Cookie Consent by Free Privacy Policy website Acura ARX-05 Completes Successful First North American Test
agosto 25, 2017 - Acura

Acura ARX-05 Completes Successful First North American Test

Comunicato Stampa disponibile solo in lingua originale. 

  • Acura Motorsports, Team Penske finish two-day run at Road Atlanta
  • Juan Pablo Montoya pilots #arx05 in initial North American run
  • Extensive #test program planned ahead of 2018 debut

The #acura #arx05 completed two days of successful testing this week at Road Atlanta, as #acura Motorsports and Team Penske began an intensive development program for the new prototype in advance of the 2018 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.

Veteran Juan Pablo Montoya, one of two drivers already announced for the effort, was at the wheel of the #arx05 throughout the two-day #test.  The outing was the first for the new prototype following an initial shakedown run last month at the Paul Ricard circuit in France, and follows its official unveiling at Monterey Car Week.

"Overall, it was a good #test," said Matthew Niles, senior engineer and project leader for Honda Performance Development.  "We were close to the area of total solar eclipse [on Monday], so we had to stop running for a bit as the sun was dimmed.  We went on to complete all of our run plan, and feel we have a good base to build on going forward."

This week's initial run was the first of a series of tests, to be conducted at a variety of circuits, planned by Team Penske and Honda Performance Development, the #racing arm for both #acura Motorsports and Honda #racing in North America. 

The competition debut of the Team Penske #acura prototypes will take place at the season-opening Rolex 24 in January, 2018.  In addition to Montoya, reigning IMSA prototype champion Dane Cameron will also be part of the 2018 lineup, with remaining drivers to be announced.

The #acura #arx05 [Acura Racing eXperimental, generation 5] is the latest in a line of endurance prototypes to be fielded by the company dating to 1991, just five years after the 1986 launch of the #acura brand.  Based on the very successful ORECA 07 chassis, the new #arx05 prototype showcases Acura-specific bodywork and design features, including Acura's signature Jewel Eye™ headlights, and utilizes the race-proven, production-based #acura AR35TT twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 engine that powers the #acura MDX, RDX, TLX and RLX models.  

The #acura #arx05 adds to a rich legacy of #acura competition in sports car #racing, including the 1991-93 IMSA Camel Lights manufacturer and driver championships; 50 IMSA and American Le Mans Series class or overall race victories [through Watkins Glen 2017]; and the 2009 American Le Mans Series manufacturer, driver and team championships, in both the LMP1 and LMP2 classes.

The new design also features a production-based engine.  Developed from the "J35" family of engines found in #acura RDX, MDX, RLX and TLX production vehicles, the #acura AR35TT engine has powered class winners at the 12 Hours of Sebring (2011-13); the 24 Hours of Le Mans and LMP2 World Endurance Championship (2012).  The engine also powered entries to American Le Mans Series LMP2 titles in 2012-13; and the overall winners at the Rolex 24, 12 Hours of Sebring and Petit Le Mans in 2016.

 

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