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Honda NSX racer axed
27 October 2009
The Honda NSX will bow out of competing in the top class of the Japanese Super GT championship after 13 years, the company has confirmed.
Although the NSX was only produced from 1990-2005, Honda continued to race it in the series because of its popularity with Japanese fans. Drivers have included Ulsterman Richard Lyons and English/Irish driver Ralph Firman.
Hi-res Honda NSX-GT pictures - a selection of the best racing liveries
The race car has a chassis tuned by the renowned Dome race team and a reworked engine tuned by Mugen. The 3.5-litre V6 engine produces around 500bhp, up from 270bhp in the road car's 3.0-litre unit, and is mounted longitudinally instead of transversely.
During its time racing in the series - Japan's top class for GT cars - the NSX-GT has won the driver and team championships, in 2000 and 2007. The car has also sat on pole 49 times and won 36 races.
The NSX-GT has effectively been forced out of the championship, as 2010 regulations demand that all GT500 cars must be front-engined and rear-wheel drive
Honda says it will announce a replacement car for the series in due course, but has not confirmed what this will be. Reports suggest a reworked front-engined version of the NSX or a modified Super 2000 car could be used, although neither would have any direct marketing value.
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