F-C

From Speedtv:

The long-running rumor that Honda was set to join the American Le Mans Series was confirmed today, as Acura officials revealed during the New York auto show that the luxury brand of the Japanese automaker will enter LMP2 competition next season.

Acura's '07 effort will consist of a "full factory" entry - the first in the company's two-decade history - which will go head-to-head with the Penske Porsche for class honors. Unlike Porsche's RS Spyder, however, Acura won't build its own chassis, attaching its engine to existing Courage or Lola cars.

"As Acura marks its 20-year anniversary, I can't think of a better racing series to showcase our technology and performance than the American Le Mans Series," stated senior VP of auto operations John Mendel. "Our entry as a full factory team in the American Le Mans Series will accurately reflect Acura's position as a leader in automotive performance and technology, and provide us with an arena in which to compete against other manufacturers in endurance sports car racing."

The entry will also mark the first time Honda Performance Development has taken on multiple concurrent motorsports programs, as HPD is currently the sole engine supplier for the Indy Racing League.

"We're looking forward with great anticipation to entering the ALMS," said HPD president Robert Clarke. "In addition to returning Acura to the international racing stage against other innovative automotive manufacturers, it allows us to continue to grow HPD into a world-class performance company."

According to today's announcement, an LMP1 chassis/engine plan will follow, with Acura targeting an invitation to compete in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, most likely in 2008.

Testing of the Acura-powered ALMS cars will begin this summer, with drivers and teams to be announced in the near future. Several squads tied to Honda, such as the IRL's Andretti Green and Rahal Letterman, have been linked to possible entries.

dom

Engine possibilities?

F-C

Some people are suggesting that they will use a modified IRL V8. Dunno, I thought that engine was designed for ovals, and would be unsuitable for road racing.

Yumcha

More tidbits here! http://www.americanlemans.com/News/Article.aspx?ID=1913

dom

Definently looks like a V8.

Yumcha

Precursor to the new NSX going into sports racing too then...?

F-C

For comparison purposes, the HI6R V8.

F-C

So this won't be designed in Tochigi?

NSX-Tuner

Exactly my thoughts.

NSX-Tuner

Another article: Acura to enter LMP2 in 2007

West6MT

Sounds good,...........although I am always a Porsche fan when it comes to the ALMS.

fsttyms1

Sweet! cant wait to see that

stangg172004

thats interesting...

StypeCL

Right on! That's cool to see Acura out racing in prototypes. Don't think we will see Lexus or Infiniti on the track with a full race program!

Chief F1 Fan

Why oh why would Honda want to stretch its resources any further when it already fields a full works F1 team and supplies engines to a 2nd manufacturer? I see no good out of this, sorry.

F-C

HPD runs on its own budget. With the uncertainty in its IRL program, Clark probably wants something solid to justify its existence. Also, with Honda's push to give Acura its own identity, the ALMS program will provide a distinction from its competitors and Honda.

I agree with you though, winning in F1 should be its top priority.

Bdog

Dan Martin

OMG I can't wait to see this beast hit the track. Thanks for the new wallpapers btw.

West6MT

srika

oh damn!!! that is sweet!!

F-C

New wallpaper.

Billiam

Those aerodynamic ramps behind the rear tires are intriguing. I don't recall ever seeing something like that before. Then again, my exposure to sportscar racing has been almost nill for the last three or four years.

Dan Martin

I remember someone talking about those in the pits once and they said they're actually more for cooling than for aerodynamics. The shape creates a fairly strong vacuum at the back of the car for exhausting hot air from the engine and the brakes.

swift22

Acura is going to be having a little fuuuuuuuuuun.


They have a V10 varient and that is what is going in the next NSX or whatever.

Edward'TLS

In addition, the vacuum created underneath the car also help producing more downforce on the car for better stability and cornering speed.

Crazy Bimmer

Audi > *

F-C

1) Penske Motorsports (Castroneves/Dumas/Bernhard), Porsche RS Spyder (LMP2), 1:47:228 (124.221 mph)
2) Dyson Racing (Dyson/Wallace), Porsche RS Spyder (LMP2), 1:49:894 (121.208 mph)
3) Lowe's Fernandez Racing (Fernandez/Diaz), Lola B05/40-Acura, 1:50:461 (120.586 mph)
4) Andretti Green Racing (Herta/Franchitti), Courage LC75-Acura (LMP2), 1:50:747 (120.274 mph)
5) Intersport Racing (J. Field/Berry/C. Field), Lola B05/40-AER (LMP2), 151.750 (119.195 mph)
6) Highcroft Racing (Brabham/Johansson/Dayton), Courage LC75-Acura (LMP2), 152.472 (118.429 mph)

Three seconds off the Penske Porsche. Not good. I'm not really expecting the Acura teams to beat the Penske team this year, since Porsche has had an entire year to develop their car, but three seconds is a bit far. Hopefully they can reduce the gap quickly.

dom

That is huge.

Dan Martin

Perhaps they can walk over to the Realtime trailer and ask for a few tips.

fsttyms1

Its also just testing. Alot can change between now and actual race time

F-C

Sebring ALMS testing times – Tuesday session 1:

1) Penske Motorsports, Porsche RS Spyder (LMP2), 1:47.280 (124.161 mph)
2) Penske Motorsports, Porsche RS Spyder (LMP2), 1:47.500 (123.907 mph)
3) Dyson Racing, Porsche RS Spyder (LMP2), 1:47.652 (123.732 mph)
4) Lowe's Fernandez Racing, Lola B05/40-Acura, 1:49.346 (121.815 mph)
5) Highcroft Racing, Courage C75-Acura (LMP2), 1:49.391 (121.765 mph)
6) Andretti Green Racing, Courage LC75-Acura (LMP2), 1:49.493 (121.652 mph)
7) Intersport Racing, Lola B05/40-AER (LMP2), 1:50.032 (121.056 mph)


Session 2:

1) Penske Motorsports, Porsche RS Spyder (LMP2), 1:47:219 (124.232 mph)
2) Penske Motorsports, Porsche RS Spyder (LMP2), 1:47:447 (124.968 mph)
3) Dyson Racing, Porsche RS Spyder (LMP2), 1:47:922 (123.097 mph)
4) Lowe's Fernandez Racing, Lola B05/40-Acura, 1:48:207 (123.370 mph)
5) Andretti Green Racing, Courage 675-Acura (LMP2), 1:49:747 (121.370 mph)
6) Intersport Racing, Lola B05/40-AER (LMP2), 149.940 (121.157 mph)
7) Highcroft Racing, Courage C75-Acura (LMP2), 150.675 (120.352 mph)

Progress, only 1 second behind now. Two more months until Sebring.

fsttyms1

cool

F-C

According to Speed, the 3 Acura teams did a full simulation run of the race at Sebring. Fernandez was the only car that did well. Andretti-Green dropped out a few hours before the end. Highcroft was hit with a number of mechanical problems. Less than a month before the race!

West6MT

I was reading about that yesterday on the ALMS website. Hopefully the Acura's are competitive.

tsxgoogs

They are going to show the testing for this car on speed this friday, i think at 9et

Mokos23

love that engine!

West6MT

NICE!!!

F-C

Race is this weekend.

Times from Monday practice:

So the top Acura is about 0.3s off the top Porsche. Much better then I expected. Let's see how the endurance of the engines do.

West6MT

I am looking forward to all the racing this weekend.

fsttyms1

Sweet