The Acura ARX-06 is a sports prototype racing car designed by Honda Racing Corporation USA, formerly known as Honda Performance Development (HPD), and built by Oreca. It is designed to the Le Mans Daytona h regulations, and competes in the GTP class in the IMSA SportsCar Championship since 2023.[5] The car has a bespoke 2.4-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engine designated as the AR24e.[6][7] The ARX-06 debuted alongside the BMW M Hybrid V8, Cadillac V-LMDh and Porsche 963 at the 2023 season opener of the IMSA SportsCar Championship at the Daytona International Speedway.[8][9]

Acura ARX-06
The No. 60 ARX-06 at the 2023 Sahlen's Six Hours of The Glen
CategoryLe Mans Daytona h
ConstructorHRC US (Oreca)
Designer(s)David Salters (Technical Director, Honda Racing Corporation USA)[1]
Mark Crawford (Large Project Leader)[2]
Guy Melville-Brown (Exterior Project Lead)[3]
Bill Yex (Special Projects Lead)[3]
Jonathan Seaman (Lead Aerodynamicist)[3]
PredecessorAcura ARX-05
Technical specifications
ChassisLMP2-based carbon fibre monocoque
Suspension (front)Double wishbones, pushrods with power steering
Suspension (rear)Double wishbones, pushrods
Length5,100 mm (200.8 in)
Width2,000 mm (78.7 in)
Height1,060 mm (41.7 in)
Wheelbase3,148 mm (123.9 in)
EngineAcura AR24e 2.4 L (146.5 cu in) 90° V6 twin-turbocharged, 24valve, DOHC mid-engine, longitudinally-mounted
Electric motorRear-mounted 50 kW (68 PS; 67 hp) spec MGU supplied by Bosch
TransmissionXtrac P1359 7-speed sequential manual[4]
Power500 kW (680 PS; 671 hp)
Weight1,030 kg
FuelVP Racing Fuels
LubricantsPennzoil, later Valvoline
BrakesAP Racing carbon with AP Racing Monobloc 6-piston calipers[4]
TyresMichelin slicks with Rotiform one-piece forged alloys[4]
Competition history
CompetitionIMSA SportsCar Championship
Notable entrants
Notable drivers
Debut2023 24 Hours of Daytona
First win2023 24 Hours of Daytona
Last win2024 Chevrolet Detroit Sports Car Classic
Last event2024 Petit Le Mans
RacesWinsPodiumsPolesF/Laps
1851142

Background

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The No. 40 ARX-06 of Wayne Taylor Racing at the 2024 12 Hours of Sebring

In January 2021, Acura formally announced they would participate in IMSA's new GTP class in 2023 using an LMDh-compliant racing design.[10] On December 6, 2021, Acura announced it would work with Oreca as their chassis supplier, making Acura the first manufacturer in the LMDh ruleset to select Oreca as their partner.[11] It was also confirmed on the same day that Meyer Shank Racing and Wayne Taylor Racing would campaign the ARX-06 in the 2023 IMSA SportsCar Championship season.[12]

The ARX-06 completed its first shakedown at Circuit Paul Ricard in July 2022.[13] It was followed by the car's first full test at Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours on 16 & 17 July 2022.[14] The car was revealed on August 17, 2022. It was also announced that the car would use a hybrid powertrain, consisting of a 90° twin-turbocharged V6 internal combustion engine and standardized hybrid drivetrain components provided by Williams Advanced Engineering, Bosch and Xtrac, for maximum possible combined output of 671 hp (500 KW).[15] No 24 hour tests were conducted due to supply-chain issues.[16]

Racing results

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Complete IMSA SportsCar Championship results

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(key) Races in bold indicates pole position. Races in italics indicates fastest lap.

Year Entrants Class Drivers No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Pts. Pos.
2023 Meyer Shank Racing with Curb-Agajanian Performance Group GTP DAY SEB LBH MON WGL MOS ELK IMS PET 2711 3rd
  Tom Blomqvist 60 1 6 6 6 3 1 2 5 1
  Colin Braun 1 6 6 6 3 1 2 5 1
  Hélio Castroneves 1 6 1
  Simon Pagenaud 1
Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti Autosport   Ricky Taylor 10 2 4 7 4 6 2 3 6 9 2712 2nd
  Filipe Albuquerque 2 4 7 4 6 2 3 6 9
  Louis Delétraz 2 4 6 9
  Brendon Hartley 2
2024 Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti GTP DAY SEB LBH LGA DET WGL ELK IMS ATL 1999* 6th*
  Filipe Albuquerque 10 9 5 8 6 1 10 3
  Ricky Taylor 9 5 8 6 1 10 3
  Brendon Hartley 9 5
  Marcus Ericsson 9
  Jordan Taylor 40 3 1 10 4 5 4 8 2107* 5th*
  Louis Delétraz 3 1 10 4 5 4 8
  Colton Herta 3 1
  Jenson Button 3
Source:[17]


Complete IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup results

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(key) Races in bold indicates pole position. Races in italics indicates fastest lap.

Year Entrants Class Drivers No. 1 2 3 4 5 Pts. Pos.
2023 Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti Autosport GTP DAY SEB WGL PET 34 3rd
  Ricky Taylor 10 2 4 6 9
  Filipe Albuquerque 2 4 6 9
  Louis Delétraz 2 4 6 9
  Brendon Hartley 2
Meyer Shank Racing with Curb-Agajanian Performance Group   Tom Blomqvist 60 1 6 3 1 21 8th
  Colin Braun 1 6 3 1
  Hélio Castroneves 1 6 1
  Simon Pagenaud 1
2024 Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti GTP DAY SEB WGL IMS ATL 8* 9th*
  Filipe Albuquerque 10 9 5
  Ricky Taylor 9 5
  Brendon Hartley 9 5
  Marcus Ericsson 9
  Jordan Taylor 40 3 1 9* 5th*
  Louis Delétraz 3 1
  Colton Herta 3 1
  Jenson Button 3
Source:[18]

* Season still in progress.

References

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  1. ^ Acura (August 17, 2022). "Acura Unveils All-New Electrified ARX-06 Race Car". Retrieved September 29, 2023.
  2. ^ "Acura Unveils All-New Electrified ARX-06 Race Car". PR Newswire. August 17, 2022. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
  3. ^ a b c Honda Racing/HPD (January 25, 2023). "ARX-06 The Origin Story". Retrieved January 26, 2023 – via YouTube.
  4. ^ a b c "NO. 10 KONICA MINOLTA ACURA ARX-06 CAR SPECS". Wayne Taylor Racing. Retrieved July 13, 2023.
  5. ^ Perkins, Chris (July 19, 2022). "Here's Our Best Look Yet at the Acura ARX-06 LMDh Car". Road & Track. Online. Retrieved July 20, 2022.
  6. ^ "Inside the Rise of Acura's Radical ARX-06". Road & Track. March 17, 2023. Retrieved September 11, 2023.
  7. ^ "Honda's new IMSA powerplant has IndyCar roots". RACER. August 29, 2022. Retrieved September 11, 2023.
  8. ^ Thurkal, Rachit (July 20, 2022). "Acura completes first full test with 2023 ARX-06 LMDh car". motorsport.com. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
  9. ^ Vijayenthiran, Viknesh (July 21, 2022). "2023 Acura ARX-06 LMDh race car completes first test". MotorAuthority. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
  10. ^ Pryson, Mike (January 26, 2021). "Acura Added To LMDh Class List For 2023 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship". autoweek.com. Retrieved October 22, 2023.
  11. ^ "Acura Confirm ORECA To Develop & Build LMDh-spec ARX 06". dailysportscar.com. December 6, 2021. Retrieved October 22, 2023.
  12. ^ "Acura Confirms 2023 LMDh Plans & Partners". .speedsport.com. December 6, 2021. Retrieved October 22, 2023.
  13. ^ Dagys, John (July 15, 2022). "Acura ARX-06 Completes Rollout in Paul Ricard". sportscar365.com. Retrieved October 22, 2023.
  14. ^ Lloyd, Daniel (July 19, 2022). "Acura Completes Two-Day LMDh Test at Magny-Cours". sportscar365.com. Retrieved October 22, 2023.
  15. ^ S. James, Richard (August 17, 2022). "Acura fully reveals ARX-06 LMDh IMSA GTP car". racer.com. Retrieved October 22, 2023.
  16. ^ Dagys, John (January 16, 2023). "Acura: Strength of Teams 'Helps A Lot' Ahead of GTP Debut". sportscar365.com. Retrieved October 22, 2023.
  17. ^ "2023 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship Points - Official.pdf" (PDF). results.imsa.com. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 10, 2024. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
  18. ^ "2023 IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup Points" (PDF). results.imsa.com. Al Kamel Systems. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 11, 2024. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
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