including Canadian Tire Corporation, Castrol, Schick, PartSource, Sony BMG Music Canada, Shell and SonyPlaystation have benefited from Sharpe’s experience in helping marketers achieve tremendous success enhancing brand awareness and driving sales through motorsports.

“I am thrilled to be working with John on the Canadian Touring Car Championship,” said Jason Sharpe, president and CEO, Sharpe Management, Inc. “The Championship offers to fans some of Canada’s best drivers battling it out in some of the hottest sportscars in the country, and with that, offers to marketers a fresh and relevant platform for some pretty dynamic promotional opportunities.”

John Bondar, President and CEO of the Canadian Touring Car Championship, has an impressive background in motorsports management including 25 years experience organizing and officiating all levels of auto racing.

He was the President of Canadian Automobile Sport Clubs Ontario Region from 2002 to 2006 and successfully doubled the size of the organization by developing and implementing aggressive marketing and promotion strategies. He has been a member of the ASN Canada FIA Inc. Advisory Board from 2002 to 2006 and is an advisor to the Ministry of Transportation Ontario regarding public education programs regarding street racing alternatives.

“The addition of Sharpe Management to our team proves our commitment to the creation of phenomenal entertainment value for Canadian race fans, while delivering tremendous marketing value to our sponsor partners,” said John Bondar. “Jason and I have a long-term vision for a stand-alone, distinctly Canadian championship that will tour markets all across the country and we have spent months developing a very strategic plan to realize that goal,” he added.

For 2007, the Canadian Touring Car Championship will consist of three classes of competition, over 8 weekends, with the marquee event being the recently announced addition of the Grand Prix of Toronto. Other races will be held at the famed Mosport International Raceway & Shannonville Motorsport Park.

Contacts: John Bondar / Canadian Touring Car Championship 416-707-0358
Jason Sharpe / Sharpe Management, Inc. 416-838-0039

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