Muscle Milk Pickett Racing Claims LMP1 Championship for Honda Performance Development (HPD) LMP Prototypes

BICESTER, England, September 6, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --

Wirth Research is delighted to announce Honda Performance Development's (HPD) victory in the 2013 American Le Mans Series, with Muscle Milk Pickett Racing claiming both the LMP1 drivers' and team championships on the streets of Baltimore in their HPD ARX-03c Honda.

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Muscle Milk's latest achievement continues a commanding 2013 US season for the HPD ARX-series sports cars. ALMS series records the sixth consecutive win for Muscle Milk Pickett Racing and Honda in 2013. HPD's prototypes are also leading the LMP2 category with Level 5 Motorsports, finishing first in class and third overall in their HPD ARX-03b Honda. This is their sixth ALMS series class win in 2013. HPD also swept all manufacturer, engine, team and driver awards in the 2012 ALMS LMP1 and LMP2 categories.

Other HPD ARX-series cars were less fortunate.  After qualifying on pole in LMP2, Scott Tucker's Level 5 Motorsports car was struck from behind, spun round and then hit by several GT machines. In addition, Ed Brown, Extreme Speed Motorsports, damaged his car in another multi-car incident forcing pit side repairs.

Commenting on the results of the ALMS Grand Prix of Baltimore, Nick Wirth, President of Wirth Research said, "These are impressive victories but the season is not over yet and we are still hungry for more wins! HPD's next goal is the manufacturer's title at the Circuit of the Americas later this month. We are right behind them, supporting their aim - with our companies' combined capabilities - HPD's championship-winning engine development technology combined with the strength and efficiency of Wirth Research's world-class CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) based digital aerodynamic and chassis development processes.

Congratulations to team patron Greg Pickett, drivers Klaus Graf, Lucas Luhr and all the Muscle Milk Pickett Racing team!"

About Wirth Research (http://www.wirthresearch.com)

Wirth Research is a group of innovative engineering companies specialising in research, development, design and manufacture for the motor racing industry and other high technology sectors. 

Wirth Research offers flow simulation and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) services.  The Business pioneers the use of advanced virtual engineering technologies, developed in-house, which enable the use of a complete simulated vehicle design, development and testing process.  This reduces the need for wasteful manufacture of development models and prototypes.

Wirth Research is proud to continue its long-term partnership with Honda Performance Development Inc (HPD) on the design, development and manufacture of the championship-winning ARX sports car programme, with HPD customer teams fielding cars in the LMP1 and LMP2 classes of the American Le Mans Series and the World Endurance Championship.  In 2012, the cars scored numerous race wins in both series (including Sebring 12 hour and the Le Mans 24 hour races, in LMP2) and secured LMP2 class titles in both series, and the LMP1 class title in the American series.

Wirth Research is continuing to collaborate with HPD to provide the Honda-powered IndyCar teams with advanced chassis technical support.

About Honda Performance Development (HPD) (http://hpd.honda.com)

Honda Performance Development (HPD) is the Honda racing company within North America. Located in Santa Clarita, Calif., HPD is the technical operations center for high-performance Honda racing cars and engines. The company is marking its 20^th anniversary in 2013. 

As an engine supplier to the IZOD IndyCar Series, Honda has scored 202 race victories in both CART and IZOD IndyCar Series competition since 1994. 

HPD takes part in both the American Le Mans Series - where the company swept all manufacturer, engine, team and driver awards in the 2012 ALMS LMP1 and LMP2 categories - and the FIA World Endurance Championship, winning the inaugural LMP2 World Championship in 2012 along with the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

HPD offers a variety of race engines for track applications from prototype sports cars to karting; and showcases "fun-to-drive" products for professional, amateur and entry-level racers. 

For further information, contact:

David Dupont

Head of Business Development

Tel: +44-1869-355271

Mob: +44-7557-416-617

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SOURCE Wirth Research