#067 Honda, Acura & Mugen

by modelM43in carson Posted on

Published October 18, 2024 | Last update August 15, 2026 | 22 models online

The largest market for Honda outside Japan is the USA. Except for Formula 1, their motorsport activities are much more focussed on the USA than Europe. Racing engines and cars in the USA are often prepared by HPD which stands for Honda Performance Development, which are raced as Acura, the luxury brand of Honda (which isn’t available in Europe). The Japanese tuning partner of Honda is Mugen who often operate as a factory team.

Honda NSX

1994 Le Mans 24h, Honda NSX
The German Seikel team raced a NSX with support from Honda in the ADAC trophy and at Spa-Francorchamps in 1993. Honda set its sights on participating in Le Mans and when Seikel turned to Porsche, Honda chose another very experienced German crew to run the cars on their firs attempt; Kremer! In a very short time, three cars were prepared of which two were close to the specs that were used in the ADAC Trophy. The third car, this #47 was a real GT2 car but the transmission was a weak point. All three Hondas finished the 24-hours in 6th, 7th and 9th in GT2.
Kremer Honda Racing #47: Kunimitsu Takahashi (J) / Keiichi Tsuchiya (J) / Akira Iida (J)
Results: Start-grid 38th / time 4:23.750 / race 18th – 223 laps / 9th GT2
Honda NSX – GT2: Powered by 3.5 liter Honda VTEC V6 90°, approx. 400 hp. Yokohama tires. Weight 1100 kg. Aluminum space frame, chassisnr Thomson #001 

  • IXO Altaya #unknown (diecast)
    • Overall rating: 3 STARS | Quality details: 3 STARS | Estimated value: 2 STARS
    • Only appears in this collection

1995 Le Mans 24h, Honda NSX
After last year’s first attempt, Honda again sends three NSX to Le Mans. Two in GT1 specs (of which one is a turbo version), these both retire. The third NSX is entered by Team Kunimitsu which makes it to the finish in 8th position and takes victory in GT2. By doing so, Honda beats the other Japanese entries SARD Toyota and Nissan Skylines which is very important to them.
Team Kunimitsu #84: Kunimitsu Takahashi (J) / Keiichi Tsuchiya (J) / Akira Iida (J)
Results: Start-grid 36th / time 4:15.550 / race 8th – 276 laps / 1st GT2
Honda NSX – GT2: Powered by 3.5 liter Honda VTEC V6 90°, approx. 400 hp. Yokohama tires. Weight 1100 kg. Aluminum space frame, chassisnr Thomson #009 

  • EBBRO Honda Racing Collection 43673 (diecast)
    • Overall rating: 4 STARS | Quality details: 4 STARS | Estimated value: 3 STARS
    • Only appears in this collection

1996 Japanese GT Championship, Honda NSX
The Japanese GT Championship (JGTC) was very popular in 1996. This Honda NSX, the very same car which won the GT2 category at Le Mans in 1995, finished only 26th in the championship. JGTC GT500 cars were advancing far further than the quite basic GT2 cars.
Team Kunimitsu #100: Kunimitsu Takahashi (J) / Keiichi Tsuchiya (J)
Results: Championship 26th
Honda NSX GT2 – JGTC GT500: Powered by 3.5 liter Honda VTEC V6 90°, approx. 450 hp. Yokohama Advan tires. Weight 1100 kg. Aluminum space frame, chassisnr Thomson #009 

  • EBBRO Honda Racing Collection 43674 (diecast)
    • Overall rating: 4 STARS | Quality details: 4 STARS | Estimated value: 3 STARS
    • Also appears in #067 Honda, Acura & Mugen

1998 Japanese GT Championship, Honda NSX
The beautiful Castrol NSX is entered by Mugen in the GT500 category of the JGTC. Unfortunately the team retires in the first two races held. They won also 2 races and finish 4th in the championship in the end, who know what would have happened with two decent results in the beginning of the season? The championship goes to the Yellow Pennzoil Nissan.
Mugen#16: Ryo Michigami (J) / Osamu Nakako (J)
Results: 2 victories (Motegi / Sugo) / 4th championship
Honda NSX – JGTC: Powered by 3.5 liter Mugen Honda C32B V6 60º, approx. 500 hp. Bridgestone tires. Weight 1100 kg. Aluminum space frame, chassisnr. #unknown

  • EBBRO Honda Racing Collection 43027 (diecast)
    • Overall rating: 4 STARS | Quality details: 4 STARS | Estimated value: 5 STARS
    • Also appears in #069 Castrol

1999 Japanese GT Championship, Honda NSX
The Japanese GT Championship is a very spectacular racing series with lots of European top drivers. One of them is Dutchman Tom Coronel who won a race at Aida in this Honda NSX. Coronel finishes 5th in the championship. Tom also contested the Formula Nippon championship (comparable with European F3000) this year and won the title with his Mugen powered Reynard.
Nakajima Racing #64: Tom Coronel (NL) / Hiro Matsusada (J)
Results: 1 victory (Aida) / 5th championship
Honda NSX – JGTC GT500: Powered by 3.5 liter Mugen Honda C32B V6 60º, approx. 500 hp. Bridgestone tires. Weight 1100 kg. Aluminum space frame, chassisnr. Dome #unknown

  • EBBRO Honda Racing Collection 43071 (diecast)
    • Overall rating: 4 STARS | Quality details: 4 STARS | Estimated value: 4 STARS
    • Also appears in #023 Mobil1

2003 Japanese GT Championship, Honda NSX
Dutchman Tom Coronel is very popular in Japan and had great success there winning the Formula 3 and Formula Nippon championships. He returned for another year JGTC Honda, this time in the Mugen G’Zox #16 together with Daisuke Itou. They won the race at Twin Ring Motegi and ended up 10th in the championship.
Dome Racing Team #16: Tom Coronel (NL) / Daisuke Itou (J)
Results: 1 victory (Motegi) / 10th championship
Honda NSX – JGTC GT500: Powered by 3.5 liter Mugen Honda C32B V6 60º, approx. 500 hp. Bridgestone tires. Weight 1100 kg. Aluminum space frame, chassisnr. Dome #unknown

  • EBBRO Honda Racing Collection 43460 (diecast)
    • Overall rating: 4 STARS | Quality details: 4 STARS | Estimated value: 4 STARS
    • Only appears in this collection

2018 Spa-Francorchamps 24h, Honda NSX
Fifteen years later, the Honda NSX is still used in GT racing nowadays as a GT3, a formula that has been adopted by many series worldwide. This stunning Castrol NSX was piloted by a remarkable PRO-Am team existing of former F1 driver Riccardo Patrese, Loïc Depailler – son of F1 driver Patrick, Esteban Guerrieri – who races for Honda in the WTCC and local guy Bertrand Baguette – who took class wins at Le Mans and was 2022 champion in Super GT.
Castrol Honda Racing / JAS #30: Esteban Guerrieri (RA) / Riccardo Patrese (I) / Bertrand Baguette (B) / Loic Depailler (F)
Results: Start-grid 49th / time 2:19.883 / race 32nd – 490 laps / 7th Pro-Am
Honda NSX GT3 – GT3 Pro-Am: Powered by 3.5 liter Honda Honda AR35TT V6 75º twin turbo, approx. 520 hp. Pirelli tires. Weight 1240 kg. Aluminum + Steel space frame, chassisnr. unknown

  • SPARK SB216 (resin)
    • Overall rating: 5 STARS | Quality details: 4 STARS | Estimated value: 5 STARS
    • Also appears in #069 Castrol

2021 Japanese Super GT Championship Motegi, Mugen Honda NSX GT3
The collaboration between Honda and Red Bull is not only restricted to Formula 1. The Team Mugen Honda NSX GT3 in the Japanese Super GT Championship also gets support form the Austrian power drink. The best result this year is a 4th place at Motegi.
Team Red Bull Mugen #16: Ukyou Sasahara (J) / Toshiki Ooyu (J)
Results: Start-grid 3rd / time 1:37.768 / race 4th – ddd laps
Honda NSX GT3 (NC1) Super GT GT500: Powered by 3.5 liter Honda AR35TT V6 75º twin turbo, approx. 520 hp. Dunlop tires. Weight 1240 kg. Aluminum + steel space frame, chassisnr. unknown

  • SPARK SGT124 (resin)
    • Overall rating: 5 STARS | Quality details: 5 STARS | Estimated value: 4 STARS
    • Also appears in #058 Red Bull

Honda, Mugen and HPD engines in Prototypes

2003 Le Mans 24h, Dome S101 – Mugen
The Japanese Kondo team races the Dome S101 which is also used by Racing for Holland. But Kondo races a Mugen engine and of course Yokohama tires. They finish 13th in Le Mans 2003.
Kondo Racing #9: Masahiko Kondo (J) / Ukyo Katayama (J) / Ryo Fukuda (J)
Results: Start-grid 12th / time 3:41.608 / race 13th – 322 laps
Dome S101 – LMP900: Powered by 4.0 liter Mugen MF408S – V8 90°, approx. 540 hp. Yokohama Advan tires. Weight 910 kg. Carbon + aluminum monocoque, chassisnr. S101 #04

  • EBBRO Dome racing car collection 43294 (diecast)
    • Overall rating: 4 STARS | Quality details: 3 STARS | Estimated value: 3 STARS
    • Only appears in this collection

2004 Le Mans 24h, Dome S101 – Mugen
The Japanese Kondo team races the Dome for the second year with a Mugen engine and the Yokohama Advanced tires. In qualifying, the team was 5 seconds faster than in the previous year but didn’t make it to the finish due to oil pressure problems.
Kondo Racing #9: Hiroki Katoh (J) / Ryo Fukuda (J) / Ryo Michigami (J)
Results: Start-grid 7th / time 3:36.285 / race DNF oil pressure – 206 laps
Dome S101 – LMP900: Powered by 4.0 liter Mugen MF408S – V8 90°, approx. 540 hp. Yokohama Advan tires. Weight 910 kg. Carbon + aluminum monocoque, chassisnr. S101 #04

  • EBBRO Dome racing car collection 43609 (diecast)
    • Overall rating: 4 STARS | Quality details: 3 STARS | Estimated value: 3 STARS
    • Only appears in this collection

2005 Le Mans 24h, Dome S101h – Mugen
Japanese Jim Gainer Racing was backed by the Dome factory. It was a the former Dome chassis used by Kondo which was adapted to the new rules and therefore named “hybrid”, which has nothing to do with electric drive. The Japanese drivers, chassis, and Mugen engine could not prevent it from retiring with a broken gearbox in the night.
Jim Gainer International #5: Ryou Michigami (J) / Seiji Ara (J) / Katsutomo Kaneishi (J)
Results: Start-grid 4th / time 3:38.094 / race DNF gearbox – 193 laps
Dome S101h – LMP1: Powered by 4.0 liter Mugen MF408S – V8 90°, approx. 540 hp. Dunlop tires. Weight 910 kg. Carbon + aluminum monocoque, chassisnr. S101 #04

  • SPARK Dome collection S0059 (resin)
    • Overall rating: 4 STARS | Quality details: 4 STARS | Estimated value: 3 STARS
    • Only appears in this collection

2006 Le Mans 24h, Courage LC70 – Mugen
Last years car was a hybrid between the old C60 LMP 900 and the new P1 regulations, The new P1 LC70 prototype was powered by a Mugen (Honda) V8 engine and was surprisingly quick in qualifying – 4 seconds faster than in 2005 – but only managed 35 laps in the race. The #12 entry didn’t make it to the finish either.
Courage Competition #13: Shinji Nakano (J) / Haruki Kurosawa (J) / Jean-Marc Gounon (F)
Results: Start-grid 5th / time 3:34.120 / race DNF gearbox – 35 laps
Courage LC70 – LMP1: Powered by 4.0 liter Mugen MF408S V8 90° , approx. 600hp. Yokohama Advan tires. Weight 900 kg. Carbon fibre monocoque, chassisnr. LC70 #004

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  • EBBRO 43923 (diecast)
    • Overall rating: 4 STARS | Quality details: 3 STARS | Estimated value: 3 STARS
    • Also appears in #049 Courage
  • Advan-Mugen & Dome-Mugen

2007 Japanese Le Mans Challenge, Courage LC70 – Mugen
The Le Mans Series also found its way to Japan, but there were only a few contenders. One of them is this Team Mugen Courage that used an upgraded 4.5 liter engine and finished 2nd twice in the 4 race series.
Team Mugen #16: Haruki Kurosawa (J) / Shinji Nakano (J)
Results: 2 x 2nd
Courage LC70 – LMP1: Powered by 4.5 liter Mugen MF458S V8 90°, approx. 600hp. Michelin tires. Weight 900 kg. Carbon fibre monocoque, chassisnr. LC70 #unknown

  • EBBRO 43826 (resin)
    • Overall rating: 4 STARS | Quality details: 4 STARS | Estimated value: 3 STARS
    • Also appears in #049 Courage

2007 Sebring 12h, Acura ARX-01a
Acura came to the ALMS in 2007 to compete against Porsche in the P2 category. At its debut at Sebring it scored 2nd, 3rd and 6th places, showing what potential the car has. Acura didn’t develop the car from scratch, in fact it is an adjusted Courage LC70 which got homologated as Acura ARX-01.
Highcroft Racing #9: David Brabham (AUS) / Stefan Johansson (S) / Duncan Dayton (USA)
Results: Start-grid 4th / time 1:47.109 / race 6th – 346 laps / 4th LMP2
Acura ARX-01a – LMP2: Powered by 3.4 liter Honda AL7R V8 90º, approx. 480 hp. Michelin tires. Weight 800 kg. Carbon + aluminum monocoque, chassisnr. Courage LC70 #7

  • SPARK special Highcroft Racing 600 pcs (resin)
    • Overall rating: 4 STARS | Quality details: 4 STARS | Estimated value: 4 STARS
    • Also appears in #049 Courage

2008 Sebring 12h, Acura ARX-01b
Honda put their new V8 engine in an adapted Courage LC70-chassis and changed the aerodynamics: the Acura ARX-01 was born. In 2008 it beat the mighty Porsche RS Spyders no less than six times. The Highcroft car won twice with Brabham and Speed. At Sebring they were joined by Stefan Johansson and finished 5th.
Patron Highcroft Racing #9: David Brabham (AUS) / Stefan Johansson (S) / Scott Speed (USA)
Results: Start-grid 11th / time 1:47.819 / race 5th – 349 laps / 4th LMP2
Acura ARX-01b – LMP2: Powered by 3.4 liter Honda AL7R V8 90º, approx. 480 hp. Michelin tires. Weight 800 kg. Carbon + aluminum monocoque, chassisnr. Courage LC70 #7

  • SPARK special Highcroft Racing 1200 pcs (resin)
    • Overall rating: 5 STARS | Quality details: 5 STARS | Estimated value: 4 STARS
    • Also appears in #049 Courage

2009 Petit Le Mans, Acura ARX-02a
The ARX-02 was the new LMP1 car from Acura that used a larger version of the V8. The chassis was no longer based n the Courage but developed by Nick Wirth. The car form Highcroft and de Ferran Motorsport dominated American Le Mans Series except for the two events (Sebring and Petit Le Mans) where Audi and Peugeot were present with their diesel racers. Brabham was joined by Scott Sharp and Dario Franchitti for the Petit Le Mans race.
Patrón Highcroft Racing #9: Scott Sharp (USA) / David Brabham (AUS) / Dario Franchitti (GB)
Results: Start-grid 26th / no time / race 6th – 180 laps
Acura ARX-02a – LMP1: Powered by 4.0 liter Honda LM-AR7 V8 90º, approx. 620 hp. Michelin tires. Weight 900 kg. Carbon + aluminum monocoque, chassisnr. ARX-02a #02

  • SPARK special Highcroft Racing 1000 pcs (resin)
    • Overall rating: 5 STARS | Quality details: 5 STARS | Estimated value: 4 STARS
    • Only appears in this collection

2010 Le Mans 24h, HPD ARX-01c
Highcroft Racing is back-to-back champion in the American Le Mans Series and this year they came to Le Mans with their beautiful car. They used an updated c-version of their 2008 ARX-01 and started in LMP2. The name Acura was replaced by HPD. Highcroft had problems getting the car to speed, the Strakka HPD was faster whole weekend. In the end the Highcroft car got in trouble and only finished 25th.
Highcroft Racing #26: David Brabham (AUS) / Marino Franchitti (GB) / Marco Werner (D)
Results: Start-grid 17th / time 3:34.537 / race 25th -296 laps / 9th LMP2
HPD (Acura) ARX-01c – LMP2: Powered by 3.4 liter Honda AL7R V8 90º, approx. 480 hp. Michelin tires. Weight 800 kg. Carbon + aluminum monocoque, chassisnr. Courage LC70 #11

  • SPARK S2570 (resin)
    • Overall rating: 5 STARS | Quality details: 5 STARS | Estimated value: 4 STARS
    • Also appears in #049 Courage

2011 Le Mans 24h, HPD ARX-01d
The Acura ARX, later renamed as HPD (Honda Power Development) was very successful in the USA. British Strakka Racing was the first European team to use the car in Europe, which was developed from a French Courage. Last year’s car that won the LMP2 category had the normally aspirated V8 engine, this year it was powered by the new 2.8 liter HPD V6 turbo. The race in 2011 was less successful than the previous year, Strakka had to retire the car after 144 laps.
Strakka Racing #42: Nick Leventis (GB) / Danny Watts (GB) / Johnny Kane (GB)
Results: Start-grid 16th / time 3:42.615 / race DNF -144 laps
Acura ARX-01d – LMP2: Powered by 2.8 liter HPD HR28TT V6 60º twin turbo, approx. 500 hp. Dunlop tires. Weight 800 kg. Carbon + aluminum monocoque, chassisnr. Courage LC70 #11

  • SPARK S2535 (resin)
    • Overall rating: 4 STARS | Quality details: 5 STARS | Estimated value: 4 STARS
    • Also appears in #049 Courage

2012 Le Mans 24h, HPD ARX-03c
The HPD ARX-03a has been developed from earlier Acura and HPD ARX-02 and uses its 4.0 liter normally aspirated V8. Two teams, Strakka and JRM, bring HPD LMP1 to Le Mans this year. The JRM team makes its debut but has a very strong driver line up: the experienced David Brabham, Peter Dumbreck and F1 driver Karun Chandhok. The team does very well in its first year and finishes 6th behind 4 Audi’s and a Rebellion-Lola.
JRM #22: David Brabham (AUS) / Peter Dumbreck (GB) / Karun Chandhok (IND)
Results: Start-grid 11th / time 3:35.421 / race 6th -357 laps
Acura ARX-03c – LMP1: Powered by 4.0 liter Honda LM-AR7 V8 90º, approx. 620 hp. Michelin tires. Weight 900 kg. Carbon + aluminum monocoque, chassisnr. ARX-03c #07

  • SPARK S3709 (resin)
    • Overall rating: 4 STARS | Quality details: 4 STARS | Estimated value: 4 STARS
    • Only appears in this collectionn

2016 Daytona 24h, Ligier JS P2 – HPD
When the American Le Mans Series and Grand-Am merged, a solution was needed for the two different prototype categories. The powerful Corvette Daytona Prototypes and European style LMP2 prototypes were brought together with a balance-of-performance rules set. In 2014 and 2015 the ‘American’ cars were much more successful, but in 2016 the LMP2’s seem to be the better car. Not only won this Patrón sponsored Ligier-HPD in Daytona, also the works Mazda’s are quicker than the DP’s.
Extreme Speed #2: Luis ‘Pipo’ Derani (BRA) / Scott Sharp (USA) / Ed Brown (USA) / Johannes Van Overbeek (USA)
Results: Start-grid 2nd / time 2:06.304 / race 1st – 736 laps
Ligier JS P2 – Prototype: Powered by 2.6 liter HPD Honda V6 twin turbo, approx. 500 hp. Continental tires. Weight 900 kg. Carbon fibre monocoque, chassisnr. Onroak #OR02-09

  • SPARK Daytona Winners 43DA16 (resin)
    • Overall rating: 5 STARS | Quality details: 5 STARS | Estimated value: 4 STARS
    • Only appears in this collection

2021 Daytona 24h, Acura ARX-05
In 2021, Wayne Taylor Racing switched from Cadillac to Acura and took the Konica sponsorship with them. It was an instant hit because the Acura ARX-05 won the Daytona 24-hour race. The Acura is based on the Oreca 07 which is the leading car in LMP2 at Le Mans and the world championship. The main difference with the Oreca is the front of the car with the high-placed spoiler and of course the V6 twin-turbo engine from the Acura / Honda NSX.
Wayne Taylor Racing #10: Ricky Taylor (USA) / Filipe Albuquerque (POR) / Alexander Rossi (USA) / Helio Castroneves (USA)
Results: Start-grid 5th / race 1st – 807 laps
Acura ARX-05 – Daytona Prototypes: Powered by 3.5 liter Acura (Honda) AR35TT V6 60º twin turbo, approx. 600 hp. Michelin tires. Weight 920 kg. Carbon fibre monocoque, chassisnr. Oreca 07 #unknown.

  • TRUE SCALE MINIATURES TSM 430552 (resin)
    • Overall rating: 4 STARS | Quality details: 5 STARS | Estimated value: 5 STARS
    • Also appears in #056 Hypercars & Prototypes

Honda Civic

2020 Nürburgring 24h, Honda Civic Type R
The 24-hour race at the Nürburgring was once again delayed for 8 hours because of the bad weather. Sunday morning, racing resumed and the Castrol Honda stretched its advantage in the TCR category to over one lap. It was the second year in a row that Honda won the TCR category at the Nürburgring.
JAS #170: Tiago Monteiro (POR) / Esteban Guerrieri (RA) / Dominik Fugel (D) Markus Oestreich (D)
Results: Start-grid 54th / time 9:14.444 / race 20th – 78 laps / 1st TCR
Honda Civic Type R – TCR: Powered by 2.0 liter Honda K20C1 i-VTEC straight-4 turbo, approx. 340 hp. Dunlop tires. Weight 1220 kg. Steel monocoque, chassisnr. unknown

  • SPARK SG 697 #027 / 500 pcs (resin)
    • Overall rating: 4 STARS | Quality details: 4 STARS | Estimated value: 4 STARS
    • Also appears in #069 Castrol

Thanks for visiting 😉Team Mugen

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