Super GT 2009 Series - Final Round - Honda Special

[JoshuaWong]

Autobacs Super GT 2009 Series - Final Round

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Round 9 - Twin Ring Motegi - Race Preview


Honda Racing's NSX-GT program in the Super GT series have finally come to an end.
Honda announced that they would end their racing activity with NSX after the 2009
season and field an all new machine in 2010. The NSX's racing heritage goes way
back since 1996 when Honda entered the NSX into LeMans GT1 and GT2 class. In 1997,
the NSX entered JGTC (Now Super GT) and has been racing ever since. It is the
longest running continuous model in JGTC history and holds the all time record of
most wins (35 regular season wins) and most pole position (46 regular season pole)
per any model as of 2009. The last ever race for the NSX will be held at Honda's
home track, Twin Ring Motegi. Coincidentally, it is also the 100th race for the NSX.

Round 9 - Twin Ring Motegi - Qualifying Results


ARTA NSX gets pole positions. The No. 8 pair of Firman/Izawa presently stands in third
position in the season ranking for the driver title. Only a win in Sunday's race will
keep their slim chances of a come-from-behind title win alive, but this pole position
puts them in the best possible position for that miracle to happen. It has been
announced that the Honda NSX will not be entered in next year's SUPER GT, so Sunday's
race will be its last and today's pole position will help it bow out in style. The time
was 1'46'916, just 0.001 second faster than the Petronas TOM's SC430.

Round 9 - Twin Ring Motegi - Top 3 Point Ranking as of Round 8

1. Motul Nismo GT-R 78
2. Petronas TOM's SC430 73
3. Autobacs ARTA NSX 61


If the NSX is to go out with a series champion, the rest of the NSX field by Team Kunimitsu
Raybrig NSX, Real Keihin NSX, Rockstar Dome NSX and Epson NSX will have to finish near the
top 5 and at the same time Petrona's TOM's Sc430 and Motul Nismo GT-R will have to fall out
of top 4 according to the points given to positions. Team NSX will need a miracle to pull
this off.



Round 9 - Twin Ring Motegi - Race Day

Part 1
[U2B]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7bygpN1uPkU&feature=channel[/U2B]

Part 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dk7JF...eature=channel

Part 3
[U2B]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pj1Ybm8a7LQ&feature=channel[/U2B]

[SPOILER]
ARTA pulled off a Pole-to-Win leading for the majority of the race despite being overtaken
by Petronas TOM's SC430 in the first corner on lap one. On lap 31, ARTA NSX regained top
position and combined with good tire selection allowed it to pull away and maintain the lead.
At the finish, ARTA NSX took the checkered first with Petronas TOM's SC430 trailing by 8.8 sec.
This was the second win of the season for the No. 8 ARTA NSX, following its victory at Fuji
in round seven. The series champion went to Petronas TOM's SC430 with a 7 point lead over 2nd
place ARTA NSX with the formerly leading Motul Nismo GT-R falling behind to 3rd place.

So there we are, a hard earn series champion for Lexus and a last round victory to send off Honda's NSX.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Honda 2010's successor?


Due to regulation changes in Super GT, the NSX already laden with handicapp due to its mid
engine layout has been forced to retire. 2010 regulations states that cars in GT500 may
only be of front engine-rear wheel drive layout. The engine wil be standardized to Formula
Nippon's 3.4 litre V8 although some consideration was given to manufactuere as Nissan is still
using a 4.0L V8 whereas Lexus is using a 4.3L V8. With no production sportscars in its current
line up, Honda has reportedly been given special permission to run a specialty prototype car
based off the cancelled V10 super car project. This will also let Honda off the homologation
hook, meaning no limited run of V10s will have to be made or sold unlike the NSX-R GT. Honda
has already registered the vehicle with JAF. It will be a matter of time before the car is
revealed.

[JoshuaWong]

Missing part 2

[U2B]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dk7JFE4-JzE&feature=channel[/U2B]

[shenmecar]

Hondas V10 sports car lives!!!!!!

[!Tigger]

JGTC FTW

[!Aznboi128]

Originally Posted by Crossbone

JGTC FTW

+1

[BeefCake4000]

I wonder what car Honda is going to use in 2010

[skyxx]

^ The now dead/cancelled NSX prototype. It even says in the article. READ.

[TOS'd]

RIP NSX. (:

[TypeRNammer]

I remember Lexus teasing us with the LF-A in the same fashion, only difference is they actually made it into a production car.

[orange7]

I'll take one of those NSX's over any GTR anyday!

[spoon.ek9]

i wonder how the new nsx will do as an FR machine from now on

[!e.lo_]

aww damn!
tho im a nissan fanboy, the nsx always had a special place in my heart.
i think most of us felt that the nsx was just something amazing.

wonder how much it would be for me to get the takata nsx in my garage..

[JoshuaWong]

It would be almost impossible. Unfortunately most JGTC/Super GT cars don't exist as the carbon tubs were used for later cars. Almost unforgivably, the remains are scrapped. However, seeing as there will be a totally new car next year, this could very well end up in Honda's museum just like the LeMans 1996 GT1 NSX, GT2 NSX, and 1997-1998 NSX-GT NA1. Trying to buy one would be very difficult as well, they do not wish to share the cars with a risk of providing competitor's intelligence. Couple people over at NSXprime.com have try to get hold of one, but so far no luck.

[orange7]

Originally Posted by spoon.ctr.ek9

i wonder how the new nsx will do as an FR machine from now on

just won't be the same....

[jtap1]

Does anyone know where we can download/watch the Super GT series online?