Designed by Wirth Research on behalf of Honda Performance Development (HPD) to promote the Acura brand in North America
Conceived to exploit lightweight LMP2 regulations in a similar vein to Porsche's RS Spyder
This example raced in period in the later ‘D’ specification of 2011 - now completely rebuilt to the faster and more celebrated ‘B’ spec of 2008 by three-time Le Mans LMP2 victors, Jota Sport, with original parts sourced directly from HPD.
Powered by a bonafide, period-and-specification correct, Honda 3.4 litre, naturally-aspirated V8 engine producing approximately 580bhp (with mandated 34.3mm air restrictor)
Total weight of only 825 kilograms (substantially less than rival LMP1/LMP900 cars)
Controlled by the latest Motec electronics and fitted with new wiring loom
Rebuilt Hewland gearbox with six-speed paddle-shift operation by Geartronics
Accompanied by a vast spares package inc. wheels, bodywork, magnesium gearbox casing and internals
Offered in genuinely race-ready condition, fully crack-tested with a new fuel tank, extinguisher, belts, etc.
Race-proven at the recent 2023 Silverstone Festival, qualifying 2nd overall in Masters Endurance Legends on its historic racing debut
Eligible for Masters Endurance Legends, Dubai GP Revival, HSR, Sebring and Daytona classics
Truly an exceptional car and among the very fastest prototypes available for historic racing
BACKGROUND
Between 2007 and 2011, some of the world's most decorated professional sports car teams fielded various iterations of Acura's ARX-01 design. Few were more triumphant than the 'B' specification of 2008.
Keen to promote their luxury brand in North America, Honda decided late in 2006 to enter the prototype ranks of the American Le Mans Series under the Acura banner. Like Porsche, whose iconic RS Spyder was built to a similar philosophy, the Japanese manufacturer shrewdly recognised that the lighter-weight LMP2 class regulations would better suit the tight and twisty nature of the American Le Mans Series venues and decided to build a car to that rulebook instead of the heavier LMP1 category.
Approximately one hundred kilograms lighter than a typical LMP1, yet with not dissimilar levels of downforce, the lighter, more agile Acura proved a potent force, strong enough to campaign for overall honours - particularly with the 'b' specification of 2008. With three major OEMs - Acura (Honda), Porsche, and Audi - battling head-to-head for overall race wins, the series enjoyed a golden season, with fans enthralled by the tussle.
Not only were the V8-powered ARX-01-B's of Highcroft Racing, Andretti Green, Fernandez Racing and De Ferran Motorsports a strong match for Penske's works Porsche RS Spyders, but the design even had sufficient pace to beat Audi's R10 TDi LMP1 cars, with two overall victories claimed by season's end.
Developed by pioneering computational fluid dynamics (CFD) company Wirth Research on behalf of HPD, the ARX-01b was based around a carbon composite monocoque originally designed by French constructor Courage and built by compatriots Oreca. Propulsion came from Honda's naturally-aspirated 3.4 litre V8 engine, which produced nearly 600bhp (breathing through mandatory air restrictors) delivered to the rear axle via a six-speed Hewland gearbox actuated via paddles behind the steering wheel.
Truly cutting edge, the Acura's carefully contoured surfaces seemed to instantly age rival designs, while beneath the skin, the latest suspension technologies, including a third spring/damper on the rear of the car to better control ride-heights without compromising traction, were in abundance. Stopping power was, of course, provided by carbon discs and pads, with slick racing tyres delivering all of that downforce to the road.
In total, HPD built six ARX-01s in its various specifications. Two were destroyed in period, and of the four chassis that survived, only two are in private hands today - and of these two, only one is built to that celebrated 'B' specification.
THIS CAR
A spare tub produced ahead of the 2011 season, chassis number 2011/01 was pressed into service for the 2011 Silverstone 6 Hours with RML after the Le Mans class-winning British sports car team wrote off their ex-De Ferran Motorsports chassis when colliding with a Peugeot during practice for the Spa 1000kms.
Built up to ARX-01 'D' specification of that season, the British race would prove chassis 2011/01's sole competitive outing in period. In the event, drivers Mike Newton, Tommy Erdos and Ben Collins (of Top Gear 'Stig' fame) started 18th on the grid and finished 13th overall and 4th in class. The race was the last contemporary outing for patron Newton at the top level, and the chassis was not raced again.
Retained thereafter by Wirth Research, chassis 2011/01 was eventually acquired by our vendor some years later, who commenced a painstaking search for original parts, specifically those required to rebuild the car to the ultimate 'B' specification as used by the De Ferran Motorsport during that classic and victorious 2008 season before regulation changes restricted the performance of later iterations.
Sparing no expense or effort, our vendor sourced everything required, for the most part, directly from HPD themselves, including even the 3.4-litre, naturally-aspirated V8 engine.
Entrusted with this exciting build was multiple Le Mans LMP2 class-winning team, Jota Sport, who finished the ARX-01-B to the same professional level of preparation as their own contemporary endurance racers.
One necessary concession to period-correct componentry was the decision to fit a modern Motec dash, ECU and wiring loom to 'future-proof' the electrical functionality of the car. Additionally, a new fuel cell, seat belts and a fresh fire extinguisher were fitted, while the magnesium-cased, Hewland six-speed gearbox (controlled by a Geartronics system) was fully rebuilt, the Kayaba power-steering system serviced, and all components fully crack-tested as you would expect.
Completed in the Summer of 2023, the car was prepared for its race debut in Masters Endurance Legends at the Silverstone Festival.
With little more than a shakedown test beforehand, the ARX-01-B immediately impressed on its competitive return, qualifying second overall in a field peppered with ex-factory Peugeot 908s/90Xs, OAK Pescarolos, and Lola Aston-Martin LMP1s.
In the first of two races, the De Ferran-liveried machine challenged for the lead until a broken throttle cable thwarted progress. In the second, the chequered flag was successfully reached, but the elite driver penalty imposed by the series for driver pairings comprising a professional ultimately scuppered any real prospects of a podium. Nonetheless, the outing offered the team a chance to iron out any technical niggles (of which few were found) and demonstrate the car's immense performance potential before making it available to a new custodian.
With the engine having now only covered 500 of its 3,500-mile rebuild interval schedule, the car is offered in genuinely race-ready condition, with at least an entire season's worth of running available before rebuilds are due.
Crucially, the sale includes a vast spares package (details available on request), which are effectively all of the ARX-01-B parts in existence today. The package consists of an assortment of body parts, drive shafts, three sets of wheels, a complete set of wishbones and push-rods, gearbox internals, and a genuine HPD magnesium casing.
" If you were watching closely at the time or study your sportscar racing history carefully, you'll notice occasional periods where the rulebooks offer visionary constructors the chance to create something special, perhaps not entirely anticipated by those who conceive the regulatory frameworks in the first place. The ARX-01b is one such example, a car so formidably engineered that it is still hailed today by drivers of the period as one of the very best cars they ever experienced. You need only to look closely at the detail to understand why: beautifully crafted and thoughtfully packaged, every surface and component contributing to performance. It’s hard to imagine a more compelling entry for Endurance Legends racing today."
