Grand Prix of Canada's "Other" Race Raises Funds for Charity

Honda Canada President Faces B·A·R Honda F1 Driver on Racetrack
Grand Prix of Canada's "Other" Race Raises Funds for Charity


MONTREAL (June 12, 2005)  -- Honda Canada president Hiroshi Kobayashi
took the green flag this morning in a race against B·A·R Honda F1
test driver Anthony Davidson at the Grand Prix of Canada. But rather
than driving the 900-horsepower B·A·R Honda F1 race cars that
Davidson is accustomed to piloting, the two faced off in front of
fans in Hondas measuring a mere 46 centimetres long and operated by
remote control.

Staged on the Civic Nation Raceway, a featured attraction at the
Grand Prix of Canada, Mr. Kobayashi raced Davidson around the
specially designed track in an effort to raise funds for the Institut
de réadaptation de Montréal (I.R.M.), a short-term care facility
specializing in rehabilitation of the physically disabled, including
those injured in vehicle accidents.

For a small charitable donation, race fans were also invited to race
the remote-control Civics and compete with each other for the fastest
lap time. Corporate partners contributed to the program, providing
sponsorship for each of the remote-controlled cars.

The mini race course was part of a larger Civic Nation Raceway
display that also featured Honda automobiles and motorcycles.

Honda is the world's preeminent maker of engines for automobiles,
motorcycles and power equipment. With more than 120 manufacturing
facilities in 30 countries worldwide, Honda now attracts nearly 20
million customers annually. Honda Canada manufactures the Honda
Ridgeline, Civic, Pilot, and the Acura EL and MDX at its two plants
in Alliston, Ontario.