Acura Teams Push For California 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 Laguna Seca
TORRANCE, Calif. (September 5, 2018) – After the GT-only round at Virginia International Raceway three weeks ago, Acura teams and drivers head to scenic Monterey, California for the next-to-last round of the 2018 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.
The WeatherTech Raceway at Laguna Seca event includes the return of the prototype class to IMSA competition after a one-race layoff at VIR. Acura Team Penske will be looking to add a second victory in the inaugural season for the Acura ARX-05, building upon 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 chase for the championship, and remain second in the title chase after nine 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 are fighting intensely 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 IMSA road course.”
Meyer Shank Racing Acura NSX GT3s
The MSR team has contended for GTD honors at nearly every race this season. The #86 Acura of Legge and regular co-driver Parente finished second at Daytona, Mid-Ohio and Watkins Glen; and led for extended periods at the 12 Hours of Sebring.
Partnered with Mario Farnbacher, Legge won at Detroit and was third at VIR in a race highlighted by a three-way battle for the class win in the closing laps. Parente returns to co-drive with Legge this weekend at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.
With two GT races remaining, Acura and Legge remain second in both the GTD Manufacturers’ and Drivers’ championships. Legge trails points leaders Bryan Sellers and Madison Snow by 13 points (275-262), while Acura remains second in the Manufacturers’ Championship with 263 points to 282 for Lamborghini.
The #93 NSX GT3 of Lawson Aschenbach and Justin Marks finished second in Detroit, completing the first 1-2 sweep for MSR in the team’s IMSA racing history, and was leading at Watkins Glen before being taken out of the race as a result of contact from a Prototype. Aschenbach and Marks also led several times during the 12 Hours of Sebring, and contended for a podium at Mid-Ohio, finishing fourth.
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 Juan Pablo Montoya qualifying fastest at Long Beach and Helio Castroneves at Mid-Ohio.
The four drivers sharing Acura Team Penske’s two ARX-05 prototypes – Dane Cameron and Montoya in the #6 Acura, and Ricky Taylor and Castroneves in the #7 – account for four Rolex 24 overall victories, two WeatherTech Championship titles, five Indianapolis 500 wins and seven Formula One trophies. After eight of 10 races, Acura currently stands second in the Prototype Manufacturers’ Championship, 15 points out of the lead.
Where to watch the Continental Tire Monterey Grand Prx
The Continental Tire Monterey Grand Prix, Featuring America’s Tire 250 at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, starts at 5 p.m. EDT Sunday, September 9, with live television coverage on Fox Sports 1.
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.
Social media content and video links from this weekend’s Acura IMSA prototype and GTD racing action at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca are available on HPD’s Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/HondaRacingHPD) and on Twitter at (https://twitter.com/HondaRacing_HPD).
Produced by the Carolinas Production Group, YouTube video packages can be found at: https://www.youtube.com/HondaRacingHPDTV.