HPD Pledging Long-Term Support for Acura NSX GT3

Photo: Regis Lefebure/SRO

Honda Performance Development has pledged support to the Acura NSX GT3 for a number of years beyond the mid-engined sports car’s production lifecycle according to project manager Lee Niffenegger.

The luxury automaker, which has been represented in GT3 competition since 2016, could still have customer cars on the grid nearly through the end of the decade, thanks to a recent extension of the NSX GT3’s homologation.

While officially committed through the current regulations cycle in 2024, Niffenegger indicated the California-based motorsports arm of Honda and Acura would continue to support customers through the duration of its eligibility.

“It’s homologated through 2029,” Niffenegger told Sportscar365. “Basically it was a production certification. That’s been sorted out since March. The FIA just updated it on the actual file.

“They’re still building the Type S, so it’s still in production. It’s based on production dates.

“Obviously the focus right now is this homologation cycle through 2024. There’s still a 2023 [production] model; they’re still building the car.

“Right now it’s still game on.”

The Acura NSX GT3 Evo22 achieved key victories and championships this year in North America, with Gradient Racing winning Motul Petit Le Mans in the GTD class and Racers Edge Motorsports claiming the Fanatec GT World Challenge America powered by AWS Pro-Am title with Mario Farnbacher and Ashton Harrison.

The brand was also represented by RealTime Racing (GTWC America) and Rick Ware Racing (WeatherTech Sprint Cup) this year.

“I think most everybody will continue to run,” Niffenegger said. “One of the cars has sold to a new team.

“The Compass car, which hadn’t really run this year, got sold to some guys on the west coast that are trying to build up their team. We might see them in SRO next year.”

Niffenegger also revealed that a NSX GT3 Evo22 will be on the grid in the GTD Pro class at January’s Rolex 24 at Daytona, fielded by an “international customer” that has owned a car for some time.

He said the team intends to contest the race with an all-pro lineup, which would mark the second GTD Pro outing for the car following a combination effort from Racers Edge and Wayne Taylor Racing at this year’s Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring.

While the GT3 landscape has continued to evolve with new cars such as the BMW M4 GT3 and upcoming new models from Ferrari, Porsche, Chevrolet and Ford, Niffenegger believes there’s still plenty of life in the NSX, particularly in such a Balance of Performance-dictated platform.

“For Acura, it’s still a halo vehicle for the brand,” he said. “Obviously we want to support teams. Clearly the car can still win races. It’s a good thing for everybody.

“If the teams want to continue to run them and the car is legal, we’ll support them.

“When it’s not a current production car, from the brand standpoint, it’s not going to be as relevant for the Acura advertising or something like that.

“But certainly as long as the teams want to run it, we’re going to support it.”

John Dagys

John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John