Honda Michelin Series Press Release from Circuit Mont-Tremblant

Information:
Max d'Orsonnens (514) 246-8909
Richard Jacobs (416) 287-4708
Ralph Luciw (416) 287-4367
Results of the first day of practice at Circuit Mont-Tremblant

DIDIER SCHRAENEN SETS THE PACE IN THE HONDA / MICHELIN SERIES'
FRIDAY PRACTICE at CIRCUIT MONT-TREMBLANT

Mont-Tremblant, Quebec (September 24, 2004) - Honda Michelin
Challenge Series drivers returned to the refurbished Circuit
Mont-Tremblant on Friday after a 12-year hiatus and things were back
to normal as four of the top-six drivers of the day were veterans
from the former Honda Michelin Series that raced here in the early
1990s.

Quebec veteran Didier Schraenen was quickest of the 21 drivers
entered in the penultimate round of the 10-race schedule. He drove
the 4.26-kilometre road course in 2 minutes 5.670 seconds for an
average speed of 122.034 km/h. The Énergie/NAPA/RDS sponsored driver
edge three-time series champion Normand Boyer, of Sainte-Agathe, by
only eight thousandths of a second. Third place went to first-year
driver Frédérick Lelièvre of Mont-Joli (QC).

Rookie Alex Penfold of Georgetown, Ontario posted the fourth fastest
lap of the day, driving his Pfaff Leasing Honda Civic DX Coupe around
the track in 2:05.978. He was followed by series points leader Steven
Laporte and Robert Boyer.

Kuno and Nick Wittmer of Hudson (QC) were respectively sixth and
seventh, followed by rookie Emmanuel Boivin-Moreau of Longueuil (QC)
and Travis Walker of Mississauga, Ontario.

Honda/Michelin Series drivers return to the track on Saturday for a
30-minute qualifying session that will set the grid for Sunday's Fall
Classic. The green flag will be dropped at 12:35 p.m. Sunday.

The Series
The Honda / Michelin Series is a 10-race series held over nine
weekends. Six races are contested in Ontario (Mosport & Shannonville)
and four in Québec (Montréal, Trois-Rivières, Saint-Eustache &
Mont-Tremblant).

The stock Honda Civic DX Coupes are equipped with Michelin Pilot
Sport Cup tires, and provide a truly low cost form of motor racing.
The series was re-introduced to encourage young drivers to enter the
sport, but it did not deter some veterans from returning to the
series. The single-make Championship Series gives drivers the
opportunity the showcase their talent in identical cars. The Honda /
Michelin Challenge Series reinforces the fun-to-drive aspects of the
Civic and will be further supported by its reputation for quality,
reliability and durability. The Honda Civic has been the top-selling
passenger car in Canada for the past six years.

The road racing series was originally launched in 1976 with the Honda
Civic Hatchback.  During its 17-year run, the series has attracted
more than 400 racers.  Among the Canadian race drivers who have
competed in this series are Richard Spénard, Tony Morris, Frank
Allers, Marc Dancose and Jacques Villeneuve, brother of the late
Formula 1 driver Gilles Villeneuve.

The series is sanctioned by ASN Canada FIA and sponsored by Honda
Canada Inc. The series is co-sponsored by Michelin North America
(Canada) Inc., Alpine, Bosal, CSC, Goodridge and NGK.

-30-