Today, Team Penske unveiled its 2018 Acura ARX-05 IMSA DPI race car during the Monterey Car Week event. The next step involves testing the car at Road Atlanta as the team gears up for the 2018 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. Co-drivers Juan Pablo Montoya and Dane Cameron will pilot the car, although Montoya will lead testing duties, as Cameron has a contract with Action Express Racing that lasts until the season’s conclusion. The identities of the drivers for the second car will be disclosed later.
Additionally, the team announced its participation in the Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta in October. However, they will not be utilizing the new Acura ARX-05 at that race. Instead, they will compete with a Gibson V8-powered World Endurance Championship LMP2 Oreca 07, which serves as the basis for the Acura ARX-05. This event will provide the team with valuable experience in handling a race weekend ahead of the 2018 season opener at the 24 Hours of Daytona in January.
While the chassis design derives from the Oreca 07, Acura has supplied the engine and body kit to meet IMSA regulations. The body kit presents a distinct appearance, showcasing Acura’s design language with its signature Jewel Eye headlights. The engine, based on Acura’s 3.5 V6 found in the Acura MDX, RDX, TLX, and RLX models, is a twin-turbo AR35TT engine limited to 600 hp in IMSA specifications. As far as race cars go, this beauty stands out.
Team Penske is clearly focused on achieving victory. If anyone is poised to challenge Cadillac and Wayne Taylor Racing, it’s Team Penske. The excitement is palpable as we anticipate seeing this car in action against its competitors in 2018. In the meantime, all eyes will be on the outcome of Petit Le Mans. Although they won’t be racing the Acura ARX-05, Penske arrives with serious intentions—not just to gain experience, but to claim victory.
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