- Tom O'Gorman to run 2017 Honda Civic Si
- B-Spec champion O'Gorman moves up to TCA competition
- Shea Holbrook, Jason Fichter will campaign Honda Accords in TC
Honda Performance Development is pleased to announce that Shea Racing will expand the team's Pirelli World Challenge racing effort in 2017, fielding reigning B-Spec champion Tom O'Gorman in a new Honda Civic Si in the TCA category, while continuing to run a pair of Touring Car-class Honda Accords for drivers Shea Holbrook and Jason Fichter.
The all-new 2017 Honda Civic Si, featuring exclusive racing parts developed by HPD and its partners, will also be available to Honda Racing Line customers who wish to build and race their own cars.
Shea Racing, operated by owner/driver Holbrook, is a veteran Honda racing team, having successfully run two Accords in the 2016 Pirelli World Challenge. Holbrook is looking forward to adding the 2017 Civic Si and Tom O'Gorman to the Shea Racing stable.
"Coming up through the grassroots levels to pursue a career in professional motorsports – all in Hondas – makes us feel deeply rooted to the brand," Holbrook said. "Honda's passion, reliability, support and proven trackside performances have been the key reasons why Shea Racing has built a business as a Honda team for seven consecutive years. We are thrilled to continue our relationship with Honda and HPD through our Accord program, and add the 2017 Civic Si next season."
O'Gorman joins Shea Racing after partnering with HPD last year to race a 2016 Honda Fit in Pirelli World Challenge TCB class, winning the Drivers' Championship.
The 2017 Honda Civic Si development vehicle, which can be seen at HPD Booth 5157 at the Performance Racing Industry trade show in Indianapolis this week, came straight from its debut last weekend at the 25 Hours of Thunderhill, where it completed the grueling endurance event, despite contact with another vehicle during the overnight hours.
Development drivers Holbrook and O'Gorman, along with several HPD associates, drove the new Civic at Thunderhill, and were thrilled with the car's performance.
"The car was amazing throughout the '25 Hours' race. We were able to make great strides in the car's development, turning faster and faster laps throughout the race, and finish without a single mechanical issue," O'Gorman said. "It was a fantastic learning opportunity and an impressive debut for the new car, I can't wait to get behind the wheel for the upcoming 2017 Pirelli World Challenge season!"
Following the SEMA debut of the 2017 Civic Si "Body-In-White", a bare-bones chassis that removes the costly and time-consuming process of converting a production vehicle to a race-ready car, HPD is eager to show the completed product, a race vehicle in Pirelli World Challenge competition.
"We are eager to see the 2017 Civic back on track," says Jeff Barrow, Manager of HPD's Commercial Motorsports group. "Pairing with Shea Racing and driver Tom O'Gorman will give us an excellent chance to win races and gather great feedback as we continue to develop Civic racing parts for our customers."
Shea Holbrook, Tom O'Gorman, and the Civic race development car will all be at the HPD Booth [#5157] during the Performance Racing Industry show in Indianapolis. Holbrook and O'Gorman will make an appearance at the HPD booth at 1 p.m. on Friday, December 9.
About Shea Racing
Based in Groveland, Florida, Shea Racing is a professional team competing in the Pirelli World Challenge. In the seven years Shea Racing has competed in the series, the team has earned 11 wins, 27 podiums, seven pole positions and 11 fast laps in the touring car classes. Focusing on a strong team foundation, top performances, driver advancement and individualized marketing platforms, Shea Racing has become one of the Pirelli World Challenge's top-tier Touring Car teams.
About Honda Performance Development:
Honda Performance Development, Inc., (HPD) is Honda's racing company in North America and is a wholly owned subsidiary of American Honda Motor Co., Inc. Founded in 1993, HPD is the technical operations center for Honda's high-performance racing programs. HPD specializes in the design and development of race engines, chassis and performance parts, and technical/race support. It also offers parts and race support to Honda and Acura grassroots motorsports racers, and is expanding its support of racing series and programs to make Honda racing products available to participants in all racing disciplines, from karting and Quarter Midgets to the highest levels of pro racing.
