GT5 Transcripts/Honda RAYBRIG NSX (JGTC) '00

One of the most formidable machines in the Japan Grand Touring Car Championship (JGTC) was the Honda (Acura) NSX that made its debut in 1997 and raced through the 1999 season with only minor changes. But as rival race teams competed with new improved race cars, the NSX had all but lost its edge by 2000, and Honda needed to reinvent its mid-engine sports car just to keep pace.
The development team started with placing an idler gear between the output shaft and transmission. Engine revs were increased, giving the motor a better power band. The team incorporated thinner and more compact gears, like those used in Formula cars. As a result, the exhaust pipes that once ran under the engine could now be moved around the sides, allowing the powerplant to be lowered for improved center of gravity. Also helping in this department was that the engine could be shifted forward, thanks to the new idler gear that separated the output shaft from the rear axle.
The result was better handling on all types of corners. Five teams raced the new improved NSX in the 2000 season, including the No. 100 Raybrig NSX, piloted by Akira Iida and Naoki Hattori, two very proficient Japanese drivers. While the Raybrig showed stable speed in qualifying, it failed to impress in the actual race, and the team struggles throughout the season. The best the Raybrig could achieve was a 5th-place finish in the fifth race at the TI Circuit.
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