For all B15 Spec-V owners.....
09-01-2003, 05:43 PM
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For all B15 Spec-V owners.....
press release from RTR (Driving Spec-V's now)
Nissan 'Straight-Lines' Road America
Cunningham Wins From Pole, Leads Every Lap
Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin
August 23, 2003
Peter Cunningham's #1 badge on TeamRTR's Nissan Sentra SE-R Spec V was justified at Elkhart Lake's Road America today, as the defending Touring Car series champion gave Nissan its first World Challenge series race pole and first win.
The dominant performance by the "home team," based in nearby Saukville, vaulted Cunningham from ninth to sixth in the championship points. It also earned nine Manufacturer's points for Nissan, moving them past Audi for fifth.
Cunningham's Sentra SE-R beat the Lexus IS300 of Tim Pappas to the checkered flag by 1.053 seconds. He averaged a track race record 85.054mph, only hours after setting a new track qualifying record of 95.411mph.
The win was the 75th of Cunningham's professional career, and his 27th in the World Challenge series.
"This is a very emotional day for all of TeamRTR, RealTime Racing, and for me," said Cunningham. "A motorcycle accident a month ago cost the team our long-time friend and RealTime crew chief, Jerome Zimmermann. There's no better place than our home track to win our first race with Nissan and to send a sign to Jerry that no matter how much we miss his ability and friendship, we're capable of winning races. He's still inspiring us, and I know he was cheering us on today."
The win was also a thrill for 18-year old Nick Pulos of nearby Sheboygan, who was TeamRTR's special crewman for the weekend, the result of a joint promotion between the team and The Make-A-Wish Foundation® of Wisconsin.
"Nick had a great time with us, and we enjoyed his company," Cunningham said. "He gave the 'start your engines' command, was interviewed many times, and listened to our progress during the race on one of the team's radios. From start to finish, this has just been a weekend to remember, and we thank Nissan for providing the race car that made it possible."
Eric Curran, driving TeamRTR's #2 Nissan Sentra in his third World Challenge race, qualified 10th fastest, only 0.668mmph slower than Cunningham. Curran dropped to 12th on the second lap, and despite his second collision in two races with the same driver, who is on probation from SCCA Pro Racing from the last accident, climbed back through the field to finish eighth -- his best finish for the team.
"Because of Road America's proximity to our shop, we've been able to test here twice recently," said crew chief Andrew Armistead. "We developed some aspects of the Sentra to improve it overall, and learned a good 'package' for Road America itself. Any time you're in a series where 26 of the 36 starters can beat the old qualifying record, being happy with your performance at the last race will make you no better than you were then. This series isn't about 'treading water.'"
The only view competitors got of PD’s #1 Nissan.
Road America's Touring Car race will be televised on the SPEED Channel, Saturday, Sept. 6 at 1 pm EST.
Round eight of the SPEED Touring Car Championship will be Sept. 5-6 at Laguna Seca Raceway near Monterey, Calif.
The TeamRTR Nissan Sentra SE-R effort is sponsored by Nissan North America, Inc., NISMO, Red Line Oil, Eibach Springs, BOSCH, Sparco, Gemini Technologies, and Brembo.
Nissan 'Straight-Lines' Road America
Cunningham Wins From Pole, Leads Every Lap
Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin
August 23, 2003
Peter Cunningham's #1 badge on TeamRTR's Nissan Sentra SE-R Spec V was justified at Elkhart Lake's Road America today, as the defending Touring Car series champion gave Nissan its first World Challenge series race pole and first win.
The dominant performance by the "home team," based in nearby Saukville, vaulted Cunningham from ninth to sixth in the championship points. It also earned nine Manufacturer's points for Nissan, moving them past Audi for fifth.
Cunningham's Sentra SE-R beat the Lexus IS300 of Tim Pappas to the checkered flag by 1.053 seconds. He averaged a track race record 85.054mph, only hours after setting a new track qualifying record of 95.411mph.
The win was the 75th of Cunningham's professional career, and his 27th in the World Challenge series.
"This is a very emotional day for all of TeamRTR, RealTime Racing, and for me," said Cunningham. "A motorcycle accident a month ago cost the team our long-time friend and RealTime crew chief, Jerome Zimmermann. There's no better place than our home track to win our first race with Nissan and to send a sign to Jerry that no matter how much we miss his ability and friendship, we're capable of winning races. He's still inspiring us, and I know he was cheering us on today."
The win was also a thrill for 18-year old Nick Pulos of nearby Sheboygan, who was TeamRTR's special crewman for the weekend, the result of a joint promotion between the team and The Make-A-Wish Foundation® of Wisconsin.
"Nick had a great time with us, and we enjoyed his company," Cunningham said. "He gave the 'start your engines' command, was interviewed many times, and listened to our progress during the race on one of the team's radios. From start to finish, this has just been a weekend to remember, and we thank Nissan for providing the race car that made it possible."
Eric Curran, driving TeamRTR's #2 Nissan Sentra in his third World Challenge race, qualified 10th fastest, only 0.668mmph slower than Cunningham. Curran dropped to 12th on the second lap, and despite his second collision in two races with the same driver, who is on probation from SCCA Pro Racing from the last accident, climbed back through the field to finish eighth -- his best finish for the team.
"Because of Road America's proximity to our shop, we've been able to test here twice recently," said crew chief Andrew Armistead. "We developed some aspects of the Sentra to improve it overall, and learned a good 'package' for Road America itself. Any time you're in a series where 26 of the 36 starters can beat the old qualifying record, being happy with your performance at the last race will make you no better than you were then. This series isn't about 'treading water.'"
The only view competitors got of PD’s #1 Nissan.
Road America's Touring Car race will be televised on the SPEED Channel, Saturday, Sept. 6 at 1 pm EST.
Round eight of the SPEED Touring Car Championship will be Sept. 5-6 at Laguna Seca Raceway near Monterey, Calif.
The TeamRTR Nissan Sentra SE-R effort is sponsored by Nissan North America, Inc., NISMO, Red Line Oil, Eibach Springs, BOSCH, Sparco, Gemini Technologies, and Brembo.
