Acura's quiet withdrawl from ALMS

[Insighter]

Acura is quietly leaving the series in 2010. Yes, Highcroft have announced plans to run a ARX-01c in 2010, but no press release has been issued by Acura. Notably, in the Highcroft Press release, Acura is only in the past tense.

It appears that the ARX-01c is a pure customer car and Acura won't even support it by name. It will be called a HPD ARX-01c. Good thing Duncan Dayton has Patron money (and his own) as it means another quality car on the grid, but with Fernandez closing shop and deFerran without any real sponsors (it was fully funded by Acura), don't expect any more ARXs to turn a wheel next year. Especially not the ultra expensive ARX-02.

Looks like Corvette is the only full factory effort left in ALMS (Mazda is a semi-effort IMO). For a series that relys heavily on factory efforts (and manufacturer sponsorship of TV time and events), 2010 is not looking good.

[cptkablamo]

Yes, but Honda through HPD now are going to fund the program instead of Acura. It is said they are going to be in a development year, testing an engine for the 2011 regs...

And I would say Acura name is out and HPD is in becuase most of the factory 'support' (here we are not talking money, except for Highcroft, maybe JAS just because of their long going association with Honda) will be in Europe, and while at one point this program could have supported Acura's expansion into Europe, a GFC put pay to that...I would say the only Acura/Honda to run in USA will be Highcroft

So I would say that Highcroft will be a semi-works effort - on the part of Honda this time, to join semi works efforts from Mazda (Dyson), Corvette, BMW (RLR), Porsche (Flying Lizards) - but lets face it, none will really be bringing any kind of decent advertising to the Series.

[MSulka]

Seems like I just heard an interview where someone walkedk through HPD, and they were still working on Le Mans projects. could be wrong ? Mr. Blamo ?

[Insighter]

There will be a HPD ARX at LeMans next year (maybe 2 if Highcroft goes) so they need to develop an engine for that, they've never competed that distance before.

My information is that Honda is offering no money for this project, and only allows it if it is profitable for HPD. I do not consider this a 'semi-works' effort, it is a pure customer 'for sale' effort. Highcroft had a long term contract with Acura that is now broken, so perhaps they converted that into some funding. But don't expect the Highcroft car to be a true development effort. It isnt'.

They already have an engine for 2011 P1 as it is the same as current P2 rules. But if they are developing it is will be a customer engine with the hopes they can profit from it. Not bad for the series, but nothing like manufacturer support. There are already plenty of customer engines available.

[chopperdave]

looks like the only racing Honda will be involved in is the motorcycles

[cptkablamo]

My line of thinking is that Highcroft is a semi-works effort for 2010 (maybe 2011 too) with the view of having 3 customer efforts in Europe and USA.

Word I have is that they are continuing to develop with an eye on the new rules which come into force in 2011. The key will be to remain competitive as Peugeot is developing a 2011 car and the set of Judd, AER will have P1 engines too...I do tend to agree that there will have to be customers to support the Highcroft effort.