Honda has announced that its multiple IMSA race winning NSX GT3 will be available for customer programs, for the 2018 season. The NSX GT3 is eligible to race in more than two dozen FIA-sanctioned events globally, including: Blancpain’s GT Series, VLN’s N24 event, Pirelli’s World Challenge, IMSA’s SportsCar series in North America, Blancpain’s GT Asia Series and GT Asia championship as well as the GT300 class of Super GT, the Australian GT Championship, and Intercontinental GT Challenge.
Orders for the NSX GT3 are now being taken by JAS Motorsport, responsible for sales and customer support in Europe, Asia (including China) and South America; by HPD in North America and by Mugen in Japan.
The car’s development has been undertaken as a collaborative project between Honda R&D and JAS Motorsport over the past three years that has also included HPD, since the end of 2015, with over 85,000km of collaborative race and test mileage completed. An initial batch of 12 cars will be produced in time for the start of the 2018 race season.
The production-based 3.5-litre, twin-turbocharged V6 race engine uses the same design specifications as the road-going NSX, including the block, heads, valve train, crankshaft, pistons and dry-sump lubrication system. Unlike the road car, however the race car has no electrical assistance, and loses its AWD system. A six-speed, sequential-shift transmission now delivers power to the rear wheels, while a bespoke aerodynamic package finishes off the changes between variants.
The carbon fibre, race-ready NSX GT3 is offered for sale at a starting price of €465,000 (US$543,050) as delivered by JAS Motorsport. Additional options and complete customer support, including parts and sales, training and engineering services are available.
“Honda are extremely proud to launch the NSX GT3 Customer Racing Programme,” said Robert Watherston, head of motorsport at Honda Motor Europe. “We have already seen the quality of the car proven by its victories in the USA and its ability to convincingly lead the Daytona 24 Hours on its series debut. With the customer support of Honda, JAS Motorsport, HPD and Mugen, we look forward to seeing the NSX fighting for victory in the most prestigious GT3 races in the world in 2018 and beyond.”
“The NSX GT3 has been created to compete at the highest level,” said Alessandro Mariani, CEO JAS Motorsport. “It blends cutting-edge GT3 race technology with a beautiful and efficient design and the very latest in FIA safety specification. We have already seen the car become a winner in the USA and we are now ready to offer it for sale around the world for racers to enjoy.”
