Acura Plans To Move Up To GT Category In Pirelli World Challenge Championship

Acura Motorsports today pulled the wraps off the new 2015 Acura TLX GT Race Car at the North American International Auto Show, announcing plans to move up to the GT category of the growing and highly competitive Pirelli World Challenge Championship.

To be campaigned by long time Acura Motorsports partner RealTime Racing, the new TLX GT will move Acura into the top category of the Pirelli World Challenge, facing competition that includes the Audi R8 LMS, Cadillac CTS-V, Chevrolet Corvette, Dodge Viper, Lamborghini Gallardo, Mercedes SLS, Nissan GTR, Porsche 911 and Ferrari 458.

Developed from the production 2015 Acura TLX by HPD, the racing arm of American Honda Motor Co., Inc., the Acura TLX GT Race Car will feature HPD chassis and aerodynamic performance parts approved for Pirelli World Challenge competition, and will be powered by a direct-injected, twin-turbocharged V6 engine, developed by HPD from the normally aspirated, production TLX luxury sport sedan. It will utilize all-wheel drive, as found in Acura's Super-Handling All Wheel Drive™ (SH-AWD™).

HPD was founded in 1993 as the performance arm of American Honda, to spearhead the company's entry into Indy car racing. No other manufacturer has matched Honda's success in Indy cars, which includes 204 race victories, 15 drivers' championships, six manufacturers' championships and nine consecutive Indianapolis 500 victories. In 2013, Honda powered veteran Scott Dixon to four race wins and the 2013 IZOD IndyCar Series championship; and Tristan Vautier to series Rookie of the Year honors.

HPD's prototype racing efforts have resulted in more than 60 victories and multiple American Le Mans Series championships. The company's sports car racing debut in 2007 at the 12 Hours of Sebring marked the first win for HPD's LM-V8 engine; and the first for a Honda racing engine designed and developed outside of Japan. HPD won the LMP2 title in the inaugural 2012 World Endurance Championship and has twice won the LMP2 category at the 24 Hours of Le Mans since 2010. In 2013, HPD and Honda again swept the LMP1 and LMP2 manufacturers', engine, team and drivers' championships in the American Le Mans Series; while HPD-equipped Strakka Racing claimed the LMP1 class win at the 24 Hours of Le Mans for private team entries.

HPD participates in competition on both two wheels and four. The company offers a complete line of race engines for cars from grass roots to pinnacle; for professional, amateur and entry-level racers.

The Acura TLX GT Race Car will be campaigned by Wisconsin-based RealTime Racing, the most successful team in Pirelli World Challenge history. Established in 1987 by owner/driver Peter Cunningham, RTR has raced and won with both Honda and Acura products. Since entering the Sports Car Club of America Pro Racing-sanctioned World Challenge series in 1993, the team has scored a record 85 race victories on its way to 14 Manufacturers' Championships and 14 Drivers' Championships.

Don't forget to check out the Acura TLX Debut.

CompTech Closing!

With more than 20 years of involvement in motor sports and the automotive industry, Comptech USA is closing its doors. These specialist are dedicated to developing the fastest, safest, best handling, street legal Hondas and Acuras possible. "At Comptech USA, [they] recognize that properly tuning a vehicle to improve its performance involves more than grabbing a part off the shelf and making it 'fit' your car." Honda/Acura owners had the opportunity to enhance the performance of their cars using the same technology Comptech developed exclusively for International Motor Sports Associations (IMSA), Sports Car Club of America (SCCA), and Indy car racing. Comptech is well known for its superchargers, exhaust, and air intakes. Their superchargers usually adds approximately 50 Horsepower and 30 lb/ft. of Torque at the wheels. The word on the internet (confirmed by vendors) for their closing is due to low number of sells and not enough management.



Comptech race cars.



Comptech supercharged V6 Honda Accord.


Comptech supercharged 2003 Acura CL.



Comptech supercharged 2004 Acura TL.



Comptech supercharger kit for Acura TSX.



2004 Acura TSX with Comptech supercharger installed.


Old Comptech Realtime racing cars.

This is sad news to many Honda/Acura enthusiasts. Instead of buying a new car, I wanted to supercharge my Acura TSX in the future (5+ years from now). However, I think what will happen in the future is that Comptech tuning parts will be harder to find and the prices will be outrageous. So if you have a Comptech part you're planning to pick up, go to your nearest Comptech vendor now!

[Source] Acurazine.com

WOW! ~$10k for NSX supercharger kit.

[UPDATE] CompTech no longer closing!

Realtime racing video...

Here's a short clip of Realtime racing, an Acura only racing team, leading the way in the Denver Gran Prix.

RealTime Racing...

"Acura now holds the distinction of being the winningest manufacturer in the 17-year history of the SCCA Pro Racing World Challenge series, breaking the tie with Honda which owns five. Acura takes an insurmountable 11-point lead over Mazda into the season's final race at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, California on October 22nd."

Your eye's aren't mistaken, that's an Audi and a BMW behind those Acura's. RealTime Racing is currently 10 time World Challenge Champions. "RealTime Racing has been successfully fielding Hondas and Acuras in a variety of motorsports venues since 1987."

[RealTime Source]

SPEED World Challenge Point Standings:
1st - Acura - 75 points
2nd - Mazda - 61 points
3rd - Audi - 40 points
4th - BMW - 11 points

[Standing Source]