WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. (July 7, 2010) – The Acura TSXs of RealTime Racing dominated the GTS class at last weekend’s SCCA World Challenge Grand Prix of Watkins Glen, finishing 1-2 with Peter Cunningham leading teammate Nick Esayian at the historic 3.77-mile road course in upstate New York.Starting from the GTS pole, Cunningham scored his record-extending 35th SCCA World Challenge class win, but his first World Challenge victory at Watkins Glen.
“My first professional race win was here in June of 1982 in the 24-hour race, but it’s nice to get my first World Challenge win here,” Cunningham said. “It’s such a fun track, one of the most challenging in North America, and we love it. I had my way today. The Acura ran great, and I’m glad to have such a strong finish.”
Cunningham now has a 90-point lead in the GTS Drivers’ Championship over fellow RealTime driver Esayian, who posted his fourth podium and second runner-up finish of the season. Acura also holds a commanding lead over Porsche in the GTS Manufacturers’ Championship.
In the Touring Class, native Russian driver Alexander Lvov’s battle for second in class with Dan Gardner’s Scion SC was a highlight of the race, as the pair traded positions repeatedly, culminating in a fender-banging final lap that sent Lvov briefly off course before he finished third. It was the first podium finish of 2010 for Lvov and his GMS Honda Civic Si.
Also in TC, series rookie Brett Sandberg finished fourth, equaling his best previous finish this year, driving an Acura TSX for the Whitehall Stable team.
Next up for SCCA World Challenge competitors will be the July 16 Honda Indy Toronto.
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