2012 HPD ARX 03 LMP1
Overview
- Conceived for Honda Performance Development by accomplished F1 and Sportscar designer, Nick Wirth
- Raced in LMP2 configuration throughout the 2012 and 2013 American Le Mans Series with Level 5 Racing
- Winner of the ALMS LMP2 championship title in 2012 and contributed to the teams title in 2013
- Raced by Indy 500 winners Dario Franchitti and Simon Pagenaud, Sebring winner Marino Franchitti and Le Mans winner Christophe Bouchut
- 2013 Sebring 12 Hours victory among its many LMP2 honours
- Claimed outright victory at the 2012 Baltimore 2 Hours
- Used during the official Le Mans Test in 2012 and 2013
- Recently upgraded to full ‘weapons-grade’ LMP1 specification by Scott Sport using largely original parts
- Powered by the period correct Honda 3.4-litre AR6-LM V8 engine, producing approximately 530 bhp
- Finished in patriotic, US-flag livery as used in period by the famous Muscle Milk team on another example of the same model
- An extremely competitive proposition for overall victories in Masters Endurance Legends and HSR events in the US including: Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion at Laguna Seca and Sebring and Daytona Classics
- Accompanied by its Masters Technical Passport and a spare parts package including multiple sets of wheels, suspension and drivetrain components, gearbox internals and more
Background
With the ARX-03, Honda Performance Development (HPD) created a versatile Le Mans Prototype chassis that could be configured for racing in the top LMP1 or second-tier LMP2 category.
Introduced at the start of the 2012 season, the ARX-03 replaced the ageing, Courage-based ARX-01 and was a popular choice for privateers in both the American Le Mans Series and the newly created FIA World Endurance Championship. The ARX-03 proved particularly successful in LMP2 guise, with the Level 5 team winning several titles in the ALMS with the car offered here.
Under their Acura brand, Honda Performance Development entered sports car racing during the 2007 season with the ARX-01, combining an existing Courage chassis, with bespoke bodywork and an in-house developed 3.4-litre V8 engine. This was the first-ever Acura-badged V8 and was loosely based on the Honda Indy engine. Formula 1 designer Nick Wirth, a pioneer of Computer Fluid Dynamics (CFD), was responsible for the revised aerodynamics. Built to LMP2 specifications, the ARX-01 scored a class victory at its Sebring 12 Hours debut.
Over the next few seasons, the ARX-01 was continuously developed. Wirth also designed a brand-new ARX-02 LMP1 car, which only raced for a single season. Both cars were ultimately replaced ahead of the 2012 season with the all-new ARX-03. With identical regulations for LMP1 and LMP2 chassis, the new carbon-fibre composite monocoque could be used for the top tiers of prototype racing in both the ALMS and the FIA World Endurance Championship, which also included the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Dubbed the ARX-03a, the LMP1 car was powered by an evolution of the original 3.4-litre V8 engine. In ARX-03b or LMP2 trim, the new prototype racer featured a production-based twin-turbo V6 engine. The two versions could also easily be distinguished by the more extreme bodywork of the LMP1 car, with front fenders wide enough to house wheels and tyres originally designed for the rear end. The ARX-03b bodywork was an evolution of the final ARX-01 incarnation. Owing to its international racing schedule, which included the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the car was referred to as an HPD, not an Acura like most of its predecessors.
The new ARX-03 was clearly highly anticipated as nine chassis were built in total, all-raced by privateer teams, some of which enjoyed factory support. Two LMP1 cars were raced in the World Endurance Championship, while the ALMS saw three full-time entries, two ARX-03bs for Level 5 Racing and one ARX-03a for Muscle Milk Racing. The ARX-03 was particularly successful in the ALMS, with the cars dominating the P1 and P2 categories during the 2012 and 2013 seasons, winning the team championships on both occasions.
In 2014 and 2015, the ARX-03b continued to be raced by the Extreme Speed Motorsports team in both championships. Dominating the ALMS in both the P1 and P2 categories for two seasons, the ARX-03 remains one of the most successful prototype racers of the early 2010s.
This Car
One of two cars acquired by Scott Tucker's Level 5 Motorsport team ahead of the 2012 season, chassis 02 debuted in LMP2 configuration at the test for the Sebring 12 Hours. It would race in the 2012 American Le Mans Series with start number 055 and make an appearance during the official 24 Hours of Le Mans test.
Shared by Tucker himself and Luis Diaz and Christophe Bouchut, the ARX-03b was fastest of all LMP2 cars at the Sebring test and even clocked the second fastest time overall. For the race, chassis 02 was piloted by Tucker, João Barbosa and Christophe Bouchut, finishing fourth overall and second in the LMP2 class behind a sister ARX-03b.
At the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, Tucker and Bouchut went one better, winning the LMP2 class . That year, further class victories were scored at Lime Rock Park, Mid-Ohio and Virginia. In the LMP2-only Baltimore 2 Hours, Tucker and Bouchut scored the car's first outright victory. At Petit Le Mans, Tucker shared chassis 02 with brothers Dario and Marino Franchitti. Level 5 Motorsports ended the year as P2 champions.
Even though the team added a third ARX-03 to the stable, chassis 02 continued to be raced during the 2013 American Le Mans Series. Now entered under the 551 start number, it was immediately driven to a Sebring P2 class win by Tucker, Marino Franchitti and Ryan Briscoe. Sharing with either Franchitti or Briscoe, Tucker would also drive 02 to class wins at Laguna Seca, Lime Rock Park, Mosport and Road America. As in 2012, this ARX-03b was also flown to Le Mans to participate in the official test andwas driven by Tucker, Briscoe and Marino Franchitti.
Following the Baltimore round of the 2013 American Le Mans Series, chassis 02 was retired from contemporary racing. During its two-season career, it scored ten P2-class victories including one at the 2013 Sebring 12 Hours. As such, it was an integral part of the Level 5 Motorsports back-to-back championship-winning effort in the American League Mans Series.
Chassis 02 sold via RM Sotheby’s in 2017 and remained in its period LMP2 specification until acquired by our vendor in 2022. It was subsequently entrusted to British specialists Scott Sport for a complete rebuild to LMP1 specification using original parts. A correct AR6-LM 3.4-litre was sourced and mated to a paddle-shift actuated Hewland TLS six-speed gearbox. It was fitted with full ARX-03a bodywork, finished in the patriotic American livery used when the Muscle Milk team scored an outright victory with their ARX-03a during the 2012 ALMS race at Lime Rock Park.
While the main conversion to LMP1 specification was completed in 2023, the car has since been returned to Scott Sport for further work, including a complete rebuild of the engine by Judd and a gearbox rebuild.
Offered now in race-ready condition, accompanied by a comprehensive spares package, and presented in its striking tribute livery, this ARX-03 is a certain front-runner in the Masters Endurance Legends and HSR in the US, including Daytona 24 Hours and Sebring 12 Hours. It is also a historically significant car as one of the most successful ARX-03 chassis, contributing to back-to-back ALMS LMP2 Championships with Level 5 Motorsport.
Certification & Component Life
Masters Technical Passport: valid with no expiration
Crack Testing: last completed December 2024
Fuel Cell Expiration: April 2028
Engine: newly rebuilt by Judd (completed Jan 2025), zero-hours
Gearbox: freshly rebuilt by Scott Sport during the 2023 and maintained since with little use
Technical Specification
Category: LMP1
Chassis: Carbon fibre monocoque, carbon fibre body panels
Engine: Honda HPD 3,464cc, naturally-aspirated, V8 producing approximately 530bhp
Gearbox: Wirth/Hewland TLS 6-speed sequential paddle-shift
Front suspension: Double wishbones, inboard coil over Multimatic DSSV dampers
Rear suspension: Double wishbones, inboard coil over Multimatic DSSV dampers
Braking System: Ventilated carbon discs, 6-piston AP Racing alloy callipers, all-round
Electronics: Motec
Weight: In the region of 900kg
Tyres: Michelin Racing Slicks
Eligibility
Masters Endurance Legends
For Le Mans Prototypes and GT cars, which competed in the major endurance championships between 1995 and 2016, Masters Endurance Legends holds a full annual calendar of events both in the UK and in Europe. These events take place at a variety of iconic circuits including Silverstone, Zandvoort and Paul Ricard.
HSR Group 6 - Including Daytona and Sebring Classics
For IMSA/FIA prototypes, which competed post-1998, HSR’s Group 6 holds a number of events in the United States. Among these events are two of the premier events for historic endurance competition, which are HSR Classic Daytona in November and HSR Classic Sebring 12 Hour in December.
Spare Parts
Summary as follows (detailed list available on request):
- Driveshafts x 2
- Steering rack x 1
- Wheels (complete sets) x 2.5
- Bodywork:
- - Wheel arches
- - Ducting
- - Dive planes
- - Turning vanes
- - Light lenses
- Wishbones
- Gearbox internals
- Gear ratios
- Complete differential x 1
- Input shaft x 1
- Gearbox oil pump x 1
- Wheel nuts
- Wheel sockets
- Bump rubbers
- Starter motor
- Fuel pumps
- Throttle cable
Location & Tax Status
Car Location: this car is located at our Petersfield showrooms in Hampshire, United Kingdon where viewings are welcome by appointment.
Taxes: UK
Sam Says