2017 Acura NSX Makes Solid Platform for Racing

IMSA’s Justin Bell knocks the NSX road car around Monterey, California, and describes its acumen for motorsport.

Sports car series like the IMSA WeatherTech Sports Car Championship and Pirelli World Challenge give automakers a venue to showcase the back-and-forth between road and race cars.

In 2017, Acura threw their hat into both respective rings with the NSX GT3, which competed in IMSA competition with the company backing Michael Shank Racing. The platform proved successful with MSR racking up two GTD-class wins.

The NSX joins solid company with cars that show off road-going technology in IMSA. That has included the Chevy Corvette, Ford GT, Porsche 911 (991), and Ferrari 488 to name a few. The aerodynamic shape and 3.5-liter V6 remains the most common item.

During the IMSA weekend at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, IMSA pitlane reporter and race car driver Justin Bell took it for a spin through Monterey. As you might imagine, the car handled Monterey’s roller-coaster roads like a pro without sacrificing comfort.

Bell says the NSX moves effortlessly from a “stealthy sheep to a howling wolf.” In addition, the driver’s seat remains one of the highlights. The Recaros offer both comfort and support in accord with the car’s abilities. The interior also is nicely laid out and simple, not always the case in high-end exotic cars.

The Michael Shank Racing squad managed to finish fourth in the GTD class’ manufacturer standings. That followed a strong season from the #93  NSX GT3 with Andy Lally and Katherine Legge. The duo won back-to-back races at Belle Isle and Watkins Glen, then tacked on a pair of second-place finishes. Oz Negri and Jeff Segal also racked up seven Top 10 finishes in the #86 NSX.

Next year, the NSX GT3 heads to work for customer teams. None have been announced yet, but Honda has already hinted at several customers around the world.