GT5 Transcripts/Honda ARTA NSX (SUPER GT) '06

The JGTC (All-Japan Grand Touring Car Championship) grew to become the most popular GT race series in Japan, thanks primarily to the on-track battles between the Japanese car manufacturers. The series changed its name to the Super GT Series in 2005, as some events were held outside of the island nation. By then, the races hosted large fields of approximately 40 race cars running in two classes: GT500 and GT300.
The top-tier GT500 class featured purpose-built race machines from Japan's Big Three: Honda, Toyota and Nissan, with Honda being the only manufacturer competing with a mid-engine car since 1997, the NSX.
With its superior weight distribution and aerodynamics, the NSX was fast from the beginning, but in 2003, Honda performed a major layout change, mounting the V6 longitudinally in the engine bay. Then in 2005, the car's front and rear overhangs were extended for improved aerodynamics. That year also saw the team abandon the twin turbo engine, in favor of a normally aspirated 3494-cc 24-valve DOHC V6.
The car was fast, and competed fiercely under the guidance of ARTA (Autobacs Racing Team Aguri) led by former F1 pilot Aguri Suzuki.  The team's drivers Daisuke Ito and Ralph Firman took pole position in the opening round of 2006, and in the fourth round in Malaysia, at the Sepang Circuit, they won the race from the pole.  They were in the fight for the championship until the very end, but ultimately ended the season with their drivers ranked a disappointing 7th place.
Category:GT5 Transcripts