Sad Day: Peter Cunningham to drive Nissan

[1BADNSX]

Nissan announced today that three-time SCCA Speed World Challenge Champion Peter Cunningham and TeamRTR will campaign a new Nissan Sentra SE-R Spec V in the 2003 Speed Touring Car Championship. Ron Stukenberg, Nissan Motorsports Marketing and Operations’ Senior Manager, made the announcement today during a press conference at the 2003 Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) International Auto Salon (IAS).

http://www.world-challenge.com/news/03press62.html

 

[cojones]

more RTR news

see this thread -- http://www.nsxprime.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=15967

Pix of PD's #1 car (Sentra SE-R) included

Major Bob -- good to hear from you!!

 

[8000RPM]

Sad for Honda/Acura but I am happy for PD.

If I am not mistaken, PD raced as a privateer (and excelled), so this factory-backed effort by Nissan should do wonders for RTR and propel PD to even greater heights.

I wish him and RTR the best of luck.

 

[Tom Larkins]

Would love to hear what he thinks about the future of the NSX and Honda/Acura in general in motor sports. I assume its not favorable?

 

[4AU4LIFE]

They are lucky to get him.

 

[docjohn]

I'm surprised that PD didn't get a nismo 350 to compete in the gt class.Anyway PD is a winner and RTR deserves the best chance to achieve that.It is depressing that AH (america honda racing) didnt see fit to give them what they found in nissan.I think acura had it too good resting on RTR's laurals for little $,thats too much to ask year after year.We'll still come out to support PD and rtr at Lime rock,we might have to share them with the Z crowd though.

 

[nsx1164]

Nissan in GT

I'm surprised that PD didn't get a nismo 350

The 350Z racecar that was discussed awhile back is IIRC targetted more at ALMS GT class racing, which is a notch above the current SWC-GT performance spec. But a detuned version could certainly be an option.

The question I have is -- how does the Nissan factory support in SWC-TC impact PD/RTR plans in SWC-GT. When they return next year, will PD still be campaigning his (privateer) NSX, or will his (hopeful) success in SWC-TC allow him to score a factory Nismo ride in SWC-GT next year (logically either a 350Z or Skyline GTR variant)??

Speaking of the SWC-TC Nismo Sentra SE-R, I heard that as of this past weekend, it still did not have an engine.

 

[cojones]

RealTime Racing and TeamRTR

Was reading news updates on the Speed TV World Challenge site ( http://www.world-challenge.com/news/ ) and noticed that the team was issuing separate press releases for RealTime Racing (the Acura RSX-S / ITR, with Pierre driving #42), and TeamRTR (the NISMO Sentra SE-R with PD driving it).

I understand how they want to keep things separate/arms-length given their competing constructor sponsors. Are these two entities still "one team" under the covers ?? Shared shop, trailers, management, etc ??

Anyone know?