Acura ARX-02a LMP1 2009

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Designed for ... LMP1 of ALMS 2009 Teams Patrón Highcroft Country of origin Japan Introduced in 2009 Chassis Designer Nick Wirth Engine Type LM-AR7 90º V 8 Horse Power 620 bhp Torque 500 Nm Weight 900 kilo hp/kg 0.69 bhp / kg Engine Displacement 4 liter Engine Aspiration Naturally Aspirated Engine Fuel Feed Fuel Injection Engine Location Mid, longitudinally mounted Engine Valve Train 4 valves / cylinder, DOHC Drivetrain Rear wheel drive More Car Details

Acura stated very early on that LMP1 was their eventual goal, and therefore the LMP2 project could certainly be considered a toe-in-the water exercise leading up to the LMP1. Developed by Wirth Research in England and Honda Performance Development in California, the Acura LMP1 racer has taken the 'Formula 1' route more by necessity than by choice. With the ARX-01a/b LMP2 racer used with considerable success in 2007 and 2008, Acura ran a similar engine as its biggest competitors, a Naturally Aspirated 3.4 litre V8. With power at a premium, Nick Wirth concentrated on generation as much mechanical grip and downforce as possible. Things were complicated further with changes in the regulations considering the maximum width of the rear wing. Wirth's unusual solution was to fit rear tires on the front, increasing the contact patch by 7%. One of the drawbacks was the need for wider front fenders, which came at the expense of the space between the fenders and monocoque. This limited the all important airflow passed the monocoque into the side-pods. To solve this, Wirth developed a raised nose with a 'zero keel', almost identical to that of a current F1 car.