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Acura Motorsports to Enter LMP1 Class in 2009 ALMS Season

De Ferran, Patrón Highcroft Teams To Field ARX-02a Cars In Premier Series Class, Lowe’s Fernandez Team To Continue Racing Acura In LMP2 Division In 2009 Text Only 2009ProgramAnmt.pdf 08/29/2008 - DETROIT -

Acura Motorsports will enter the LMP1 class in the 2009 American Le Mans Series, company officials announced today.

Acura’s entry into the most powerful and technically advanced division in ALMS will feature two Acura ARX-02a prototype sports cars developed by Honda Performance Development (HPD).

De Ferran Motorsports and Patrón Highcroft Racing will campaign the new Acura LMP1 cars, which are being designed in concert with Wirth Research in England.

(Read the full post about ‘Acura Motorsports to Enter LMP1 Class in 2009 ALMS Season’…)

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2009 Honda S2000 Defines Racing-Inspired Performance

Text Only 2009_S2000_Rls.doc 08/27/2008 - Torrance, Calif. -

Widely considered the quintessential roadster-style sports car, the S2000 is the performance icon for the Honda brand and combines uncompromising racetrack-ready performance with everyday usability. As a true sports car that can serve as a practical and fun daily driver and also feel equally at home on a racetrack, this concept is further evolved with a club racer-inspired S2000 CR trim, first offered in the 2008 model year.

The S2000 rewards driving enthusiasts with a potent 237 horsepower, 2.2-liter, 16-valve DOHC VTEC® 4-cylinder engine and a precise, short throw 6-speed manual transmission, along with tenacious handling and a perfect 50/50 weight balance.

(Read the full post about ‘2009 Honda S2000 Defines Racing-Inspired Performance’…)

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2009 Honda S2000 Pricing and EPA Data

Text Only 2009_S2000_Pricing.doc 08/27/2008 - Torrance, Calif. - Model Transmission MSRP* EPA** City/Hwy/Combined S2000 6-Speed Manual $34,795 18/25/21 S2000 CR
(air conditioning and audio system deleted) 6-Speed Manual $36,795 18/25/21 S2000 CR
(air conditioning and audio system included) 6-Speed Manual $37,795 18/25/21 *MSRP excluding tax, license, registration, $670.00 destination charge and options. Dealer prices may vary. **Based on 2009 EPA mileage estimates, reflecting new EPA fuel economy methods beginning with 2008 models. (Read the full post about ‘2009 Honda S2000 Pricing and EPA Data’…)

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Acura Motorsports Media Conference Set For Friday in Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix Media Center at 1:15 P.M.

Text Only BelleIsleMA2008.pdf 08/27/2008 - DETROIT -

Acura Motorsports will hold a media conference on Friday, Aug. 29, at 1:15 p.m. in the Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix media center for a major announcement regarding the manufacturer’s participation in the American Le Mans Series.

Erik Berkman, president of Honda Performance Development (HPD), the racing subsidiary of American Honda Motor Co., Inc., will be the guest speaker for the Acura media conference.

(Read the full post about ‘Acura Motorsports Media Conference Set For Friday in Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix Media Center at 1:15 P.M.’…)

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Acura Motorsports Scores Long Beach, Lime Rock Wins

Patron Highcroft Racing Takes First Overall Victory Text Only RacingEdge_Summer08.pdf

There were new goals established for the Acura Motorsports program in the 2008 American Le Mans Series.

After the inaugural campaign for the Acura ARX-01a prototype sports car produced one class victory and two overall pole positions, the Acura teams and HPD (Honda Performance Development) personnel established new parameters for the 11-event North American endurance racing tour.

Competing in the highly-technical, very competitive LMP2 class against the likes of Porsche and Mazda, as well as against the powerful LMP1 Audi cars, the Acura contingent implemented new designs from the HPD staff and its chassis partner, Wirth Research in England, in an effort to better its 2007 results.

Among the new goals for 2008 were a season point championship, and more victories and pole positions.

(Read the full post about ‘Acura Motorsports Scores Long Beach, Lime Rock Wins’…)

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Erik Berkman Pleased with Acura Progress, Expects More Success in 2008

Text Only RacingEdge_Summer08.pdf

Erik Berkman had a steep learning curve when he took the reins this year at Honda Performance Development. Berkman replaced longtime HPD president Robert Clarke in January, 2008.

Berkman came to HPD after a stellar engineering career at Honda of America Manufacturing and Honda R&D. But many people aren’t aware that Berkman has worked with racing previously.

In fact, he actually had the opportunity to drive the Williams Honda Formula One car back in 1985 at the Marysville, Ohio HAM plant.

“We wanted to bring a Honda Formula One car to the plant, as well as Nelson Piquet, the Williams driver,” said Berkman, a Purdue University graduate.

(Read the full post about ‘Erik Berkman Pleased with Acura Progress, Expects More Success in 2008′…)

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David Brabham Makes History with Acrua and ALMS in 2008

Text Only RacingEdge_Summer08.pdf

It is a tough chore for any second-generation driver to match the marks set by a parent.

For David Brabham, it has been a more difficult chore since his father [Jack] was a Formula One world driving champion and his older brother [Geoff] was a sports-car champion and Indy Car star.

(Read the full post about ‘David Brabham Makes History with Acrua and ALMS in 2008′…)

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2008 IRL Sonoma

22-24 August, 2008, Sonoma, California USA. Championship contenders Dan Wheldon, Helio Castroneves, Scott Dixon, and Tony Kanaan (l to r), with the “Magic Rings” Firestones that will be on the cars of the drivers still competing for the IRL Championship. ©2008, Paul Webb, USA. LAT Photographic. download - 2.7 MB

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2008 ALMS Mosport

23-24 August, 2008, Bowmanville, Ontario, Canada. Highcroft Racing Acura ARX-01b driven by David Brabham and Scott Sharp. © 2008 Phillip Abbott, USA. LAT Photographic. download - 1.3 MB

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Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma County Racing Report

Text Only Infineon_Report.doc 08/24/2008 - Sonoma, CA -

Circuit: Infineon Raceway (2.30-mile road course) Sonoma, CA
2007 Winner: Scott Dixon (Target Chip Ganassi Racing Honda) 98.593 mph average
Weather: Sunny, warm, 84 degrees F

Race Results:

Fn. St. Driver Team Chassis Laps Average Speed/Notes 1. 1. Helio Castroneves Team Penske Honda Dallara 80 100.254 mph average, led 51 laps 2. (Read the full post about ‘Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma County Racing Report’…)