- HRC-developed Acura Integra Type S DE5 entered in 2024 The Broadmoor Pikes Peak International Hill Climb
- INDYCAR, IMSA veteran Katherine Legge to make her debut on the mountain
- Will join Honda of America Racing Team Acura Integra A-Spec to be driven by Pikes Peak veteran Paul Hubers
Acura and Honda Racing Corporation USA (HRC US) today announced it will enter a new Acura Integra Type S DE5 in this year's The Broadmoor Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, brought to you by Gran Turismo. The Acura will be entered in the Time Attack 1 category, driven by INDYCAR and IMSA veteran Katherine Legge.
HRC's newest race car, the DE5 was developed by Acura's North American racing arm from the production Acura Integra Type S premium sports compact, and is the latest in a line of highly successful HRC-developed touring cars, including the versions of the 10th generation Honda Civic Si and Type-R; and the 11th generation Civic Si FE1.
Eligible for competition in multiple racing series, the Integra Type S DE5 made its competition debut earlier this year with podium finishes in the opening rounds of the SRO Touring Car America series at Sonoma Raceway and Sebring International Raceway.
"Motorsports is a critical component of Acura's commitment to Precision Crafted Performance, and its Pikes Peak efforts are a pure expression of this ethos," said John Whiteman, HRC commercial Manager. "All of our Acura race team entries are prepared and crewed by our engineers to further sharpen their performance-focused skills. This is the performance brand's 14th consecutive year competing at Pikes Peak, with the Acura team amassing an impressive 12 first place in-division finishes, 27 podiums and multiple records."
Legge, who will be attempting to qualify for her fourth Indianapolis 500 this weekend, will be adding Pikes Peak to an impressive list of "firsts" for the 43-year-old British native, who now makes her home in the Atlanta area.
Recently inducted as the first female member of the Grand Prix of Long Beach Walk of Fame, Legge is a multi-race winner in IMSA competition, holds the record for the fastest qualifying effort for a woman in Indianapolis 500 history, set in 2023; was the first woman to lead overall in both Champ Car (2006) and American Le Mans Series (2013) competition; and was the first woman to win a major open-wheel race in North America in 2005.
"This is a race that I've wanted to compete in since I first heard of it, which is for as long as I can remember," Legge said. "The legacy of this event is enormous, and so many famous drivers have tackled the mountain: the Unsers, the Dallenbachs – including my friend Paul – Parnelli Jones, Mario Andretti, Rick Mears and Michèle Mouton. I can't wait to get there! It's magical and something I'm not taking lightly!"
Like the 11th generation Civic Si FE1 race car, the Integra Type S DE5 is designed, developed, and assembled inside Honda's state-of-the-art North American facilities employing groundbreaking technologies in weld, body construction, painting, final assembly and quality confirmation to ensure the highest levels of precision and craftsmanship.
The Acura Integra Type S DE5 will be powered by a modified version of the factory 2.0-liter turbocharged four cylinder K20C8 engine. The racing version of the engine, co-developed by HRC US and HRC Japan produces in excess of 360hp. That power is then directed to the wheels via a 6-speed sequential, paddle-shift transmission to HRC US developed suspension and brakes. The body shell is purpose built from a body-in-white which deletes all unneeded street vehicle components – such as soundproofing, underbody coating and seam sealers – and is fitted with a safety roll cage; then completed with aerodynamic components and cooling upgrades.
In addition to the Integra driven by Legge, the Honda-associate run Honda of America Racing Team (HART) will be returning to Pikes Peak with an Acura Integra A-Spec driven by Paul Hubers from Honda's Auto Development Center (ADC) in Ohio. The HART Integra has received key modifications to the powerplant and chassis to enhance its performance in this year's 102nd running of the "Race to the Clouds."
The Pikes Peak International Hill Climb is one of America's longest running motorsports competitions. Since 1916, drivers from all over the world, in a wide variety of vehicles and from multiple motorsports disciplines, race against the clock as they take on the 156-turn, 12.42-mile mountain course, starting at 9,390 feet and climbing to the 14,115-foot summit.
About Acura Motorsports
Acura's North American motorsports programs have been integral to the brand since the launch of the brand in 1986. The rich legacy of Acura sports car racing includes the 1991, 1992, and 1993 IMSA Camel Lights manufacturer/driver championships, and the 2009 American Le Mans manufacturer, driver, and team championships in both the LMP1 and LMP2 classes. With the ARX-05 prototype, Acura swept the 2019, 2020 and 2022 IMSA manufacturer, driver and teams championships; plus the Michelin Endurance Cup titles in 2021 and 2022. In 2023, Acura made its successful racing debut for the electrified ARX-06 prototype sports car in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and claimed Acura's third consecutive Rolex 24
Hours at Daytona victory at the Daytona International Speedway. The Acura NSX GT3 Evo22, has won multiple championships, including IMSA GT championships in 2019 and 2020 and SRO World Challenge series titles in 2019, 2020 and 2022.
https://hondaracing-us.honda.com
About Honda Racing Corporation USA
(formerly Honda Performance Development)
Honda Racing Corporation USA (HRC US), has a rich heritage creating, manufacturing, and supporting Honda Racing and Acura Motorsports customers since its founding in 1993 as Honda Performance Development. From pinnacle racing in INDYCAR and IMSA Sports Cars to commercial racing programs, HRC US powers the dreams of professional and amateur racers from age 4 to 40+. HRC US is a wholly owned subsidiary of American Honda Motor Co., Inc. and leads all of Honda and Acura's high-performance racing programs in North America.
HRC US specializes in the design and development of powertrain, chassis, electronics, and performance parts, as well as technical and race support. The company also offers parts and race support to Honda and Acura amateur and professional motorsports racers; and is continually expanding its palette of racing programs that make Honda racing products available to all racing styles, from karting and Quarter Midgets to the highest levels of professional racing. The HRC US title replaced Honda Performance Development on January 1, 2024, to reflect the new role of the company in Honda's global racing efforts.
https://hondaracing-us.honda.com
About the Honda of America Racing Team (HART)
Founded more than 30 years ago, the Honda of America Racing Team (HART) is among the longest-running associate-driven activities in Honda's rich history and includes the majority of associate-led racing teams in North America. HART competes in a wide variety of motorsport competitions ranging from road racing, club-level events, rally or off-road racing, or even karting. HART provides invaluable experience to associates through motorsport, while transferring vehicle performance learnings into the development and manufacturing of next-generation Honda and Acura products.
