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American Le Mans Series

Acura unveils new ARX-02a LMP1 contender

By Team Update ⋅ January 26, 2009 ⋅ E-mail this post ⋅ Print this post ⋅ Post a comment

Acura has unveiled the brand new LMP1 ARX-02a today at Sebring. Both the Patrón Highcroft Racing and de Ferran Motorsports cars took to the track on the opening day of the Sebring Winter Test. More to come…

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Discussion

11 comments for “Acura unveils new ARX-02a LMP1 contender”

  1. Photos!!! We want photos!!!!

    Posted by Alex | January 27, 2009, 1:15

  2. I see de Ferran Motorsports had gotten AGR sponsor XM Satellite Radio.

    It shore is bigger, so long for the light weight.

    Posted by Christopher.uk | January 27, 2009, 3:58

  3. The car looks Awesome, more photos. Can’t wait until Sebring

    Posted by Christopher Bouchard | January 27, 2009, 6:32

  4. Thanks. It looks awesome!! It may be bigger but it does get more horsepower. The wing looks different that the norm. Anyone know what the intake-looking holes are for on the “passenger” side? The P2 car has one.

    Posted by Alex | January 27, 2009, 6:42

  5. The holes are indeed intakes. Different engines get either one or two depending upon the ACO rules. The size of the intakes is also regulated.

    De Ferran pays tribute to his former boss, Jim Hall of Chaparral by using the number 66. I think the car would look even better in White, keeping the red stripes and XM livery. It certainly would stand out more.

    There is NO mistaking the Patron car, but the XM will just be another black car unless you get really good closeups.

    Can’t wait for more pics and the actual Sebring race. Whoo Freakin’ HOOO!
    dh

    Posted by Dave Henrie | January 27, 2009, 8:41

  6. Thanks. If it’s ok to direct you to another website SpeedTV.com has a bunch more photos. Some really cool ones of Patron.

    Posted by Alex | January 27, 2009, 19:02

  7. My, oh my, is that thing hideous.

    Have they missed a trick not going coupe?

    Posted by Jake Yorath | January 29, 2009, 13:05

  8. A coupe does get better aero drag. But they probably wanted to build on what they’ve learned from the P2 car.

    Full size rear tires in the front? I’m not so sure this car is nimble at all. The P2 car or even Dyson might win Long Beach and St Petersburg, maybe Lime Rock as well.

    Apparently XM really wanted to stay in the ALMS with a top team.

    LeMans 24h has to be in the books for 2010 with 3 P1 cars.

    With Audi on its way out of P1 racing (hello GT3 Audi R8 Grand Am) Acura and Aston Martin might be the new powers at LeMans.

    Posted by bamba | January 29, 2009, 21:16

  9. Why would Audi leave LMP1? They are developing an new LMP1 for 2009. Why would Audi even enter Grand Am? The new LMP1 machine as a V-8 from the LMP2 car.

    Posted by rick | January 30, 2009, 6:35

  10. If I recall the article correctly Audi TDI will run Sebring and the 24-hour Le Mans but not the rest of the ALMS season.

    Posted by Alex | January 30, 2009, 7:21

  11. I would have to be on the Peugeot 908 against the Acura. The results seem to bear this out Audi 1 Peugeot 2 Audi 3 Acura 4

    Posted by Jesse | April 17, 2009, 3:15

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