1995 – NSX GT2
Honda’s debut entry into the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1994 was underwhelming, and while all three of its NSX GT2 models finished the race, the best result was sixth in its class, 14th overall.
However, the following year, the manufacturer returned with two turbocharged NSX GT1s and an NSX GT2. While both GT1s failed to classify, the GT2, driven by Keiichi Tsuchiya, Kunimitsu Takahashi and Akira Iida won its class and finished eighth overall, ahead of several GT1 cars. The trio returned in the same car the following year, finishing on the podium in the GT2 class and 16th overall.
Beginning their life as NSX-R shells from the factory, the endurance racers were fitted with a carbon-fibre tub and chassis reinforcements and custom suspension by UK-based TC Prototypes. The NSX-R C30A engine was extensively revised to include a dry sump oiling system, with the GT2 cars receiving a huge carbon-fibre intake plenum with six individual throttle bodies, while the GT1 engines were fitted with a turbocharger with a custom dual-plenum aluminium manifold. As a result, the GT2 engines produced nearly 400bhp (compared to the production version’s 270bhp) and the GT1 engines made in excess of 600bhp – by far the most powerful engine ever see in the NSX. Both were mated to a Hewland 6-speed sequential transmission.