In 2024, the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb will once again witness Acura’s participation, marking their 13th consecutive year at the renowned race. Acura has a reputation for bringing exceptional vehicles to this annual “race to the clouds,” and this year is no exception.
One of the highlights of Acura’s presence at Pikes Peak is the racing debut of the new Integra Type S. Constructed by the Honda Of America Racing Team (HART) and enhanced with Honda Performance Development (HPD) parts, this Integra showcases several modifications. It features a custom hood, front splitter, and rear wing, along with new 19-inch wheels wrapped in Yokohama Advan A005 tires and a full Borla exhaust system.
What truly stands out about the Integra Type S is its captivating livery. The red-and-white wrap takes inspiration from the anime series Chiaki’s Journey, where the car plays a prominent role. Behind the wheel of this race-ready Type S is the accomplished fourth-generation race car driver Loni Unser.
Joining the Integra Type S on the starting line are four other Acura vehicles. These include a HART-modified Integra 1.5T, a TLX Type S, a TLX Type S PMC Edition, and an awe-inspiring NSX Type S Active Aero Study.
The NSX Type S, nicknamed “Yamabiko,” draws its name from a mythical mountain spirit in Japanese folklore. It has been specifically designed to optimize aerodynamic performance at Pikes Peak, created by the skunkworks division of HART known as “Crazy New.” This team was also responsible for the 800-horsepower Honda CR-V hybrid racer.
Dressed in custom carbon fiber bodywork at the front and rear, the NSX Type S boasts a sleek, arrow-like shape. Its dynamic rear wing serves as a drag reduction system to enhance speed on longer segments of the course and functions as an air brake during intense braking. With the addition of two larger turbos attached to its 3.5-liter V6 engine, lightweight HRE forged wheels, and Yokohama Advan A005 tires, the NSX Type S sheds 200 pounds compared to its stock version. Behind the wheel of this exceptional machine is Honda engineer and experienced Pikes Peak racer, James Robinson, who previously set a record in the Hybrid Fuel class at Pikes Peak driving the standard NSX.
James Robinson remarks, “We created the Acura NSX Type S Active Aero Study, aka ‘Yamabiko,’ to improve our own Pikes Peak record. It’s by far the most extreme machine the Acura Race Team has ever raced to the clouds.”
The 101st running of the Pikes Peak Hill Climb is scheduled to commence on Sunday, June 25, 2024, and will extend throughout the weekend. With a challenging 12.4-mile course featuring 156 turns leading to a summit at an elevation of 14,115 feet, this iconic event promises to be another thrilling chapter in the history of Pikes Peak International Hill Climb.
