Montinola tests with Opak Racing in the Spoon Sports DC5 racecars

September 14, 2006. Sonoma, CA – Formula car driver Robbie Montinola enjoyed a two-day test with the Opak Racing team driving the infamous Spoon Sports Integra Type R racecars.   The young Californian completed the test during the US Touring Car Championship race weekend at Infineon Raceway.  The test provided Montinola the chance to familiarize himself with the Spoon Sports racecar and the Opak Racing team.

"We had a very successful test", said Montinola, "Our goal was to get comfortable in the car, learn the track, and see how the team and I worked together."   However, limited track time due to the NASA/USTCC race weekend provided minimal opportunities to get on track.  Montinola started the USTCC Enduro race to get an extra hour worth of driving and quickly came up to speed.   With only a few hours of driving Montinola showed great potential and looks forward to testing with the team in the near future.  

The Opak Racing Spoon Sports Integra Type R was imported from Japan to compete in the US Touring Car Championship.  The K20 powered racecar features products from the Spoon Sports product line.  Opak Racing has consistently finished on the podium with numerous first-place wins.  The combination of championship winning Montinola and the Opak/Spoon Sports team could lead to further success for both parties.  

"The Spoon Sports Integra Type R handled incredibly well, it felt balanced and performed like a formula car in terms of braking, cornering and acceleration," said Montinola, "It's very cool to drive such a great car with lots of history behind it.  I look forward to potential opportunities working with Edmun and the Opak Racing team again in the Grand-Am and USTCC series."

For 2007 Montinola hopes to compete in the ultra competitive Champ Car Atlantic Championship en route to his dream of competing in the Champ Car World Series. For more information please visit www.montinola.com.

About Robbie Montinola
The young Filipino-American driver began his racing career through the Skip Barber Racing School competing in the Formula Dodge Western and National Championships in 2001.   In 2002 Montinola captured the Formula Dodge Western Championship (1 st) and the Most Improved Driver award.  Montinola won a prestigious Barber-Champ Car Scholarship to compete in the Barber Dodge Pro Series in 2003.   In 2004 Montinola did a limited schedule in the Formula BMW USA championship with the Jensen Motorsports team.  Montinola competed in four races of the 2005 Pro Star Mazda North American Championship before exiting the series to concentrate on the 2006 and 2007 race seasons.  Montinola enjoys driver coaching at the Skip Barber Racing School.

About Opak Racing/Spoon Sports USA
Opak Racing founded in 2000 as an automotive aftermarket retail, distribution and service business.   As the industry evolved, Opak Racing shifted strategies that would set the company apart from others as competition was starting to intensify. 

Opak Racing became the exclusive US importer of Spoon Sports Japan. Through a partnership with Spoon, Opak Racing is able to carry other Japanese brands such as Takata, Showa, Defi gauges in addition to the Honda JDM parts. Currently, Opak Racing has a network of highly qualified Authorized Tuning Partners and Distributors throughout the country.

Robbie Montinola
Montinola Racing
www.montinola.com