When the World Challenge Touring Car got the green light OPM’s Tom Fowler wasn’t among the combatants. It is not that Tom doesn’t have the chops to compete since he frequently ran in the top ten when he raced in 2002. The issues are that running the OPM operation that extends well beyond the World Challenge program has been far too demanding and Tom feels that his time is better spent on the administrative and engineering side of the operation.

“Of course I would love to be driving,” said Fowler. “But for organizational reasons this seems to be much better. I was trying to do too much last year! I miss being in the car but Paul’s (Bonaccorsi) a great driver!”

When the topic came around to Paul Bonaccorsi who was replacing Fowler at Sebring in the #18 OPM Mazda Protégé Fowler indicated that at that time the ride Paul was not solidified for the entire season but that everyone involved would be doing everything possible to make sure that Bonaccorsi remained in the car for all of 2003.

“Mazda likes Paul, we like Paul,” Fowler said. “We just need to talk to the right people to make this a full season deal. Everyone is working very hard to make this happen!”

“Paul works well with Chuck (Hemmingson) and they are both title contenders,” Fowler concluded. “The only two race winners Mazda has, we’ve got right here under one tent!”

Afticle from The Race Site