Honda targets potential NSX Le Mans GT entry for 2015

Simmi · 22 Mar 2012, 15:45 (Ref:3046613)

Autosport (print ed) reveals that Honda are planning to race their new NSX road car and have made the GTE class their prime objective.

The car is being built in the U.S. so the project would be entrusted to HPD. HPD president Erik Berkman is quoted as saying GTE is the likely destination but that they are looking around at also making different variations for other classes.

The idea here is that it will be a customer project, selling cars on in the Porsche mould with works support. A factory team could be used initially to get things off the ground, like McLaren.

The project points further towards the inclusion of hybrids into the GTE regs, and is pencilled in to hit the track in 2015, a year after the road car debuts.

There should be a web article up on this soon I'd have thought.

Good news for the GT class though!

Félix · 22 Mar 2012, 16:01 (Ref:3046621)

Good news! Will there still a GTE class in 2015? I'd say betting on the GT3 regs and what they will become would make more sense.

oh and that means HPD/Honda is more vocal about plans to do GT racing than LMP racing...

J.C. · 22 Mar 2012, 16:03 (Ref:3046622)

Great news if this project really does happen. But where is Nissan with there GT-R? That car should of been racing at Le Mans a couple of years ago.

Simmi · 22 Mar 2012, 16:06 (Ref:3046623)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Félix

Good news! Will there still a GTE class in 2015? I'd say betting on the GT3 regs and what they will become would make more sense.

oh and that means HPD/Honda is more vocal about plans to do GT racing than LMP racing...

For sure the class will have to morph into something else by 2015. Everything we have now will be outdated by then. I think everyone expects new technologies to come into GTs. Plenty of exciting projects out there.

Fogelhund · 22 Mar 2012, 16:53 (Ref:3046648)

Quote:

Originally Posted by J.C.

Great news if this project really does happen. But where is Nissan with there GT-R? That car should of been racing at Le Mans a couple of years ago.

NISMO Japan chose to race in GT1, instead of GT2(E). Yes, they should be there, and were told GT1 was dieing... but they went GT1 anyway.

Simmi · 22 Mar 2012, 17:47 (Ref:3046670)

There we go. AutoWeek story here:

http://www.autoweek.com/article/2012...#ixzz1pru4ikH8

Fogelhund · 22 Mar 2012, 17:51 (Ref:3046674)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Simmi

There we go. AutoWeek story here:

http://www.autoweek.com/article/2012...#ixzz1pru4ikH8

Interesting... suggesting North America is the target.

Simmi · 22 Mar 2012, 18:00 (Ref:3046681)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fogelhund

Interesting... suggesting North America is the target.

It's two-way wording. I took it to mean it would be 'built' in the U.S. Not specifically 'built for racing in the U.S.'

But there's no doubt this could be a benefit to the ALMS. But it's a big IF whether that series will still be within the ACO ruleset come 2015. And it seems that those new regs and Le Mans are the target.

alexkiller8 · 22 Mar 2012, 18:41 (Ref:3046702)

in my opinion is a little bit too much early to talk about 2015 GTE plans... nodoby knows how thing will evolve in this category! just think about that 3 year ago the GT situation was really different than now and impossible to forecast as actualy is.

The Badger · 22 Mar 2012, 18:55 (Ref:3046713)

Hope its better than their lasr NSX Le Mans effort .

TF110 · 22 Mar 2012, 19:22 (Ref:3046742)

That's cool, as in the SuperGT thread; Honda has said they want the NSX to be raced in SuperGT in the future as well. I don't think HPD will handle that though, unless the DTM/SGT merger happens in the next couple of years. So possibly the 'various classes' could mean an NSX in that series.

Catingaround · 22 Mar 2012, 23:58 (Ref:3046880)

Wish I had photoshop and some skills, would like to see a wing on it and some livery. Good stuff, as soon it was revealed was hoping they would get it homologated.

Simmi · 23 Mar 2012, 00:17 (Ref:3046884)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Catingaround

Wish I had photoshop and some skills, would like to see a wing on it and some livery. Good stuff, as soon it was revealed was hoping they would get it homologated.

It will make a stunning looking sportscar that's for sure!

KlBD · 24 Mar 2012, 07:49 (Ref:3047397)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Catingaround

Wish I had photoshop and some skills, would like to see a wing on it and some livery. Good stuff, as soon it was revealed was hoping they would get it homologated.

It's certainly not a bad looking car, but I for one am still pining over what could have been with the HSV....

aneesh99 · 25 Mar 2012, 23:32 (Ref:3048424)

Honda Racing want to be doing something, if they lose the SGT gig, then all they'd have left in Japan is HRC, and Super Taikyu doesn't really qualify as a Honda Racing venture, that's too aftermarket imo

TRuss · 1 Apr 2012, 18:39 (Ref:3051869)

I was hoping that such plans would surface.

FstrthnU · 1 Sep 2013, 04:11 (Ref:3296959)

So have we heard any news at all about the NSX GTE in the past couple of months? I've read plenty about the upcoming LMP1 but almost nothing about the GT, even as Honda reveals more info about the street NSX

Articus · 1 Sep 2013, 05:20 (Ref:3296970)

I don't know any details but I would have to imagine this program is on the back-burner because of the F1 engine programme, The HPD LMP1 + new engine, The Super GT/DTM NSX + new engine. Honda has a LOT on there plate right now.

**Aysedasi** · 1 Sep 2013, 07:58 (Ref:3296989)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Simmi

It will make a stunning looking sportscar that's for sure!

What a shame these GTs don't have big honking fins.......

Koenigsegg · 1 Sep 2013, 13:53 (Ref:3297069)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Articus

I don't know any details but I would have to imagine this program is on the back-burner because of the F1 engine programme, The HPD LMP1 + new engine, The Super GT/DTM NSX + new engine. Honda has a LOT on there plate right now.

The GTE car is/was supposed to be branded as Acura. Acura can develop it in house.

The Badger · 1 Sep 2013, 14:42 (Ref:3297086)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aysedasi

What a shame these GTs don't have big honking fins.......

deggis · 1 Sep 2013, 15:25 (Ref:3297111)

Articus · 1 Sep 2013, 18:00 (Ref:3297290)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Koenigsegg

The GTE car is/was supposed to be branded as Acura. Acura can develop it in house.

I really despise this whole branding scam thing. The way Toyota has branded the GT86 a SCION in the states. and the way Honda will brand the NSX an Acura in the states but a Honda europe etc.

**Aysedasi** · 1 Sep 2013, 19:38 (Ref:3297373)

Quote:

Originally Posted by deggis

Nothing wrong with that fin, to my eye.....

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Badger

Just for you old pal, just for you.......

urdragon · 1 Sep 2013, 20:06 (Ref:3297416)

A GTE effort Seems they don't plan to have any SuperGT GT300 factory/Customer effort, that's the "bad news".

The good news is a GTE effort more probably presumes a factory effort out of Japan and also that enforces hybrids into the GT Racing scene, seems Honda/Acura leads the hybrid race in GTs, forcing a new set of rules about the energy recovered.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
New Honda NSX - should it join Nation's Cup?	Michael H	Australasian Touring Cars.	10	14 Apr 2002 11:36
[LM24] Le Mans Entry List	DNQ	24 Heures du Mans	3	10 May 2001 16:55
[LM24] Le Mans entry	pink69	24 Heures du Mans	4	21 Mar 2001 19:29
[LM24] Le Mans entry	pink69	24 Heures du Mans	1	17 Mar 2001 20:28