2016.10.24

[Autopolis Makers Test, Day 1] NSX joins the testing! 2017 GT500 machines run tests at Autopolis

On October 24, a SUPER GT manufacturers test event was held at Autopolis circuit that saw LEXUS GAZOO Racing and Nissan as well as Honda run tests with their new 2017 model GT500 cars. Although only the Lexus LC500 and Nissan GT-R were present for the last manufacturer test in September at Suzuka, this time the Honda NSX-GT was also on hand as all three makers ran tests in the morning and afternoon 2-hours sessions. The tests will continue until Wednesday the 26th.

 

 

 

Morning session sees each maker run its test menu without mishap

Now that the new Honda NSX has gone on sale, the word “Concept” was removed from this season’s NSX CONCEPT-GT and the new 2017 model made its appearance at Autopolis with the name NSX-GT on its body. Sporting new aerodynamic parts on the front and sides, the 2017 machine went out on the track just after 9:00 with Naoki Yamamoto taking the wheel initially to run a first lap. With the air temperature at 14 degrees Celsius and the track surface temperature at 17 degrees, it was a relatively cold morning but the skies overhead were a brilliant blue.

After a careful check-over, the NSX-GT began a cycle of running a few laps and then returning to the pit for further checks and adjustments until the shakedown ended successfully after a total of 23 laps. “First we made the machine with the 25% reduction in down-force in line with the regulation,” commented Honda’s Project Leader, Masahiko Matsumoto. “We kept the front design, the expression of the front face true to the look of the new production NSX model. The aerodynamics take into account positive cooling effect. It’s a good sign that we got through the shakedown with no problems. From here on we will be isolating and checking a number of things and gathering a variety of data,” he concluded with an expression that showed initial satisfaction with the results.
“The best thing, to begin with, is that the machine ran for us with no problems,” commented the Honda driver for the shakedown, Naoki Yamamoto. “Since we weren’t able to run with full speed in the shakedown, I feel it is too early to make any judgments about the new machine just from this morning’s test session. I had in my mind the 25% reduction in down-force, and it did seem that it will limit speed particularly in the low-speed turns. But, in the high-speed turns it didn’t seem that there was much of a reduction in down-force,” he concluded, appearing satisfied. In terms of lap times, the Honda followed behind the LC500 with (hand-timed) laps in the 1'36 range.

During the morning session, the LC500recorded lap times in the low 1'35 range, but in nearing the end of the session, the car suffered an unexpected flat left rear tire, perhaps caused by running over something on the track. This caused problems in the right front that eventually brought out the red flag to end the session at that point.
The Nissan GT-R completed the most laps of the three and recorded a best time of exactly 1'37.

 

 

 

Afternoon session sees LC500 improve its times in fine weather

In the afternoon, the Honda project team was given an hour of exclusive use of the track beginning from1:00, and with Takuya Izawa at the wheel the NSX-GT ran through its menu of tests.
Starting at 2:00 began a two-hour session for all three makers’ cars. At this point, the air temperature at 22 degrees Celsius and the track surface temperature had risen to 34 degrees. The NSX-GT spent longer periods in the pit but continued its test runs with Izawa and then Koudai Tsukakoshi driving. The Honda’s best lap time was brought down to 1'35.6.
As in the morning session, the Lexus LC500 was driven by Yuji Tachikawa and Hiroaki Ishiura, but in this afternoon session, Daisuke Ito also put in some driving. The test went well and the LC500’s best time was brought down to 1'34.9. In the previous month’s tests at Suzuka, the LC500 had a white body, but this time, apparently with the testing of the new aerodynamic parts, only the roof was white, while the rest of the body was black with the carbon base color showing.
At the wheel of the Nissan, the morning session’s driver, Tsugio Matsuda, was replaced by Ronnie Quintarelli for the afternoon session. While the other two makers ran on Bridgestone tires, the Nissan machine ran on Michelin tires. The GT-R’s best recorded lap was 1'36.6.

 

 

 

 

 

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