LM24 Acura Heading to Le Mans in 2008 and LMP1 in 2009

Mal · 24 Jan 2007, 10:05 (Ref:1824447)

There is an interview with Robert Clarke from Honda on DSC in which he says they are aiming to race at LeMans in LMP2 in 2008 and will build their own LMP1 chassis to enter in 2009. They have engaged Nick Wirth to help design the chassis

**FIRE** · 24 Jan 2007, 18:28 (Ref:1824961)

Great news

HORNDAWG · 24 Jan 2007, 18:40 (Ref:1824971)

And probably in a coupe!?

L.P.

JAG · 24 Jan 2007, 19:01 (Ref:1824980)

I wonder if Acura would be able to build a 2010 reg coupe for 2009?

Very good news to here the Acura brand will race Europe, hopefully this will be a worldwide program.

Great news for the ALMS, this news should give great encouragement to teams and manufactuers thinking of entering P1, possibly even Porsche.

HORNDAWG · 24 Jan 2007, 19:49 (Ref:1825021)

Quote:

Originally Posted by JAG

I wonder if Acura would be able to build a 2010 reg coupe for 2009?

Very good news to here the Acura brand will race Europe, hopefully this will be a worldwide program.

Great news for the ALMS, this news should give great encouragement to teams and manufactuers thinking of entering P1, possibly even Porsche.

They are building a car from the ground up. I would think that they would design a car that has the most potential for longevity. And we all know they have the resources to build a coupe!

L.P.

chewymonster · 1 Jul 2007, 21:36 (Ref:1951840)

Looks like a 1 year shot, but still depends on how the 2010 coupe rules are. LMP2 should be, dare I say not too hard.

**Bentley03** · 4 Jul 2007, 21:24 (Ref:1954591)

Just to add a little more fuel to the Acura LMP1 fire...........

According to DSC, Italian magazine Autosprint is reporting that a 1999 Toyota GT One fitted with a development engine has been testing at HTTT Paul Ricard.

First step towards a 2010 coupe?

minimangler · 4 Jul 2007, 21:28 (Ref:1954597)

First, this looks like a fairly natural progression, which is why Porsche's has looked slow/odd.

second; would acura use a toyota?!?! i very much doubt it.
they're honda arent they?

also, would a global campaign become a honda campaign?

Speed-King · 4 Jul 2007, 21:36 (Ref:1954606)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ancient Japanese Saying

Toyota goes where Honda is.

**Bentley03** · 4 Jul 2007, 21:43 (Ref:1954611)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Speed-King

Originally Posted by Ancient Japanese Saying
Toyota goes where Honda is.

Exactly (or vice versa).......should we start a new thread!

**Bentley03** · 4 Jul 2007, 21:48 (Ref:1954614)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bentley03

Just to add a little more fuel to the Acura LMP1 fire...........

According to DSC, Italian magazine Autosprint is reporting that a 1999 Toyota GT One fitted with a development engine has been testing at HTTT Paul Ricard.

First step towards a 2010 coupe?

Seems I'm a little behind the times (again), news already on 'No more LMP1 coupes (sort of)...' thread. Oops!

The Badger · 4 Jul 2007, 23:45 (Ref:1954723)

I cant wait to hear that Acura engine at LM next year !!!

minimangler · 5 Jul 2007, 10:34 (Ref:1955024)

Yes, but it isn't testing in a Toyota chassis.
Non.

brielga · 5 Jul 2007, 12:29 (Ref:1955114)

Acura (through Adrian Fernandez at least) have made very clear they would disembark at LM in 2008. He told me that in January ( http://www.planetlemans.com/cmsv2/in...=2298&Itemid=2 ) and we saw that again during Le Mans, he repeated time and again they will be there and when asked by RLM what are you here to learn, his answer was "Everything". His top Fernandez Racing people were at La Sarthe as part of the Zytek team, any more hints? Next step on LMP1 is just logical, no big manufacturer enters this game to win LMP2.... the only disputable item is the plan and timing to get there, how to gain experience without embarrassing yourself and even make money in the meantime. Porsche has elected one way, Acura a slightly different one, Peugeot a full attack at LM first year. Let's try to separate fact/business plans from wishful thinking and we'll get there. Although I admit speculation is one of the favorite (and enjoyable) sports in this forum....

SebringMG · 5 Jul 2007, 12:50 (Ref:1955138)

Quote:

Originally Posted by minimangler

Yes, but it isn't testing in a Toyota chassis.
Non.

No that would be a toyota/lexus engine......however until we know more details could just be a collector breaking in his new engine

The Badger · 5 Jul 2007, 15:53 (Ref:1955301)

Quote:

Originally Posted by minimangler

Yes, but it isn't testing in a Toyota chassis.
Non.

Why would it be ?

JAG · 5 Jul 2007, 17:12 (Ref:1955394)

It will be interesting to see whether Acura build a car and supply it to 2/3 favoured teams, or run a factory team.

aeroehl · 5 Jul 2007, 19:31 (Ref:1955516)

Sounds like Dario might retire from open wheel this year (except Indy) and run the ALMS full time next year.

Tim Northcutt · 5 Jul 2007, 19:57 (Ref:1955537)

I've heard that Dario might...if he wins the IRL Season Title...

But I wouldn't bet on him walking away from the paydays he's getting in the IRL

dj choc ice · 7 Jul 2007, 15:21 (Ref:1956916)

if fernandez raced at lemans in 2008 with the same acura engine and gearbox would they potentially use a zytek 07S2 instead of the lola B07/40 instead if they could not get their hands on a honda/acura ARX01a?

the zytek has shown a considerable turn of speed and would probably be a good match in terms of speed to the porsche RS evo's and acura ARX01a's.

but apart from that, i cant wait for lemans 2008, especially as we may potentially have 1 RS spyder and at least a few acura honda engined LMP2 contender's, and from video's on youtube the acura honda engine is a fabulous sounding engine, if there was such a thing as sound awards, i think it would get it, even over the zytek and lambo!

The Badger · 7 Jul 2007, 15:35 (Ref:1956930)

Fernandez will probably have a "new" Acura LMP2 chassis . I doubt if the Acura ARX01a will still be racing in the ALMS .

JAG · 7 Jul 2007, 17:16 (Ref:1956986)

What's stopping Acura selling 2007 chassis to customers?

Maybe even to Europe, I'm sure there'd be takers, and Acura could get feedback on the engines.

MulsanneMike · 7 Jul 2007, 17:25 (Ref:1956995)

Quote:

Originally Posted by dj choc ice

if fernandez raced at lemans in 2008 with the same acura engine and gearbox would they potentially use a zytek 07S2 instead of the lola B07/40 instead if they could not get their hands on a honda/acura ARX01a?

the zytek has shown a considerable turn of speed and would probably be a good match in terms of speed to the porsche RS evo's and acura ARX01a's.

but apart from that, i cant wait for lemans 2008, especially as we may potentially have 1 RS spyder and at least a few acura honda engined LMP2 contender's, and from video's on youtube the acura honda engine is a fabulous sounding engine, if there was such a thing as sound awards, i think it would get it, even over the zytek and lambo!

There's no reason to think that the Zytek/Acura rumor has anything to do with chassis'...

jhansen · 7 Jul 2007, 17:45 (Ref:1957005)

Quote:

Originally Posted by MulsanneMike

There's no reason to think that the Zytek/Acura rumor has anything to do with chassis'...

Care to elaborate? Gearbox?

MulsanneMike · 7 Jul 2007, 17:53 (Ref:1957010)

Quote:

Originally Posted by jhansen

Care to elaborate? Gearbox?

Nope...what else does Zytek build? And more importantely, pretty sure Sam Collins already spilled the beans on this one...

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