Analyzing the 2017 Acura NSX GT3 Racecar Unveiling
Unveiling its ambitious racing prospect at the 2016 New York International Auto Show, Acura introduced the NSX GT3 racecar to the global audience. The twin-turbocharged NSX supercar is set to step into the racing arena of North America in 2017, following its homologation as an FIA GT3 class racecar.
The Beast Under the Hood
The Acura NSX GT3 racecar boasts a custom-crafted bodywork, furnished with aero components like an impressive deck wing spoiler, an underbody diffuser, and expansive hood vents for proficient engine cooling. The powertrain is a 3.5-liter, 75-degree, twin-turbocharged DOHC V-6 engine, the same design specification as its 2017 production model counterpart, inclusive of the block, heads, valvetrain, crankshaft, pistons, and a dry sump lubrication system. However, this version comes mated with a 6-speed, sequential-shift racing gearbox, redirecting the power to the rear wheels. It's a significant deviation from the all-wheel-drive configuration of the street-legal NSX.
Building on a Robust Framework
Staying true to the production model, the GT3 version employs the ultra-rigid and lightweight multi-material body with an aluminum-intensive space frame, produced by the Performance Manufacturing Center in Ohio. This center also happens to be the exclusive manufacturing home for the new Acura NSX. An interesting note is that the twin-turbocharged V-6 engine will also be manufactured in Ohio, cementing the location's importance in the development of this vehicle.
Development and Testing Journey
The initial development stages of the NSX GT3 were carried out by Acura's Japanese race engineering arm, testing its mettle on race circuits in Europe and Japan. The company's North American race engineering group, Honda Performance Development (HPD), in Santa Clarita, California, is currently handling additional development, testing, and the final homologation to FIA GT3 global racing specifications.
Acura's vision for the NSX is to create an epitome of Acura Precision Crafted Performance, as expressed by Art St. Cyr, the president of Honda Performance Development. Collaboration between NSX engineering teams in Ohio and Japan will be vital in realizing their aspiration of a world-class new Acura NSX racecar.
Acura's Sporting Legacy and the Future
The Acura NSX GT3 racecar is set to join a prosperous history of Acura sports car racing campaigns and championships, with laurels including the 1991, 1992, and 1993 IMSA Camel Lights manufacturer and driver championships, and the 2009 American LeMans manufacturer, driver and team championships in both the LMP1 and LMP2 classes. As it currently campaigns a pair of TLX GT cars with Real Time Racing in the Pirelli World Challenge, the introduction of the NSX GT3 is poised to mark a new era.
Turning the Page in Performance Cars
The 2017 Acura NSX production model is set to launch this spring, with serial production commencing in late April at the Performance Manufacturing Center. With the NSX GT3, Acura seems intent on reaffirming their status in the world of performance cars and racing. How this model fares in real-world racing conditions will set the tone for Acura's future ventures in high-performance and racing vehicles.
-Ed
2017 Acura NSX GT3 Racecar
