Acura: ARX-02a news
#43
Senior Moderator
Thread Starter
I remember when track maps on steering wheels consisted of a hand drawn piece of paper taped to the wheel.
#44
6G TLX-S
High tech motorsport = burning mega $$$$$.
#45
so its available, v8????
LOWE’S FERNANDEZ TAKES ACURA TO WINNER’S CIRCLEWITH AN IMPRESSIVE LMP2 CLASS WIN AT 12 HOURS OF SEBRING
New Acura LMP1 Cars Run Competitively In Initial Outing Before Retiring
SEBRING, Fla. — Drivers Adrian Fernandez and Luis Diaz have been close to Victory Lane so often in the American Le Mans Series they were just tired of collecting runner-up trophies. But Saturday, in the 57th running of the legendary Mobil 1 12 Hours of Sebring, the Mexican racing stars stepped to the top of the victory podium.
Fernandez and Diaz, both of Mexico City, turned in a stellar performance on the tough tarmac of Sebring International Raceway by driving the No. 15 Lowe’s Fernandez Racing Acura ARX-01b sports car to the LMP2 class title. It marked Acura’s eighth LMP2 win and second Sebring crown in just 24 starts in ALMS competition.
Diaz opened the event by driving the first three hours in his Acura 3.4-liter, V-8-powered prototype and established a large advantage before turning the driving chores over to team owner Fernandez, who continued the team’s big margin. The Lowe’s team completed 360 laps and placed fourth overall on the 3.7-mile classic circuit.
In the LMP1 category, Acura made its ALMS debut with the de Ferran Motorsports and Patrón Highcroft Racing operations and the all new Acura ARX-02a sports car. Indy 500 winner Scott Dixon put the No. 66 de Ferran XM Radio Acura on the pole Thursday with a stunning run against sports-car stalwarts Audi and Peugeot.
The two new Acura LMP1 prototype machines ran well in the 12-hour ALMS season opener but were forced to the garage area before the checkered flag was thrown. The de Ferran team of Dixon, team owner Gil de Ferran and young star Simon Pagenaud challenged the pair of Audi and Peugeot cars but retired at the eight-hour mark due to a front suspension problem.
The No. 9 Patrón Highcroft Acura, with David Brabham, Dario Franchitti and Scott Sharp driving, was running in the top five overall at 10 hours when a transmission malfunction sent the car to the garage.
The all-new Acura LMP1 cars, with 4-liter, normally aspirated V-8 engines, came to Sebring with a revolutionary chassis design from Honda Performance Development [HPD] and Wirth Research that featured the same Michelin tires on the front and rear wheels for more traction. It made for one of the best-handling sports cars ever designed for the American Le Mans Series.
The sensational pole run by Dixon on Thursday had the Sebring paddock area abuzz with the potential to take on Audi and Peugeot for the 12-hour title. But early exits kept the Acuras out of contention.
The Audi contingent of Allan McNish, Rinaldo Capello and Tom Kristensen won the LMP1 class.
New Acura LMP1 Cars Run Competitively In Initial Outing Before Retiring
SEBRING, Fla. — Drivers Adrian Fernandez and Luis Diaz have been close to Victory Lane so often in the American Le Mans Series they were just tired of collecting runner-up trophies. But Saturday, in the 57th running of the legendary Mobil 1 12 Hours of Sebring, the Mexican racing stars stepped to the top of the victory podium.
Fernandez and Diaz, both of Mexico City, turned in a stellar performance on the tough tarmac of Sebring International Raceway by driving the No. 15 Lowe’s Fernandez Racing Acura ARX-01b sports car to the LMP2 class title. It marked Acura’s eighth LMP2 win and second Sebring crown in just 24 starts in ALMS competition.
Diaz opened the event by driving the first three hours in his Acura 3.4-liter, V-8-powered prototype and established a large advantage before turning the driving chores over to team owner Fernandez, who continued the team’s big margin. The Lowe’s team completed 360 laps and placed fourth overall on the 3.7-mile classic circuit.
In the LMP1 category, Acura made its ALMS debut with the de Ferran Motorsports and Patrón Highcroft Racing operations and the all new Acura ARX-02a sports car. Indy 500 winner Scott Dixon put the No. 66 de Ferran XM Radio Acura on the pole Thursday with a stunning run against sports-car stalwarts Audi and Peugeot.
The two new Acura LMP1 prototype machines ran well in the 12-hour ALMS season opener but were forced to the garage area before the checkered flag was thrown. The de Ferran team of Dixon, team owner Gil de Ferran and young star Simon Pagenaud challenged the pair of Audi and Peugeot cars but retired at the eight-hour mark due to a front suspension problem.
The No. 9 Patrón Highcroft Acura, with David Brabham, Dario Franchitti and Scott Sharp driving, was running in the top five overall at 10 hours when a transmission malfunction sent the car to the garage.
The all-new Acura LMP1 cars, with 4-liter, normally aspirated V-8 engines, came to Sebring with a revolutionary chassis design from Honda Performance Development [HPD] and Wirth Research that featured the same Michelin tires on the front and rear wheels for more traction. It made for one of the best-handling sports cars ever designed for the American Le Mans Series.
The sensational pole run by Dixon on Thursday had the Sebring paddock area abuzz with the potential to take on Audi and Peugeot for the 12-hour title. But early exits kept the Acuras out of contention.
The Audi contingent of Allan McNish, Rinaldo Capello and Tom Kristensen won the LMP1 class.
#46
Chapter Leader (Southern Region)
Last edited by Majofo; 03-24-2009 at 01:01 PM.
#48
Chapter Leader (Southern Region)
#49
Senior Moderator
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Better Neighborhood, Arizona
Posts: 45,641
Received 2,329 Likes
on
1,309 Posts
Honda has had V8's and V10's for years..
#50
Full of water...
thats an old article. the new RL and NSX have recently been put on the back burner.
#51
Chapter Leader (Southern Region)
Interesting.. when was the last production Honda with a V8 or V10?
I just read the new V8 rated for 420 hp.. with a price tag of $70k on the RL.. that and it's running cylinder deactivation.. not a fan. I say if you're gonna spend $70k.. who cares what about your mpg.
I just read the new V8 rated for 420 hp.. with a price tag of $70k on the RL.. that and it's running cylinder deactivation.. not a fan. I say if you're gonna spend $70k.. who cares what about your mpg.
#53
Chapter Leader (Southern Region)
#54
Senior Moderator
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Better Neighborhood, Arizona
Posts: 45,641
Received 2,329 Likes
on
1,309 Posts
None, they've all been racing motors. And not one article you can post will persuade me that its coming to production until I see an official Honda press release.
Honda cares about its Corporate Average Fuel Economy. If they can keep it #1 thanks to a cylinder deactivation trick, then they will.
In addition, a customer who buys a $70,000 Honda is more likely to care about fuel economy than your average buyer in that segment.
In addition, a customer who buys a $70,000 Honda is more likely to care about fuel economy than your average buyer in that segment.
#55
Chapter Leader (Southern Region)
True.. oh well.. I won't hold my breath on this one but hopefully if the market picks up and the demand / public interest is high we'll see it in the near future. I'd be very interested in seeing a performance & price comparo between cylinder deactivation versus the different hybrid technologies out there.
#57
Chapter Leader (Southern Region)
#58
Burning Brakes
But unlike the current RL, which sits on a front-wheel-drive platform and features Honda's SH-AWD four-wheel-drive system, the all-new RL will instead incorporate a rear-drive platform, one necessity that Honda planners have clearly identified in this segment, and a reconfigured SH-AWD system that engages the front wheels when rear traction is compromised.
#59
Chapter Leader (Southern Region)
AutoWeek claims that Honda / Acura is telling the dealerships that it's still coming (as of 10/08). Anyone want to call their local dealership and see if this might be true? I may call.. just out of interest.
http://www.autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dl...THISWEEKSISSUE
http://www.autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dl...THISWEEKSISSUE
#60
The sizzle in the Steak
#61
Senior Moderator
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Better Neighborhood, Arizona
Posts: 45,641
Received 2,329 Likes
on
1,309 Posts
AutoWeek claims that Honda / Acura is telling the dealerships that it's still coming (as of 10/08). Anyone want to call their local dealership and see if this might be true? I may call.. just out of interest.
http://www.autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dl...THISWEEKSISSUE
http://www.autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dl...THISWEEKSISSUE
#62
Senior Moderator
Wrong forum...moved to Motorsports.
#63
Safety Car
Acura: Prototype Gets 1st American Le Mans Win
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – A radically new Acura prototype sports car co-driven by David Brabham and Scott Sharp has taken an easy victory in the American Le Mans Series race on the temporary street circuit in downtown St. Petersburg.
Brabham, easily winning the LMP1 class, drove the second half of Saturday's race, which lasted just under two hours. He crossed the finish line on the 1.8-mile, 14-turn circuit 32.15 seconds ahead of runner-up Adrian Fernandez, sharing an LMP2 Acura with Luis Diaz.
The diesel-powered Audis and Peugeots that dominated Sebring were not entered, leaving the battle up front in the 17-car field to the two LMP1 Acura ARX 02as. The cars have a gasoline engine and the same size tires on all four corners — something not seen in major auto racing in about four decades.
Brabham, easily winning the LMP1 class, drove the second half of Saturday's race, which lasted just under two hours. He crossed the finish line on the 1.8-mile, 14-turn circuit 32.15 seconds ahead of runner-up Adrian Fernandez, sharing an LMP2 Acura with Luis Diaz.
The diesel-powered Audis and Peugeots that dominated Sebring were not entered, leaving the battle up front in the 17-car field to the two LMP1 Acura ARX 02as. The cars have a gasoline engine and the same size tires on all four corners — something not seen in major auto racing in about four decades.
#66
Senior Moderator
Merged...
#67
E92
The diesel-powered Audis and Peugeots that dominated Sebring were not entered, leaving the battle up front in the 17-car field to the two LMP1 Acura ARX 02as. The cars have a gasoline engine and the same size tires on all four corners — something not seen in major auto racing in about four decades.
#68
Senior Moderator
Thread Starter
Maybe Audi knew that and that's why they stayed away.
#69
6G TLX-S
Unfortunately the rear-wheel-sized front tires on the Acura P1 cars also limit the the cars' straight line speed, something that was very obvious in Sebring.
#70
Senior Moderator
Thread Starter
Agreed, however, the majority of the ALMS schedule does not have long straights like Sebring and Le Mans. It would have been interesting to see whether Audi or Acura had a better car over the entire championship.
#71
Senior Moderator
Thread Starter
http://www.deferranmotorsports.com/p...009/august.php
Lexington, OH, Friday, August 7, 2009 – Two-time Indy car Champion and 2003 Indianapolis 500 winner, Gil de Ferran, announced today that he will retire from sports car driving at the completion of the 2009 American LeMans Series (ALMS) season. The 41-year-old Florida-based Brazilian, will continue as President of de Ferran Motorsports (DFM), the Team he formed in 2008 to compete in ALMS as the factory-supported Acura Team.
“Throughout my career, I’ve always been driven by challenges. While I’ve enjoyed my time behind the wheel of the #66 XM Radio DFM Acura ARX-02a, my main focus moving forward is to continue to build our Team into a world class motorsports organization,” said the past Indy car and Indianapolis 500 champion. “I feel that by returning to the cockpit for the past year, I have been competitive and added value to our team as a driver. Overall, I also feel we succeeded in developing this program to a point where I can now step down and dedicate 100% of my time to expanding our Team.”
de Ferran, whose racing career began in 1982 and included winning titles in each of the Series in which he competed, originally retired from open-wheel racing at the conclusion of the 2003 season. Immediately upon his retirement, he worked as an announcer for ABC/ESPN before being named as the Sporting Director of the Honda Formula One Team.
de Ferran founded DFM in 2008 to support Acura in the development of their sports car program, assuming a role similar to his role with Honda in the Indy car Series. In their first race (Salt Lake City) they qualified on the front row and finished on the podium (third). They ended their 2008 season with four front row starts in eight races including one pole position. To date this season, they have started on the front row in every race missing the pole position only once and have won the past three events. They currently are in second place in the Championship, just thirteen points out of first place.
“I’m looking forward to competing in the final races of the 2009 ALMS season as I think we have a very strong shot at the Championship,” said de Ferran. “It would be great to end my sports car driving career with a win at Laguna Seca and a Championship for Acura and DFM, much the same way I ended my Indy car career.” (de Ferran ended the 2003 season with a win at Texas Motor Speedway as the defending Indy 500 winner).
Sad to see de Ferran hanging up his boots for the second time. Hopefully he'll be able to expand the team to two cars next year.
Lexington, OH, Friday, August 7, 2009 – Two-time Indy car Champion and 2003 Indianapolis 500 winner, Gil de Ferran, announced today that he will retire from sports car driving at the completion of the 2009 American LeMans Series (ALMS) season. The 41-year-old Florida-based Brazilian, will continue as President of de Ferran Motorsports (DFM), the Team he formed in 2008 to compete in ALMS as the factory-supported Acura Team.
“Throughout my career, I’ve always been driven by challenges. While I’ve enjoyed my time behind the wheel of the #66 XM Radio DFM Acura ARX-02a, my main focus moving forward is to continue to build our Team into a world class motorsports organization,” said the past Indy car and Indianapolis 500 champion. “I feel that by returning to the cockpit for the past year, I have been competitive and added value to our team as a driver. Overall, I also feel we succeeded in developing this program to a point where I can now step down and dedicate 100% of my time to expanding our Team.”
de Ferran, whose racing career began in 1982 and included winning titles in each of the Series in which he competed, originally retired from open-wheel racing at the conclusion of the 2003 season. Immediately upon his retirement, he worked as an announcer for ABC/ESPN before being named as the Sporting Director of the Honda Formula One Team.
de Ferran founded DFM in 2008 to support Acura in the development of their sports car program, assuming a role similar to his role with Honda in the Indy car Series. In their first race (Salt Lake City) they qualified on the front row and finished on the podium (third). They ended their 2008 season with four front row starts in eight races including one pole position. To date this season, they have started on the front row in every race missing the pole position only once and have won the past three events. They currently are in second place in the Championship, just thirteen points out of first place.
“I’m looking forward to competing in the final races of the 2009 ALMS season as I think we have a very strong shot at the Championship,” said de Ferran. “It would be great to end my sports car driving career with a win at Laguna Seca and a Championship for Acura and DFM, much the same way I ended my Indy car career.” (de Ferran ended the 2003 season with a win at Texas Motor Speedway as the defending Indy 500 winner).
#72
6G TLX-S
#73
Senior Moderator
Thread Starter
Forgot to post it here earlier:
http://www.mulsannescorner.com/newssept09.html
Doesn't look good. Not necessarily a surprise considering the state of prototype competition in ALMS. Acura is set to make a decision by the end of this year. In the meantime, Wirth is designing a new car in case Acura (or another manufacturer) gives the green light.
http://www.mulsannescorner.com/newssept09.html
Which leads us to what we're hearing about the future of the Acura program. It is growing less likely that we'll see Acura return (Gordon Kirby has already said Acura is done). We understand HPD staff has been let go and we also understand that since about mid-season the HPD effort has had it's budget cut such that there are no spares on the shelves, everything is made to order from Wirth Research with a 6 week delivery time. Has Acura already made a decision? It's looking likely and it won't be the one we'd like to see.
#74
Senior Moderator
Thread Starter
The 2010 Le Mans Series season could be the year of Acura, with no less than two Wirth Research-built cars expected to be on the European grid in LMP2. Longtime Honda team JAS Motorsport announced Monday that it will contest the five-round championship with at least one customer Acura ARX-01b, with the intention of also taking its program to the 24 Hours of Le Mans next June.
Lowe's Fernandez Racing's Acura ARX-01b has found a new home in Europe. (John Dagys) » More Photos
The Italian squad, which has enjoyed an 11-year relationship with Honda as an official partner team in various touring car series, is hoping to find funding to run a second car.
Strakka Racing, meanwhile, is believed to have purchased Lowe’s Fernandez Racing’s American Le Mans Series LMP2 championship-winning car for an European attack, too. The car, in blue and silver Fernandez livery, appeared at a Michelin tire test at Misano, Italy this week, with Strakka driver Danny Watts behind the wheel. An official announcement on the team’s intentions should be forthcoming.
Honda Performance Development’s Roger Griffiths confirmed to Radio Le Mans last month the availability of cars and engine lease programs to teams in Europe and the U.S. Griffiths said HPD can support up to four engines next year. With three of those potentially being allocated to Europe, Acura’s presence in the ALMS is likely to be decreased from years past.
“We could have four cars running, whether that be in a Lola chassis or a Courage chassis or in an Acura chassis,” Griffiths said. “We could have two cars running in Europe, two cars running in the States, or any combination thereof. That’s what we’re prepared to support.”
So far, teams are opting for the tried-and-trusted Acura ARX-01b chassis and Acura 3.4L V8 complete package instead of an engine lease-only option. While the powerplant is available to teams using customer chassis such as Lola B09/80, no takers have been announced.
Lowe's Fernandez Racing's Acura ARX-01b has found a new home in Europe. (John Dagys) » More Photos
The Italian squad, which has enjoyed an 11-year relationship with Honda as an official partner team in various touring car series, is hoping to find funding to run a second car.
Strakka Racing, meanwhile, is believed to have purchased Lowe’s Fernandez Racing’s American Le Mans Series LMP2 championship-winning car for an European attack, too. The car, in blue and silver Fernandez livery, appeared at a Michelin tire test at Misano, Italy this week, with Strakka driver Danny Watts behind the wheel. An official announcement on the team’s intentions should be forthcoming.
Honda Performance Development’s Roger Griffiths confirmed to Radio Le Mans last month the availability of cars and engine lease programs to teams in Europe and the U.S. Griffiths said HPD can support up to four engines next year. With three of those potentially being allocated to Europe, Acura’s presence in the ALMS is likely to be decreased from years past.
“We could have four cars running, whether that be in a Lola chassis or a Courage chassis or in an Acura chassis,” Griffiths said. “We could have two cars running in Europe, two cars running in the States, or any combination thereof. That’s what we’re prepared to support.”
So far, teams are opting for the tried-and-trusted Acura ARX-01b chassis and Acura 3.4L V8 complete package instead of an engine lease-only option. While the powerplant is available to teams using customer chassis such as Lola B09/80, no takers have been announced.
#75
6G TLX-S
#76
Senior Moderator
Thread Starter
After becoming the top point-scoring Acura team for each of the past three seasons and earning the brand's first LMP1 championship in 2009, Patrón Highcroft Racing will continue its relationship with Honda Performance Development (HPD), the racing arm of American Honda Motor Company, in the 2010 American Le Mans Series.
The Danbury, CT-based Patrón Highcroft squad will contest next year's combined ALMS prototype class armed with an HPD-backed ARX-01c - an iteration of the original Acura ALMS entry.
Patrón Highcroft Racing will be the exclusively designated test team for HPD. The 2009 ALMS LMP1 championship winning squad will be charged with evaluation of the new ARX-01c platform and the testing of a new HPD engine under consideration for the 2011 season.
For 2010, the LMP1 and LMP2 classes will be combined for the majority of the American Le Mans Series - only the season opener and closer, at Sebring and Petit Le Mans, respectively, will revert to full-ACO spec, Le Mans 24 Hour rules.
"We are delighted to continueour relationship with Honda Performance Development," team owner Duncan Dayton said. "We will have the #1 on our car for 2010 and firmly believe the ARX-01c will give us the best opportunity to defend that championship. We are very much looking forward to continuing our working relationship with the team at HPD - they have played an integral role in our championship success.
"We are awaiting full details from the ALMS, but we expect the LMP1 cars to be slowed and the LMP2 machines to be offered more performance freedoms. Everyone saw the performance of the ARX-01b at this year's ALMS race at Laguna Seca, and we think this car will be a very wise weapon of choice for 2010. The combined prototype class is going to provide some extremely fierce competition and our team is very much looking forward to the fight.
"In fact, we are extremely keen to investigate expanding our operation to put the budget in place to run a second car. We're talking to a number of potential new marketing partners to add to our sponsorship portfolio - partners the team has been negotiating with and others who might be supporting a specific driver. The fact we were the top performing Acura squad in each of the past three seasons is a great achievement and a source of pride at Patrón Highcroft Racing and we are looking forward to working with HPD again next season."
Patrón Highcroft Racing veteran David Brabham will return for his fourth consecutive season with the team. Brabham's teammates are expected to be announced in the near future.
The Danbury, CT-based Patrón Highcroft squad will contest next year's combined ALMS prototype class armed with an HPD-backed ARX-01c - an iteration of the original Acura ALMS entry.
Patrón Highcroft Racing will be the exclusively designated test team for HPD. The 2009 ALMS LMP1 championship winning squad will be charged with evaluation of the new ARX-01c platform and the testing of a new HPD engine under consideration for the 2011 season.
For 2010, the LMP1 and LMP2 classes will be combined for the majority of the American Le Mans Series - only the season opener and closer, at Sebring and Petit Le Mans, respectively, will revert to full-ACO spec, Le Mans 24 Hour rules.
"We are delighted to continueour relationship with Honda Performance Development," team owner Duncan Dayton said. "We will have the #1 on our car for 2010 and firmly believe the ARX-01c will give us the best opportunity to defend that championship. We are very much looking forward to continuing our working relationship with the team at HPD - they have played an integral role in our championship success.
"We are awaiting full details from the ALMS, but we expect the LMP1 cars to be slowed and the LMP2 machines to be offered more performance freedoms. Everyone saw the performance of the ARX-01b at this year's ALMS race at Laguna Seca, and we think this car will be a very wise weapon of choice for 2010. The combined prototype class is going to provide some extremely fierce competition and our team is very much looking forward to the fight.
"In fact, we are extremely keen to investigate expanding our operation to put the budget in place to run a second car. We're talking to a number of potential new marketing partners to add to our sponsorship portfolio - partners the team has been negotiating with and others who might be supporting a specific driver. The fact we were the top performing Acura squad in each of the past three seasons is a great achievement and a source of pride at Patrón Highcroft Racing and we are looking forward to working with HPD again next season."
Patrón Highcroft Racing veteran David Brabham will return for his fourth consecutive season with the team. Brabham's teammates are expected to be announced in the near future.
Still waiting for de Ferran's plans to be announced.
#77
Senior Moderator
Thread Starter
http://auto-racing.speedtv.com/artic...ras-evolution/
Long post, so I won't paste it here. Highlights:
Well, there goes Acura's performance image building.
Long post, so I won't paste it here. Highlights:
- Highcroft to run one or two factory supported ARX-01c.
- de Ferran's plans not finalized, might not run Acuras next year.
- ARX-02a will not be run next year.
- Acura branding might be dropped in favor of Honda.
Well, there goes Acura's performance image building.
#78
6G TLX-S
#79
Senior Moderator
Thread Starter
#80
Big Block go VROOOM!
There's an article up at Racecar Engineering's web site about the development of the car. There's nothing in the article about how the season went, but there is a boatload of interesting stuff about the initial design and development work.
http://www.racecar-engineering.com/a...a-arx-02a.html
http://www.racecar-engineering.com/a...a-arx-02a.html
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Yumcha
Automotive News
1
09-25-2015 06:14 PM