Acura Integra to Make Motorsports Debut at PPIHC
The 2023 Acura Integra will make its motorsports debut June 26 at the Broadmoor Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, the automaker announced.
The next-gen Integra will compete in the 100th running of the “Race to the Clouds” alongside four production-based race cars from Acura, including two NSX Type S supercars, all prepped, driven and crewed by a team of volunteer engineers out of the company’s R&D facilities in Ohio.
Driven by Pikes Peak rookie Paul Hubers, the race-prepped Integra’s red, gray and white livery pays homage to Acura’s first-ever race car. This graphic scheme was used on the first-generation Integra that went on to win back-to-back IMSA Championships (1987, 1988) with driver Parker Johnstone.
This is the performance brand’s 12th consecutive year competing in the hill climb, the company said, with the Acura team amassing 25 podiums, 12 first place finishes and multiple course records.
Featuring a factory stock turbocharged 1.5-liter engine and 6-speed manual transmission, the next-gen Acura Integra has been prepped for its first motorsports competition with upgraded brakes, suspension and differential sourced from the Honda Performance Development (HPD) parts catalog. Modifications also include 18×9-inch HRE wheels that reduce unsprung weight, while 245-series Pirelli racing slicks increase the contact patch and cornering grip, team engineers said.
Also debuting at this year’s event will be two race-ready versions of the limited production 2022 NSX Type S. Outfitted with a host of performance upgrades, these mid-engine supercars will be driven by brothers James and Nick Robinson as they seek to beat previous records, including the current hybrid fuel class record set by James Robinson in 2020 (10:01.913).
An additional NSX Type S will serve as the official pace car for the hill climb’s centennial event, driven by adventure racer, Renée Brinkerhoff. Founder of Valkyrie Racing, Brinkerhoff has competed in racing events on all seven continents, including Antarctica. Brinkerhoff is the only woman in history to place in the iconic La Carrera Panamericana Mexican Rally three times, including a class win in her first outing (2013).
