GT3 / 13 November 2017
Honda ready for Macau GT3 debut
Honda Motor are aiming for a strong result this weekend as the NSX GT3 makes its Macau race debut in the FIA GT World Cup.
A single Honda NSX GT3 has been entered into the world's most prestigious GT sprint race, which takes place alongside the FIA World Touring Car Championship and FIA Formula 3 World Cup on the 64th Macau Grand Prix bill.
Driver Renger van der Zande brings a wealth of Macau experience to the programme, having raced there eight times. He has twice finished inside the top-five of the F3 GP and in 2014 set the fastest lap on his way to the runner-up spot in the GT3 contest.
The 31-year-old Dutchman has tested the NSX at several circuits in Italy – including Monza and Cervesina - in preparation for the event.
Macau marks the latest top-level event for the NSX GT3, which led its class on its Daytona 24 Hours debut in January and which has won races in the North American IMSA Weathertech Sports Car Championship and the Pirelli World Challenge.
Honda will use the FIA GT World Cup to showcase the NSX GT3 Customer Racing Programme - which was launched at the Spa 24 Hours in July and commences next year – to a global audience.
Twelve examples of the car will be supplied to customers in time for the 2018 racing season.
Sales and technical support for customers will be provided by HPD in North America, Mugen in Japan and JAS Motorsport in the rest of the world. JAS, who are also responsible for assembly of the cars at their Milan facility, will run the NSX in Macau with their GT3 Project Leader, Stefano Fini, acting as Team Principal.
The FIA GT World Cup is the most prestigious GT sprint race in the world and brings together 20 examples of the finest GT3 racing cars from the world's top manufacturers and race teams.
Renger van der Zande said: "Macau is the most challenging street circuit on the planet and one I absolutely adore. It's like two circuits in one with the flat-out shoreline section where top speed is critical, and then a very narrow, twisty section in the second half, where you need great handling. Having had a few days of testing in the car at Monza and Cervesina, the car looks strong on both counts, so while I expect the competition to be fierce, I'm confident that we can showcase the car's potential this weekend."
