Temple of VTEC Rumors and News - Acura NSX GT3 Program Progressing with Surprise Public Test Debut Slated for Mid-Ohio

Jul 27, 2016

NSX GT3 program on-schedule for homologation this fall and North American racing to follow in 2017
Peter Kox is development driver contracted through RealTime Racing
Acura Motorsports is flying high on NSX production class win at Pikes Peak and TLX GT sweep at Road America

The Acura NSX GT3 racecar will make its public test debut on July 28 during Pirelli World Challenge practice sessions at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio, Acura announced today. The racecar will be piloted by development driver, Peter Kox, during practice sessions on the 2.25-mile, 14-turn road course on Thursday, July 28 (8:50 a.m.- 9:30 a.m. EDT) and Friday, July 29 (4:15 p.m.- 4:45 p.m. EDT).

"Based on a very successful test program, we're taking the next logical step in seeing how we stack-up against the competition," said Art St. Cyr, president of Honda Performance Development. "Mid-Ohio seemed like the perfect opportunity, given the demands it places on a racecar and its proximity to NSX R&D and manufacturing."

The twin-turbocharged Acura NSX GT3 is slated for homologation as an FIA GT3-class racecar this fall, in preparation for North American GT racing competition beginning in 2017. The car will be on display to the public in the paddock of RealTime Racing, Acura's development partner for the GT3 program, over the course of the race weekend.

The Acura NSX GT3 racecar, featuring custom carbon fiber bodywork and aero components, is powered by a 3.5-liter, 75-degree, twin turbocharged DOHC V-6 engine using the same design specifications as the engine in the production 2017 Acura NSX. The Acura NSX GT3's aluminum intensive multi-material space frame is produced at the company's Performance Manufacturing Center in Marysville, Ohio, the exclusive manufacturing home for the new Acura NSX. Its twin turbocharged V-6 engine is also assembled in Ohio at the company's Anna, Ohio engine plantⁱ.

Initial development of the NSX GT3 racecar was conducted by the company's Japan race engineering arm with testing on race circuits in Europe and Japan. Additional development, testing and final homologation to FIA GT3 global racing specifications is currently being undertaken by the company's North American race engineering group, Honda Performance Development (HPD), in Santa Clarita, California.

The NSX GT3 is a further extension of Acura's GT motorsports program, where Acura, in partnership with RealTime racing, is campaigning two Acura TLX GT cars in the Pirelli World Challenge. In its most recent outing, Acura's Ryan Eversley completed a sweep of the doubleheader race weekend at Road America. Acura and RealTime will compete in the Pirelli World Challenge GT Class at Mid-Ohio on July 29 and 30.

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About Acura
Acura is a leading automotive luxury nameplate that delivers Precision Crafted Performance, an original approach to technology and design that creates a new driving experience. On March 27, 2016, Acura celebrated the 30th anniversary of its launch as the first luxury nameplate from a Japanese automaker.

The Acura lineup features five distinctive models � the RLX luxury flagship sedan, the TLX performance luxury sedan, the ILX sport sedan, the 5-passenger RDX luxury crossover SUV, and the seven-passenger Acura MDX, America's all-time best-selling three-row luxury SUV. This spring, Acura launched its next-generation, electrified NSX supercar as a new and pinnacle expression of Acura Precision Crafted Performance.

ⁱ Assembled in the U.S. with domestic and globally sourced parts.