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In the late 80’s Realtime Racing campaigned Honda and
Acura race cars first in ice racing championships where they
were able to net three championships. From there they moved
onto SCCA pro rally where they won the production class title
in their first full year program. The lack of exposure which
ultimately led to the lack of sponsorship eventually lead
Realtime to road racing in the SCCA World Challenge series.
After a decade of competing in World Challenge, Realtime
Racing has become a fixture in the series. The |
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day-glow orange and white Acura racecars are frequently
seen running at the front of the pack up against fierce
competition from BMW, Mazda, Lexus, and Audi.
In touring, Realtime is largely responsible for helping
establish the winningest package in series history with
the Integra Type R. The champion for touring ever since
its first year of competing in 1997 has piloted an ITR.
It was not until the 2003 season where the streak was broken.
Realtime pilots claimed the touring car championship in
95’, 96’. 97’, 98’, 00’, 01’,
and 02’.
By 2001, the Integras were seen as an aging package. New
BMW models were up and coming and posing a big threat. The
Mazda Proteges were also showing some speed, but Realtime
silenced the critics, proving the car was still capable
of winning with Kleinubing taking the championship once
again in 2001, making it two in a row for him. Then in 2002,
PD Cunningham gave the car another championship and Acura
another
manufacturers title.
Realtime Racing has also made a footprint in the GT class
with the mid-engine Acura NSX. In 1997, Peter Cunningham
was able to take the championship. However, in 98’
after a bit of bad luck, PD was unable to repeat as champion
and Acura pulled back support of the NSX program. |
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In 2001, Cunningham resurrected
his NSX, however this time around it was Vortech Supercharged.
With numerous competition adjustments, the NSX was only
able to come in second for the championship in both 2001
and 2002 behind the factory Audi S4s. If not for the DNF
at Lime Rock Park in 2001, the NSX would of surely been
champion once again. After 2002 season, the NSX program
once again came to an end.
The 2003 season marked the first full season for the new
Acura RSX in touring. The question about the car being a worthy |
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| successor to the Integra Type R were put to rest
when Pierre Kleinubing was able to notch up the cars first
win during the second race of the season at Mosport. Before
the year was done the RSX had four wins to its name, three
coming from Kleinubing and Realtime, and one from the King
Motorsports Mugen powered RSX.
With one year of development woes and teething problems
behind them, the RSX is posed to take a real run for the
championship in the coming season. With the engine program
once again taking shape after the loss of crew chief Jerome
Zimmerman and acclamation to the new suspension system the
car is solid. Pierre Kleinubing and the entire Realtime
crew will be there once again fight to reclaim the championship
and bring it home once again. |
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