page_title: Honda NSX (first generation)
section_title: 24 Hours of Le Mans
hierarchical_section_title: Honda NSX (first generation) / Motorsports / 24 Hours of Le Mans
caption_attribution_description: Honda NSX
context_page_description: The first generation Honda NSX, marketed in North America and Hong Kong as the Acura NSX, is a 2-seater, mid-engine sports car that was manufactured by Honda in Japan from 1990 to 2005.
context_section_description: The NSX GT1 and GT2 Le Mans race cars started out as factory NSX-R shells.  11 of these shells were shipped to TC Prototypes in England, where they were extensively re-worked in preparation for race duty. A custom dry carbon fiber tub was bonded to the interior, and additional dry carbon fiber pieces were used to reinforce the already stiff chassis.  The suspension was completely replaced by a custom setup with race dampers and aluminum control arms mated to center-nut style wheel hubs.  TC added wide body fenders to accommodate the wider race tires and improve downforce.
  The C30A engine was extensively revised to include a dry sump oiling system, larger cams, inconel exhaust headers and, for the GT2 cars, a massive carbon fiber intake plenum with six individual throttle bodies. The GT1 engines received a turbocharger with a custom dual-plenum aluminum manifold.  Using bespoke engine management, the GT2 engines produced nearly 400 bhp (a 130 bhp increase from the production version) and the turbocharged GT1 engines produced over 600 bhp, making them the most powerful engines Honda ever used in the NSX.  Both engines were mated to a Hewland 6-speed sequential transmission, the use of which would later plague the cars in the Le Mans race.
  The NSX made three appearances at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, in 1994, 1995, and 1996.
  Three Honda NSXs were entered in the 1994 24 Hours of Le Mans. Cars numbers 46, 47 and 48 were prepared and run by team Kremer Racing Honda, with Team Kunimitsu assisting and driving the number 47 car. All were in the GT2 class, and all completed the race, but placed 14th, 16th and 18th.
  Three Honda NSXs were entered in the 1995 24 Hours of Le Mans. Honda's factory team brought two NSXs which were entered in the GT1 class numbered 46 (naturally aspirated)[] and 47 (turbocharged)[]. Team Kunimitsu Honda prepared and entered a naturally aspirated NSX into the GT2 class numbered 84; a fourth GT2 NSX was entered by Nakajima Racing with number 85 but failed to pre-qualify. Car 46 finished but was not classified for failing to complete 70% of the distance of the race winner. Car 47 did not finish due to clutch and gearbox failure. Car 84, driven by Keiichi Tsuchiya, Akira Iida, and Kunimitsu Takahashi, finished 8th overall winning the GT2 class after completing 275 laps. This NSX was featured in the original Gran Turismo, with the GT1 class car being featured in the Japanese version of the game instead.
  For the 1996 24 Hours of Le Mans, only the Team Kunimitsu Honda NSX returned with the same drivers. It completed 305 laps to finish in the 16th position overall, and third in the GT2 class.
caption: The 1995 class-winning NSX GT2
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