Cunningham, Esayian Eye More Wins, More Championships

SAUKVILLE, Wis. (March 7, 2013) – RealTime Racing is geared up for a tough fight to defend its Pirelli World Challenge GTS titles in 2013. After sweeping highest honors for Manufacturers’, Drivers’ and Team last year, Peter Cunningham and Nick Esayian will return to pilot their HPD-supported Acura TSX machines in search of RealTime’s 15th Drivers’ Championship and an 11th Manufacturers’ Championship for Acura.

The new World Challenge season will take RTR to nine different venues—five street circuits and four permanent tracks—for a total of 14 races. This includes two Texas facilities that are new to the series: Circuit of the Americas in Austin, and the Grand Prix of Houston street course. The schedule is also highlighted by a return to Lime Rock Park for the first time since 2008, a track RealTime has been particularly successful at, amassing eight wins at the historic Connecticut road course. After a two-year hiatus, the Grand Prix of Toronto is making a comeback as well, a tricky street circuit where RTR is undefeated.

Throughout the 2013 season, the team will be up against robust GTS competition. The Acura TSXs will go head-to-head with the V8-powered Chevrolet Camaros, BMW M3s and Ford Mustangs, the mid-engined Porsche Caymans, the turbocharged Kia Optimas, and the brand new, supercharged Scion FR-S, just to name a few.

“Since the GTS category was created, the level of competition has grown exponentially every year,” defending GTS Drivers’ Champion Cunningham said. “The diversity is unlike anything you’ll find in sports car racing right now, which is great to be a part of, but certainly presents a challenge for us. The entire RealTime team will just have to work hard, be prepared, execute well, and hopefully we’ll add some more trophies to the case.”

The 2013 season marks RealTime’s 21st year with World Challenge, during which the team has recorded 85 race victories on 27 tracks with 11 different drivers. Esayian is looking forward to his eighth season with the team.

“I’ve always enjoyed racing with RealTime and I know I can count on them to give me one of the best prepared cars in the paddock,” Esayian said. “The GTS field is stacked, so it’s going to be a tough go, but I know if we can stay out of trouble, we’ll be running at the front.”

The 2013 Pirelli World Challenge season begins with a doubleheader at the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on March 22-24. In the seven PWC races held previously at this temporary street circuit, the RealTime team has dominated the podium, scoring two wins and 10 other top-three finishes.

All races will be streamed live on http://www.world-challengetv.com. TV broadcasts will air at a later date on NBC Sports Network. For a full schedule of TV times, visit http://www.world-challenge.com.

For all the latest updates from inside the RealTime Acura team, follow them on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/RealTimeRacing

Sponsors

RealTime Racing’s 2013 season is brought to you by Acura, HPD, BuyBrakes.com, Red Line Oil, Eibach, Sparco, BOSCH, Brembo, Earthwalk Flooring, and Total Auto Body.

Last edited by JeffX on March 07, 2013 16:38