2009 - Acura ARX-02a LMP1

After success with their Aura ARX -01 program in the American Le Mans Series LMP2 category, the company decided to advance to the top class – LMP1. The public announcement came at the Detroit Grand Prix in August 2008. The Acura ARX-02a LMP1 was a joint effort between Honda Performance Development and Wirth Research.

Unlike its LMP1 counterparts, Audi and Peugeot, Acura did not have a more powerful diesel engine. To overcome the lack of horsepower, designers focused on mechanical grip. To achieve this objective, the front tires were the same size as the rears, which increased the contact patch by seven percent. However, to be effective, the larger front tires needed more heat, which was accomplished by moving weight forward.

The new Acura was campaigned by two teams - de Ferran Motorsports and Highcroft Racing.

In 2008, de Ferran Motorsports was formed by double CART World Series champion and 2003 Indianapolis 500 winner Gil de Ferran. Along with General Manager John Anderson, the pair acquired a new race shop and hired Simon Pagenaud to be de Ferran’s co-driver. Pagenaud was a successful open-wheel racer who won the 2006 Champ Car Atlantic title. The team entered the American Le Mans Series in an Acura ARX-01b. Pagenaud and de Ferran finished sixth in the final LMP2 standings, with their best result being second place in the season finale at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.

The second team running the new Acura ARX-02a was Patron Highcroft Racing. Highcroft was founded in 1989 by Duncan Dayton to support his involvement in historic racing; however, by 1994, the team was participating in Formula Ford 2000. Highcroft acquired a Lola EX257 from Dyson Racing and competed in the American Le Mans Series LMP1 category. Their first connection with Honda Performance Development came in 2007 when they ran an Acura ARX-01a driven by David Brabham and Stefan Johansson. The duo finished third in the LMP2 standings and second the following year.

The monocoque chassis of the Acura ARX-02a is manufactured with carbon fiber composite designed with integrated crash structures, including rollover protection, safety fuel cell, and front crash structure. The suspension has double wishbones with adjustable toe, camber, and ride heights. Four-way shock absorbers with separate torsion springs and pushrods with anti-roll bars are also part of the suspension. Steering is accomplished using a rack and pinion power steering unit. Stopping the car are four 380mm internally vented carbon fiber brake rotors with six-piston aluminum calipers. Four one-piece 18-inch forged magnesium wheels are fitted with Michelin racing tires.

Acura ARX-02a LMP1	SPECIFICATIONS
Length	15.26’ (4650mm) maximum
Width	6.56’ (2000mm) maximum
Height	3.38’ (1030mm) maximum
Weight	900 kg minimum
Monocoque	Integrated crash structures including rollover protection, safety fuel cell and front crash structure manufactured with carbon fiber composite
Head Protection	Head rest with head protection in accordance with FIA regulations
Restraint System	Six-point seat belt, prepared for using the HANS® system
Tire Size	Michelin Racing Tires: 37-71/18
Wheels	One piece 18 inch forged magnesium wheels with central locking element. Minimum weight: 8.0 kg (front), 9.0kg (rear)
Steering	Rack and pinion power steering
Suspension	Double wishbones with adjustable toe, camber, ride heights. Four way damper units with separate torsion springs, pushrods with anti roll bars
Brake Calipers	Six Piston aluminum fixed calipers
Brake Disks	Internally vented carbon fiber brake disks, 380mm maximum
Fuel Capacity	23.8 US gallon (90 liters)
Transmission	6 forward gears, 1 reverse gear
Transmission Controls	Manual paddle shifter with electronic gear selector
Differential	Limited slip with traction control

The Acura ARX-02a is powered by the Acura LM-AR7, a normally aspirated, fuel-injected aluminum alloy V8 with a displacement of 4.0 liters. The engine is a dual overhead camshaft motor with four valves per cylinder. The dry sump motor has dual water pumps and is choked by 2 x 33.9mm intake restrictors, producing 620 horsepower. A Continental / Acura ECU controls engine management. The car runs on unleaded 100-octane E10 gasoline. Attached to the flywheel is an AP Pull Type (Carbon) clutch. Power is transferred through a six-speed manual paddle shifter with an electronic gear selector and limited-slip differential with traction control.

Acura LM-AR7	SPECIFICATIONS
Engine Type	Normally aspirated, fuel-injected, aluminum alloy V-8
Displacement	4.0 liters
Horsepower	620 + BHP
Inlet Restrictor	2 x 33.9mm
Valve Train	Dual overhead camshaft, four valves per cylinder
Engine Management	Continental/Acura ECU
Clutch	AP Pull Type (Carbon)
Ignition System	CDI
Lubrication	Dry sump
Cooling	Dual water pumps
Fuel	Unleaded 100 octane E10 gasoline

Round one of the ten-race 2009 American Le Mans Series schedule was the 57th running of the 12-Hours of Sebring. De Ferran Motorsports was joined by Scott Dixon, the 2008 Indianapolis 500 winner and IndyCar Series champion. Dixon made his presence felt by putting the No. 66 de Ferran Acura ARX-02a on the pole. However, at the start, the more powerful Audi and Peugeot passed the Acura before corner one. Dixon and his teammates, de Ferran and Pagenaud, retired on lap 137 with a mechanical issue. Regulars David Braham and Scott Sharp were joined by Dario Franchitti in the No. 9 Highcroft Racing Acura. Brabham qualified sixth in LMP1. Like their counterparts, they retired with a mechanical problem.

Race two of the 2009 American Le Mans Series was held at the Street of St. Petersburg and sponsored by Acura. The Audi and Peugeot teams had returned to Europe. At St. Pete, the Acura’s LMP1 challenge would come from Intersport Racing’s Lola B06/10 and the overall threat from the faster LMP2 cars entered by Dyson Racing and Fernandez Racing. For the second consecutive race, the No. 66 de Ferran Motorsports Acura ARX-02a qualified on the pole, complements of Simon Pagenaud. However, Pagenaud would retire on course after several trips to the pits. The No. 9 Highcroft Racing Acura started on the outside of the front and ran a trouble-free contest to claim the class and overall victory.

The third event of 2009 was another street race, this time at Long Beach, California. David Brabham put the No. 9 Highcroft Racing Acura ARX-02a on the overall and class pole. Beside Brabham was the No. 66 de Ferran Motorsports Acura. After two retirements, Gil de Ferran and Simon Pagenaud claimed their first win. The LMP1 points leaders, Brabham and Scott Sharp finished in the runner-up spot. Miller Motorsports Park hosted round four, the Utah Grand Prix, of the championship. Driving the No. 66 de Ferran Motorsports Acura, Simon Pagenaud was the fastest qualifier, followed by David Brabham in the No. 9 Acura ARX-02a. The teams would finish in the same order as they started, with Pagenaud and team principal Gil de Ferran scoring their second consecutive victory.

The next race on the American Le Mans Series calendar was at Lime Rock Park. After a disappointing start to the season, de Ferran Motorsports were on a roll. Simon Pagenaud was chosen to qualify the No. 66 de Ferran Motorsports Acura ARX-02a and started on the pole. The second fastest qualifier was David Brabham. Pagenaud and de Ferran claimed their third consecutive win. Brabham and Scott Sharp finished second; however, their early season success allowed them to maintain the LMP1 championship lead. Three weeks after Lime Rock Park, teams were at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. This time, Gil de Ferran qualified the No. 66 de Ferran Motorsports Acura and was the fastest. David Brabham was 0.069 seconds slower in second place. Once again, de Ferran and Simon Pagenaud were first to receive the checkered flag, followed by Brabham and Scott Sharp.

The American Le Mans Series was into the second half of the schedule when teams visited Road America. David Brabham was the fastest qualifier in the No. 9 Highcroft Racing Acura ARX-02a, followed by the de Ferran Motorsports entry of Gil de Ferran. Brabham and his teammate Scott Sharp captured the win, with Simon Pagenaud and de Ferran finishing 0.461 seconds behind the duo. The next event was north of the border at Mosport International Raceway. Brabham earned his second consecutive pole position. Just 0.072 seconds slower was Simon Pagenaud. A miscue resulted in an extended pitstop, followed by an off-course excursion, and gearbox problems caused de Ferran Motorsports to finish a lap behind the winning Highcroft Racing Acura.

The penultimate round of the championship was Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta. The Audi and Peugeot teams returned and were the class of the field. In practice, Scott Sharp had a massive accident in the Highcroft Acura. A new tub was required, and with the help of de Ferran Motorsports, the car was repaired in time for the morning warm-up. Despite starting from the pitlane, Scott Sharp, David Brabham, and Dario Franchitti finished sixth in LMP1. The de Ferran Motorsports team encountered problems and retired. The finale took place at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. Gil de Ferran and Simon Pagenaud bounced back with the pole and a win. Scott Sharp and David Brabham finished second in class but third overall, four laps behind de Ferran Motorsports.

The 2009 American Le Mans Series LMP1 champions were Patron Highcroft Racing and their drivers, Scott Sharp and David Brabham. The duo benefitted from the inconsistency of the de Ferran Motorsports team. The Highcroft record included eight podiums in ten races, of which three were victories. De Ferran finished first at four events; however, they failed to collect points in round one at Sebring International Raceway. They closed 2009 with a win, but it was too little too late. Highcroft Racing ended the year with 179 points to 162 earned by de Ferran Motorsports.

The checkered flag at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca signaled the end of Acura’s LMP1 program and the Acura ARX-02a. Apparently, Honda North America’s president, Tetsuo Iwamura, canceled the LM1 program at the beginning of 2009, but as the project budget had been allocated, the Acura ARX-02a raced.

**2009 - SEBRING INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY**
YEAR	ENTRANT	NO.	DRIVER	CLASS	LAPS	POS.	CLASS POS.
2009	Highcroft Racing	9	David Brabham Scott Sharp Dario Franchitti	LMP1	198	15	5
2009	De Ferran Motorsports	66	Gil de Ferran Simon Pagenaud Scott Dixon	LMP1	155	18	6

**2009 - ST PETERSBURG STREET CIRCUIT**
YEAR	ENTRANT	NO.	DRIVER	CLASS	LAPS	POS.	CLASS POS.
2009	Highcroft Racing	9	David Brabham Scott Sharp	LMP1	93	1	1
De Ferran Motorsports	66	Gil de Ferran Simon Pagenaud	LMP1	66	13	3

**2009 - LONG BEACH STREET CIRCUIT**
YEAR	ENTRANT	NO.	DRIVER	CLASS	LAPS	POS.	CLASS POS.
2009	Highcroft Racing	9	David Brabham Scott Sharp	LMP1	76	2	2
De Ferran Motorsports	66	Gil de Ferran Simon Pagenaud	LMP1	76	1	1

**2009 - MILLER MOTORSPORTS PARK**
YEAR	ENTRANT	NO.	DRIVER	CLASS	LAPS	POS.	CLASS POS.
2009	Highcroft Racing	9	David Brabham Scott Sharp	LMP1	103	2	2
De Ferran Motorsports	66	Gil de Ferran Simon Pagenaud	LMP1	103	1	1

**2009 - LIME ROCK PARK**
YEAR	ENTRANT	NO.	DRIVER	CLASS	LAPS	POS.	CLASS POS.
2009	Highcroft Racing	9	David Brabham Scott Sharp	LMP1	184	2	2
De Ferran Motorsports	66	Gil de Ferran Simon Pagenaud	LMP1	184	1	1

**2009 - MID-OHIO SPORTS CAR COURSE**
YEAR	ENTRANT	NO.	DRIVER	CLASS	LAPS	POS.	CLASS POS.
2009	Highcroft Racing	9	David Brabham Scott Sharp	LMP1	118	2	2
De Ferran Motorsports	66	Gil de Ferran Simon Pagenaud	LMP1	118	1	1

**2009 - ROAD AMERICA**
YEAR	ENTRANT	NO.	DRIVER	CLASS	LAPS	POS.	CLASS POS.
2009	Highcroft Racing	9	David Brabham Scott Sharp	LMP1	71	1	1
De Ferran Motorsports	66	Gil de Ferran Simon Pagenaud	LMP1	71	2	2

**2009 - MOSPORT INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY**
YEAR	ENTRANT	NO.	DRIVER	CLASS	LAPS	POS.	CLASS POS.
2009	Highcroft Racing	9	David Brabham Scott Sharp	LMP1	131	1	1
De Ferran Motorsports	66	Gil de Ferran Simon Pagenaud	LMP1	130	2	2

**2009 - ROAD ATLANTA**
YEAR	ENTRANT	NO.	DRIVER	CLASS	LAPS	POS.	CLASS POS.
2009	Highcroft Racing	9	David Brabham Scott Sharp	LMP1	180	6	6
De Ferran Motorsports	66	Gil de Ferran Simon Pagenaud	LMP1	136	24	9

**2009 - MAZDA RACEWAY LAGUNA SECA**
YEAR	ENTRANT	NO.	DRIVER	CLASS	LAPS	POS.	CLASS POS.
2009	Highcroft Racing	9	David Brabham Scott Sharp	LMP1	180	6	6
De Ferran Motorsports	66	Gil de Ferran Simon Pagenaud	LMP1	136	24	9

Dyson Racing missed securing the American Le Mans Series P1 championship by five points. Their rivals, Muscle Milk Pickett Racing HPD ARX-03a/c, earned six victories to the Dyson team’s four wins.

Rebellion Racing was often the best of the non-factory teams and easily collected the FIA Endurance Trophy for LMP1 Teams. Their record included six victories in eight events.

Despite the success of Lolas in various series, the company went bankrupt in late 2012. Some of the assets were acquired by the Canadian automotive company Multimatic. They continued to support the Dyson and Rebellion efforts.

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