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Parker Thompson wins best pass of the year and most passes of the year in hardware haul

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Parker Thompson

From Parker Thompson Racing

THOMPSON RECIPIENT OF FOUR AWARDS AT THE ROAD TO INDY CHAMPIONSHIP CELEBRATION

After a dramatic 2019 Indy Pro 2000 season, Parker Thompson may have missed out on the overall championship title, but his accomplishments on and off the track are receiving strong recognition. On Monday night at the Road to Indy Championship Celebration, the young Canadian was awarded Third Place in the Overall 2019 Indy Pro 2000 presented by Cooper Tires Championship. He also brought home the Hi-Tide Kids On Track Spirit Award, the Tilton Hard Charger Award, and was the winner of the AiM Sports Move of the Year.

Third Place Overall Indy Pro 2000 Championship

After winning the opening two races of 2019, Thompson and rookie team Abel Motorsports were challenged to establish a rhythm in the mid part of the season. Disappointing finishes at Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the Freedom 90 were a serious blow to Thompson’s championship hopes. As the season progressed, the team re-discovered much of the pace that it had shown on opening weekend. Thompson’s final record for the 2019 Indy Pro 2000 Championship showed two wins and eight podiums. Earning a total of 300 points, he finished third in the overall standings.

Tilton Hard Charger Award

In races throughout 2019 Thompson repeatedly demonstrated an ability to navigate upwards through the field during race action. Most notably, in the final race of the season, he started from the 10th position after a mechanical issue in qualifying. Thompson would move up eight spots during the race to finish 2nd. With a total of 35 passes (seven more than any other competitor), he earned this year’s Tilton Hard Charger Award.

Hi-Tide Kids on Track Spirit Award

Recognizing his involvement both on and off the track, Thompson received the 2019 Hi-Tide Kids on Track Spirit Award as the Indy Pro 2000 driver who most embodied the spirit of hard work and a positive attitude throughout the Road to Indy season.

AiM Sports Move of the Year

AiM Sports nominated the three best overtake maneuvers from the Indy Pro 2000 season for this award, with a fan vote choosing the overall winner. For his exciting pass around the outside of Rasmus Lindh in Turn 4 at the Honda Indy Toronto, Parker Thompson captured the most fan votes and the award trophy.

Parker Thompson
“When Abel Motorsports and I got together at the beginning of the year, we had our sights set on a Championship win. Anytime that you don’t take home the top prize, there is going to be a hint of disappointment. That said, I’m proud of what we accomplished this year as a new team on the Road to Indy. Here at the Championship Celebration, it is great to see our hard work get the recognition it deserves. Bill Abel, Mark Gibbs, my teammate Jacob Abel, and the whole crew at Abel Motorsports were an absolute pleasure to work with all year. I’ve proven that I have what it takes to continue on the Road to Indy, and I’m excited about what opportunities I will find to move forward.”

After 15 years as a TV reporter with Global and CBC and as news director of RDTV in Red Deer, Duane set out on his own 2008 as a visual storyteller. During this period, he became fascinated with a burgeoning online world and how it could better serve local communities. This fascination led to Todayville, launched in 2016.

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Automotive

Canadians’ Interest in Buying an EV Falls for Third Year in a Row

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From Energy Now

Electric vehicle prices fell 7.8 per cent in the last quarter of 2024 year-over-year, according to the AutoTader price index

Fewer Canadians are considering buying an electric vehicle, marking the third year in a row interest has dropped despite lower EV prices, a survey from AutoTrader shows.

Forty-two per cent of survey respondents say they’re considering an EV as their next vehicle, down from 46 per cent last year. In 2022, 68 per cent said they would consider buying an EV.

Meanwhile, 29 per cent of respondents say they would exclusively consider buying an EV — a significant drop from 40 per cent last year.

The report, which surveyed 1,801 people on the AutoTrader website, shows drivers are concerned about reduced government incentives, a lack of infrastructure and long-term costs despite falling prices.

Electric vehicle prices fell 7.8 per cent in the last quarter of 2024 year-over-year, according to the AutoTader price index.

The survey, conducted between Feb. 13 and March 12, shows 68 per cent of non-EV owners say government incentives could influence their decision, while a little over half say incentives increase their confidence in buying an EV.

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Hyundai moves SUV production to U.S.

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Quick Hit:

Hyundai is responding swiftly to 47th President Donald Trump’s newly implemented auto tariffs by shifting key vehicle production from Mexico to the U.S. The automaker, heavily reliant on the American market, has formed a specialized task force and committed billions to American manufacturing, highlighting how Trump’s America First economic policies are already impacting global business decisions.

Key Details:

  • Hyundai has created a tariffs task force and is relocating Tucson SUV production from Mexico to Alabama.

  • Despite a 25% tariff on car imports that began April 3, Hyundai reported a 2% gain in Q1 operating profit and maintained earnings guidance.

  • Hyundai and Kia derive one-third of their global sales from the U.S., where two-thirds of their vehicles are imported.

Diving Deeper:

In a direct response to President Trump’s decisive new tariffs on imported automobiles, Hyundai announced Thursday it has mobilized a specialized task force to mitigate the financial impact of the new trade policy and confirmed production shifts of one of its top-selling models to the United States. The move underscores the gravity of the new 25% import tax and the economic leverage wielded by a White House that is now unambiguously prioritizing American industry.

Starting with its popular Tucson SUV, Hyundai is transitioning some manufacturing from Mexico to its Alabama facility. Additional consideration is being given to relocating production away from Seoul for other U.S.-bound vehicles, signaling that the company is bracing for the long-term implications of Trump’s tariffs.

This move comes as the 25% import tax on vehicles went into effect April 3, with a matching tariff on auto parts scheduled to hit May 3. Hyundai, which generates a full third of its global revenue from American consumers, knows it can’t afford to delay action. Notably, U.S. retail sales for Hyundai jumped 11% last quarter, as car buyers rushed to purchase vehicles before prices inevitably climb due to the tariff.

Despite the trade policy, Hyundai reported a 2% uptick in first-quarter operating profit and reaffirmed its earnings projections, indicating confidence in its ability to adapt. Yet the company isn’t taking chances. Ahead of the tariffs, Hyundai stockpiled over three months of inventory in U.S. markets, hoping to blunt the initial shock of the increased import costs.

In a significant show of good faith and commitment to U.S. manufacturing, Hyundai last month pledged a massive $21 billion investment into its new Georgia plant. That announcement was made during a visit to the White House, just days before President Trump unveiled the auto tariff policy — a strategic alignment with a pro-growth, pro-America agenda.

Still, the challenges are substantial. The global auto industry depends on complex, multi-country supply chains, and analysts warn that tariffs will force production costs higher. Hyundai is holding the line on pricing for now, promising to keep current model prices stable through June 2. After that, however, price adjustments are on the table, potentially passing the burden to consumers.

South Korea, which remains one of the largest exporters of automobiles to the U.S., is not standing idle. A South Korean delegation is scheduled to meet with U.S. trade officials in Washington Thursday, marking the start of negotiations that could redefine the two nations’ trade dynamics.

President Trump’s actions represent a sharp pivot from the era of global corporatism that defined trade under the Obama-Biden administration. Hyundai’s swift response proves that when the U.S. government puts its market power to work, foreign companies will move mountains — or at least entire assembly lines — to stay in the game.

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