Acura Reveals Heritage Liveries for 2019 ARX-05 Prototype Racers
Acura Team Penske livery for 2019 is a throwback to the Comptech Acura prototypes that won three consecutive IMSA titles from 1991-1993.
Unveiled today, the Acura Team Penske livery for the 2019 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship will feature the distinctive white, orange and black colors utilized by Acura’s three-time consecutive championship-winning program in IMSA prototype competition from 1991-93.
The work of Acura Executive Creative Director Dave Marek – who has been responsible for the striking liveries on numerous Acura racing machines – the 2019 IMSA Acura Team Penske ARX-05 prototypes are an updated take on the iconic design first seen on the 1991-93 Camel Lights champion Comptech Racing Spice Acura NSXs.
The design also incorporates Acura Team Penske’s new partnership with ELS STUDIO 3D, the award-winning premium audio system available in the 2019 Acura RDX. The race cars will make their on-track debut at the Jan. 26-27 Rolex 24 at Daytona International Speedway with a stellar driver lineup including Dane Cameron, Juan Pablo Montoya and Simon Pagenaud in the #6 Acura Team Penske ARX-05; and Helio Castroneves, Ricky Taylor and Alexander Rossi in the #7 Acura ARX-05.
“This is a natural look for Acura prototypes, and a salute to our heritage as a performance brand,” said Marek. “The Acura brand was founded in 1986, and its debut in motorsports soon followed. Today, we’re proud to unveil a livery that accurately reflects our long, successful history in North American racing – and look forward to adding new chapters to the story of Acura Precision Crafted Performance.”
Race-prepared Acura Integras won two consecutive International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) International Sedan Manufacturers’ Championships and three consecutive IMSA International Sedan Drivers’ Championships from 1988-90.
The famous Comptech Racing Acura-Spice GTP Lights race cars, powered by a modified first-generation NSX engine, carried driver Parker Johnstone to three consecutive Drivers’ Championships and Acura to three consecutive Manufacturers’ Championships in the prestigious IMSA Camel GTP Lights series from 1991-93. The Comptech Acura also captured the prestigious 12 Hours of Sebring in 1993.
In addition to Johnstone, the Comptech Acura driver lineup included Wayne Taylor, father of current Acura Team Penske driver Ricky Taylor, and Steve Cameron, uncle to ATP driver Dane Cameron.
Acura has a strong presence in the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship with Acura Team Penske’s pair of ARX-05 prototypes, and a brace of Acura NSX GT3 Evo’s run by Meyer Shank Racing in the GT Daytona (GTD) class.
The 2019 WeatherTech SportsCar Championship opens January 26-27 with the twice-around-the-clock Rolex 24 endurance contest at Daytona International Speedway.