Honda’s 2017 GT500 NSX-GT hit the track publicly for the first time yesterday at Autopolis, testing alongside both Nissan’s new GT-R and the 2017 Lexus LC500.
Driving the NSX-GT for its first laps was Naoki Yamamoto, who managed 23 shakedown laps in the car during the morning running. In the afternoon the car’s time on track consisted of a private session as well as a combined one with the other manufacturers present.
In terms of lap times, the Honda managed to tour the circuit in the 1:36 range in the afternoon with Takuya Ozawa at the wheel. The best laps of the day meanwhile came courtesy of Yuji Tachikawa and Hiroaki Ishiura driving the LC500; the quickest time from the pair a 1:34.9.
“First we made the machine with the 25% reduction in downforce in line with the regulation,” commented Honda’s project leader, Masahiko Matsumoto. “We kept the front design, the expression of the front face true to the look of the new production NSX model. The aerodynamics take into account positive cooling effect.
“It’s a good sign that we got through the shakedown with no problems. From here on we will be isolating and checking a number of things and gathering a variety of data.”
“The best thing, to begin with, is that the machine ran for us with no problems,” added Honda driver Naoki Yamamoto. “Since we weren’t able to run with full speed in the shakedown, I feel it is too early to make any judgments about the new machine just from this morning’s test session.
“I had in my mind the 25% reduction in downforce, and it did seem that it will limit speed particularly in the low-speed turns. But, in the high-speed turns it didn’t seem that there was much of a reduction in downforce.”
For Nissan, the GT-R completed the most laps of the three cars running and recorded a best time of 1’37. Tsugio Matsuda drove in the morning before Ronnie Quintarelli climbed in for the afternoon session.
In terms of tyres, the NSX-GT and LC500 ran on Bridgestones while the GT-R used Michelin rubber.
The testing at Autopolis continues until Wednesday.
Photos courtesy of Super GT
