23 Mar Acura Unveils NSX GT3 Racecar
The new NSX will undergo homologation this fall as an FIA GT3 class racecar.
By Aaron Gaghagen
Pictures courtesy of Honda of America
Not to be outdone by Honda’s debut of its Global Rallycross Championship Civic, Acura unveiled its own race car today at the New York International Auto Show in the form of the all-new NSX GT3. Acura says it plans on campaigning g the twin-turbocharged supercar throughout North America starting in 2017.
The Acura NSX GT3 race car features bodywork and aero components including a large deck-wing spoiler, underbody diffuser to reduce drag and increase downforce, and larger hood venting for more efficient cooling of the 3.5-liter, 75-degree, twin turbocharged DOHC V6 engine. An engine that will be using the same design specifications as the one in the production version of the 2017 Acura NSX, which includes the block, heads, valvetrain, crankshaft, pistons and dry-sump oiling system. Instead of an AWD layout with electric motors and a nine-speed DCT, though, the race car engine will be paired with a six-speed, sequential-shifting racing gearbox delivering power to the rear wheels only.
“The NSX was designed as a pinnacle expression of Acura Precision Crafted Performance, and we’re looking forward to proving out its ultimate performance capabilities in GT3 racing,” said Art St. Cyr, president of Honda Performance Development. “We’ll be working with the NSX engineering teams in Ohio and Japan to bring our dream of a truly world-class new Acura NSX race car to fruition.”
This isn’t the first time Acura has set its sights on racing against the best. Back when the original NSX was released Acura teamed up with Comptech Racing in the IMSA GTP Lights series. The Comptech Racing Acura-Spice GTP Lights race car featured a modified NSX engine and dominated the series with 1991, 1992 and 1993 IMSA Camel Lights manufacturer and driver championships.
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