Detroit Grand Prix 08: Acura racing with the big boys, enters LMP1 for 09
Acura has announced at the Detroit Grand Prix that they will enter the LMP1 class in the American Le Mans Series in 2009, adding to its existing LMP2 effort. Honda's premium brand entered ALMS in the lighter LMP2 class at the beginning of 2007 with the Highcroft, Fernandez and Andretti-Green teams and won a single race that year. This year De Ferran motorsports has joined the lineup and Acura has four victories, including an overall win at Lime Rock in early July.
For 2009, De Ferran and Highcroft will run the all new ARX-02A LMP1 car, while Fernandez and possibly one other team will continue with the LMP2 program. No mention was made of AGR. The new car is being developed in cooperation with existing partner Wirth Research in the UK. Honda Performance Development president Erik Berkman declined to reveal any other details about the new car. However, with the currently dominant P1 cars in North America and Europe being the diesel powered Audis and Peugeots, and a production diesel joining the Acura lineup next spring, a diesel powered ARX-02A would seem a likely choice. The new car will debut at the 2009 12 Hours of Sebring in March, but Berkman said no decision has been made on a Le Mans run yet.
[Source: Acura]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
itsmin 3:07PM (8/29/2008)
I hope this means a Honda/Acura entry into LeMans next year. An Audi/Peugeot/Acura fight would be really entertaining.
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Nobody 4:14PM (8/29/2008)
Unfortunately, it would really just be Audi vs. Peugeot as I doubt Acura would be able to truly fight them in their first outing to Le Mans with a new program. Unless they wait a few years and get practice with the ALMS first and then go to Le Mans.
why not the LS2LS7? 4:36PM (8/29/2008)
This sounds like they are changing the LMP1/LMP2 divide again to get LMP2 back more toward privateers.
If so, this would likely mean a redefinition of LMP1, and hopefully the ACO will follow along. If the ACO adopts the performance adjustments that ALMS (IMSA) has, then Acura could enter LMP1 competitively in LMS and at Le Mans next year.
This sounds like a great thing to me.
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larry a 5:44AM (8/30/2008)
interesting, do you think porsche will follow acura into lmp1? im kinda tired of seeing manufacturers racing a bunch of privateers, its not fair at all.
Dave Peterson 4:44PM (8/29/2008)
Way to go Acura! This will be more interesting seeing the clashes between the manufacturers. They do have an uphill battle of course because Audi has been running a dedicated effort with a ton of motorsports experience behind them in the event. Good to see Acura stepping it up, looking forward to it.
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Franz 4:57PM (8/29/2008)
Sounds good to me. The Acuras have been doing very well in P2. I hope they're able to hold their own in P1.
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donmanbean 5:55PM (8/29/2008)
Acura has just captured the overall pole with 4 cars in the top 5, overall. You think ythey won't do well at LeMans, think again Mr/Mrs Nobody. The LMP1 cars will be fast of course, and the 2 teams will have enough experience to run at France. DB (David Brabham) won LeMans this year in GT1 in his Aston Martin killing the very formidable Corvette boys, so that doesn't count for experience?
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why not the LS2LS7? 6:16PM (8/29/2008)
ALMS (IMSA) and Le Mans (ACO) use different engine equalizations. Under the current ACO rules, the Acuras would not be competitive at Le Mans. The current ACO rules make all gas cars uncompetitive because the Diesel cars get a fuel tank with more energy in it, a higher fuel fill pressure, almost 100% larger (in displacement) engines and 50% more boost. And a restrictor about twice as large in cross-sectional area. There's just no way for a gas car to compete with a Diesel under these rules.
Combija 3:26AM (8/30/2008)
Aside from the technical advantages of the diesels stated in the comment above mine, don't forget that Audi has won the 24 Hours on many occasions when they were not the fastest cars on the track.
Qualifying domination by the lighter LMP2 Acuras under "balanced" rules and a sprint-race strategy on a street circuit is not a good indicator of how well they perform at Le Mans.
Kiiks 6:49AM (8/30/2008)
Especially considering the LMS P1 championship is led by Pug while the slower Audi won at Le Mans.
I can't wait.
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