Peter Cunningham and teammate Ryan Eversely in their RealTime Racing Acuras. [ Photo credit: Acura Motorsports/Exclusive Sports Car Photography]
WISCONSIN RACER AND TEAM OWNER HAS SIGHTS SET ON VICTORY AT ROAD AMERICA DURING THE PIRELLI WORLD CHALLENGE WEEKEND
ELKHART LAKE, Wis., June 22, 2015 – Peter Cunningham has driven some of the world’s top tracks, but doesn’t need to trek far to compete at his favorite circuit.
Cunningham’s RealTime Racing shop – based in Saukville, Wis. – is 35 miles from Road America. The veteran driver, who collected a June Sprints win in 1984, said he’s always embraced challenges associated with the venue nestled in the Kettle Moraine.
“It’s an old-school, European-style undulating ribbon of asphalt that has a number of different corners that are similar to one another, but very different from each other, and a very diverse type of differing speeds,” he said.
Cunningham and RealTime teammate Ryan Eversely will attempt to make an impact in the GT class for a three-day round of races June 26-28 during the Pirelli World Challenge at Road America. Track officials will host an extra round of racing since rain canceled the final day of competition last month at the Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix.
Cunningham, 52, has posted four professional race wins, three pole positions and two amateur victories at Road America. He has operated his RealTime team out of a 16,000-square foot shop in Saukville for 16 years, and the organization – including a two-car program and logistics business – currently has 15 employees.
Cunningham and Eversley are anxious to return to racing, especially considering the teammates rattled off the fastest lap times in their all-wheel drive Acura TLX-GTs during a wet morning warm-up at Belle Isle on May 17 before the race was postponed.
Eversley, 31, who posted a ninth-place effort the first day at Belle Isle, is currently fifth in the GT class points standings. Eversley, an Atlanta resident in his first season running with RealTime, claimed Acura TLX-GT’s first-ever race win at St. Petersburg in March.
Fans will get an eyeful and earful of what is on the entry list for the Pirelli World Challenge this season. Besides boasting 21 different manufacturers in seven divisions, the GT class had eight different cars among the top-ten finishers at Belle Isle. In addition, the top five drivers were in five different manufacturers – McLaren, Ferrari, Bentley, Cadillac and Nissan.
Cunningham has been racing in the Pirelli World Challenge for nearly three decades and said he’s pleased with how Acura stacks up against other vehicles, including Aston Martin, Audi, Porsche and Lamborghini, to name a few.
“These are some world-class cars that are pretty fantastic,” Cunningham said. There will be almost 100 cars competing in different classes in the Pirelli World Challenge at Road America.
“I think that you could go up and down the paddock and everyone would agree that this is the most competitive, biggest and best year that the Pirelli World Challenge is enjoying.”
Cunningham won Pirelli World Challenge races in consecutive years in 2003 and 2004 at Road America, so ending the 11-year victory drought will be a top priority.
The Milwaukee native’s adoration of his home track is palpable. During a stint working with BMW in 1990, Cunningham got the chance to run at Nürburgring in Germany and Silverstone in England. Road America became part of the conversation when a fellow competitor was eager to learn what Cunningham’s impressions were of the legendary German circuit, which is best known for its 14-plus-mile northern loop.
“Somebody asked me what it was like to race at Nürburgring and I said, ‘Well, it’s kind of like racing at Road America, but with a 14-hour commute,’ Cunningham said. “As enjoyable as those experiences were to race overseas, it is more of a pain in the neck to travel that far. “We have a special place in Road America, right up the road.”
In addition to the intense action of the Pirelli World Challenge rounds, Road America will play host to rounds for the Maserati Cup and Forza CCR ensuring non stop on track action throughout the weekend.
Gates open at 7 a.m. and races run rain or shine. Daily admission is $20 Friday, and $30 each for Saturday and Sunday. Kids 12 and under are always free with an adult. New for 2015, any student can show their ID at the gate and get $10 off the ticket price. For more information, call 800-365-RACE (7223) or visit www.roadamerica.com
