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  HPD ARX-01c      

  Article Image gallery (39) Specifications  
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Country of origin:Japan
Produced in:2010
Numbers built:At least 2
Designed by:Wirth Research for Honda Performance Development
Predecessor:Acura ARX-01b
Successor:HPD ARX-01d
Author:Wouter Melissen
Last updated:April 16, 2010
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Click here to download printer friendly versionOver the winter the Acuras were further modified and appeared at the start of the 2008 season as the ARX-01b. Fernandez was now also handed an Acura and a few races into the season Indy racing legend Gil de Ferran became the fourth Acura 'customer'. The development clearly showed on the track and by the third race of the season the Highcroft team picked up Acura's second class victory and the first one of the new season. It was the start of a remarkable run by the brightly liveried machine. Brilliantly piloted by David Brabham and Scott Sharp, the Patron sponsored Acura all but bridged the gap with the championship leading drivers, scoring one overall win in the process. That feat was repeated by the AGR team at Detroit.

In the final two races of the 2008 ALMS, bad luck and a big accident prevented the Highcroft team from crowning its impressive run with a title. Encouraged by the ever improving performance of the ARX-01, Acura decided to move up to LMP1 with the brand new ARX-02a. Only a single ARX-01b, in the hands of the Fernandez team, was entered to defend Acura's honours in the LMP2 class. In both prototype classes competition was minimal as both Audi and Porsche opted to sit this season out. Fernandez won its class in all but two of the season's ten rounds, which more than enough to clinch the title. The two ARX-02a LMP1 cars dominated the championship and finished first and second in the tables with Highcroft beating de Ferran to the championship.

A new challenge awaits the successful ARX-01 in its fourth season of racing as two examples have been entered in the 2010 edition of the 24 Hours Le Mans. To comply with the latest regulations, Wirth Research developed a third evolution, which was dubbed the HPD ARX-01c as Acuras are not available in Europe. Highcroft dusted off the car last raced in 2008 for a full ALMS season and a run at Le Mans. The car used by Fernandez to win the 2009 LMP2 title was sold to British Strakka Racing, who will run the car at Le Mans as well and also in the Le Mans Series. Highcroft had a troublesome first run at Sebring but Strakka won the LMP2 class at the Le Mans Series season opener despite losing 10 minutes in the pits. A week later Highcroft added an outright victory to the ARX-01c at the prestigious Long Beach Grand Prix.

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  Article Image gallery (39) Specifications