Acura Teams Push For Road America Success
• Acura Team Penske seeks second debut-season victory
• Meyer Shank Racing, Katherine Legge continue GTD title challenge
• Prototype class returns to WeatherTech SportsCar Championship at Road America
TORRANCE, Calif. (August 2, 2018) – After the GT-only round at Lime Rock Park two weeks ago, Acura teams and drivers head to scenic Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, as the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship continues the July-August stretch drive of the 2018 season.
The Road America round also includes the return of the prototype class to IMSA competition after a one-race layoff at Lime Rock, with Acura Team Penske looking to add a second victory in the inaugural season for the Acura ARX-05, following a 1-2 result at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in May. In the GTD division, Meyer Shank Racing and driver Katherine Legge continue their challenge for the championship, and remain second in the title chase after seven of 11 races.
“Since Acura Team Penske’s breakthrough 1-2 finish at Mid-Ohio in May, our ARX-05 prototypes have added more podium finishes at Detroit and Watkins Glen,” said Art St. Cyr, president of Honda Performance Development and Acura Motorsports. “In GTD, Meyer Shank Racing and Katherine Legge continue to fight for the class championship. It’s an exciting time for everyone at Acura Motorsports, and we’re looking forward to this weekend’s race at another classic circuit, Road America.”
Acura Team Penske
Acura Team Penske has seen steadily improving results in the inaugural season for the new ARX-05 prototype, after breaking through for its first victory in May at Mid-Ohio. In addition, the Acura ARX-05 has led in all seven races this season, and has recorded two poles, with Montoya qualifying fastest at Long Beach and Castroneves at Mid-Ohio.
The four drivers sharing Acura Team Penske’s two ARX-05 prototypes – Dane Cameron and Juan Pablo Montoya in the #6 Acura, and Helio Castroneves and Ricky Taylor in the #7 – account for four Rolex 24 overall victories, two WeatherTech Championship titles, five Indianapolis 500 wins and seven Formula One trophies. After six of 10 races, Acura currently stands second in the Prototype Manufacturers’ Championship, nine points out of the lead.
Meyer Shank Racing Acura NSX GT3s
In the GTD category, Meyer Shank Racing comes to Road America in the thick of the battle for the class championship. On the strength of a race win in Detroit and three other podium finishes, Katherine Legge is second in the Drivers’ Championship, 10 points out of first; with Acura second in the Manufacturers’ title chase, 16 points back in the battle among eight OEMs.
The MSR team has contended for GTD honors at every race this season. The #86 Acura of Legge and regular co-driver Alvaro Parente finished second at Daytona and Mid-Ohio; and led for extended periods at the 12 Hours of Sebring. At Detroit, Mario Farnbacher moved over from third-driver duties with the MSR #93 Acura to join Legge in the #86 for the GTD class win.
Where to watch the Continental Tire Road Race Showcase
The Continental Tire Road Race Showcase starts at 2:30 p.m. EDT Sunday, August 5, with live television coverage on Fox Sports 1 and the Fox Sports Go app.
Fans can listen to audio commentary via IMSA.com, RadioLeMans.com and Sirius XM Radio; and follow the race live via in-car cameras, IMSA Radio and timing & scoring available worldwide on IMSA.com and the IMSA mobile device App.
Video recaps from this weekend’s Acura racing activities at Road America will be posted on the “Honda Racing/HPD” YouTube channel. Produced by the Carolinas Production Group, the videos can be found at: https://www.youtube.com/HondaRacingHPDTV.