Endurance-Info : First of all, are you satisfied with your involvement in the American Le Mans Series from the fan numbers and media coverage points of view ?

Robert Clarke : « Yes and no. I'm satisfied for the moment, but I'm looking forward to seeing their plan for strengthening both. To date I have not seen such a plan, although I know they want these things. »

On the racing side, everything started very well this year at Sebring with the AGR Acura ARX-01a’s overall 2^nd place and class victory in LMP2. Was it a surprise for you to get such a good result in the very first race, which incidentally, is also the hardest of the whole season ?

« Yes, it was a huge surprise. Our goal was to simply finish. We feel that our unique strategy of using three single car teams, each focused on a particular aspect of our program, paid off. »

During the other 11 races, your teams have shown very good speed. But, even if they sometimes came very close, the Acura powered cars have never been able to achieve another P2 win. Is this disappointing for HPD after such a promising start or did you expect that ?

« No, not really disappointing. Of course, another win would have been welcome but from the beginning our program was focused on learning and we continued to learn and improve our program throughout the season. The Penske Porsches improved and so did we. »

Three different teams were part of the “Acura family” this year. Two of them, although they were newcomers to the ALMS, were already famous and very professional, Andretti Green Racing and Lowe’s Fernandez Racing. The third team, Highcroft, was probably the least experienced even if the crew was familiar with the ALMS. Are you satisfied with their level of performance ?

« We are most satisfied with Highcroft. They demonstrated the greatest improvement throughout the season and it was improvement we were focused on. Fernandez and Andretti Green did not demonstrate the constant improvement we had hoped for and they feel the same. For 2008 you will see all three Acura teams working more closely together in an effort to help each other like one big three car team. »

If my information is correct, Fernandez Racing, with its well known Lola chassis, helped you to compare the performance level of your engine with your opponents. AGR’s role was to check the chassis developments throughout the season. Highcroft was the “factory” team which had to test both engines and chassis evolutions. It’s a little surprising to learn that the least experienced team had the most major role to play. Why did you make this choice ?

« We picked Highcroft for our chassis development as we felt their expectations for program progress and ours would be the closest. As you said, AGR and Fernandez are experienced teams and they needed quicker results/success. Highcroft were most interested in learning from Acura and growing together. »

What were the “weak points” of the ARX-01a in 2007 ?

« Because the ARX-01a is based on a customer chassis we were limited to certain improvements. Weight and the lack of 3rd springs were our biggest weaknesses - we could not meet minimum weight and we could not run the ride heights desired. »

Were you satisfied with the level of reliability of the ARX-01a ?

« The reliability hasn't been too bad, but the serviceability has been a big weakness. Due to the layout of the chassis it takes considerable time to replace key components during the course of a race event. We lost the St. Pete race because of this. This will be a big improvement of the new ARX-01b chassis. »

It seems like your V8 was a little bit too heavy compared to the opponents and that its fuel consumption was not as good as the Porsche. Is that true ?

« Our engine is likely a bit heavier than the Porsche, but the bigger problem is the chassis. Fuel economy is also not so bad and will be improved with our new '08 version. »

Did HPD and Nick Wirth’s team have enough time to properly develop the Courage LC75 last winter?

« No. The further developments that we desired will be incorporated into the new ARX-01b. »

I think you’ve already announced that you will still use the Courage tub. Will you not create your own for 2008 ?

« No, we will continue with the Courage tub, but the new ARX-01b will include new front crash box and new gearbox case/bell housing. »

Have Nick and his team returned to the wind tunnel ? Will we be able to “see” the changes to the bodywork, or will the 2008 evo be very close the 2007 version ?

« You will see lots of differences between the 01a and the 01b. »

When will the new car hit the track for the first time ?

« Soon ! »

Are you considering running a second “Acura Sebring 12 Hours” like last year in order to prepare for this tough race ?

« We are now planning. »

What will Acura’s goal be for the 2008 season ? Just to win some races or to win the P2 championship outright?

« We'll be running for the championship. »

There are some rumours that there could be more than 3 Acura cars next year in the ALMS. Is that really an option or not ? If yes, would you have deals with new teams or would it be the current ones which would enter more than 1 car ?

« We are still considering, yes, there is the possibility of adding one more car. »

You have appeared unhappy with the future ACO rule book which could allow only “road car look-alike” closed prototypes from 2010. Are you interested in such cars ?

« We do not really agree with the original Evo concept and we have shared our thoughts/opinions with the ACO. »

Could it change Acura and HPD’s plans for the future?

« Although not completely decided, Acura will likely stay on its original plan to be in P1 from 2009. »

When we met, you told me that the design work for a P1 engine had already started. Can you tell us a little bit more about the engine you wish to use ? Could it be a hybrid engine, or another new technology/energy one ?

« If we move to P1, it would be with a derivative of our P2 engine. »

Regarding this future P1 car, will you keep on using a Courage chassis or will it be a 100% Acura car ?

« 100% Acura. »

During the week of the Sebring 12 hours, you announced that you wished to enter cars at LM in 2008. Is this still the case or have you changed your mind due to the regulations which should be announced very soon now ?

« We will not compete at Le Mans in the P2 class. »

And finally, you will step down as president of HPD on January 1^st. Is Erik Berkman also a sportscar enthusiast ? In other words, can we be confident about Acura’s long term presence in the ALMS ?

« Erik is passionate about motorsports and he completely supports the long-term plans that HPD and American Honda have in place for the future. »

We'd like to thank Robert Clarke for his answers and Tom Blatter who made this interview possible. And we'd also like to thank James Fairbrother for his help with the translations.

Laurent Chauveau