Pierre Gasly, AlphaTauri Formula One’s driver, took a second-generation Acura NSX to the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, last month during the 2021 United States Grand Prix weekend. The video is very entertaining and resembles Ayrton Sena in the classic Suzuka race car.
Gasly grew up admiring Senna. Senna also helped to develop the original NSX. Honda parent Acura provided engines to Senna for three F1 championships. They are also currently the engine suppliers for AlphaTauri, Red Bull Racing’s parent company.
While Honda is set to withdraw from F1 at the end of the season, transferring its powertrain-development operation to Red Bull, it used the U.S. Grand Prix to promote Acura. Red Bull and AlphaTauri put Acura stickers on the helmets of their drivers and cars.
Pierre Gasly is a COTA driver of a Acura NSX first generation.
Which is how Gasly—who didn’t finish the race due to a suspension issue—ended up behind the wheel of a first-generation NSX. The in-car video—complete with foot cam—shows him working the NSX hard around COTA, even getting a little sideways at one point.
Acura chose a completely different route with the second generation NSX. This vehicle received a complicated hybrid powertrain. This version will no longer be available in 2022. Instead, Acura has created a special 600-hp Type S edition to send it off. Acura boss says there may be another NSX. But for the moment, Gasly seems to like that original.
He said, “I have to find a means to get one,” as he returned to the pits following his hot lap.
