A Lap Of Buttonwillow With The N1 Concepts Honda S2000 [VIDEO]
By Staff, Photography by Duane Uyeda
There’s something alluring about the concept of doing more with less. Stretching what you have and fine-tuning down to the last drop. If you’re the lucky owner of a Honda vehicle, you’ll be all too familiar with the concept of horsepower maximization.
H-badged cars don’t have the greatest reputation for torque production but this hasn’t stopped numerous Civic, Integras, and S2000s from doing quite well in the club racing scene. The key to their speed is balance and high RPMs. This Honda S2000, campaigned by Northern California tuning shop N1 Concepts, has seen quite a bit of development but has run the time attack events at Buttonwillow Raceway under two different company banners.
Originally built by famed Japanese Honda tuner J’s Racing, the N1 Concepts S2000 has seen further setup work in the hands of its current owner. With a 12.0:1 compression ratio, naturally aspirated 2.3-liter engine making about 305hp, this Honda has to regularly take on competition with hundreds more horses.
Driver Andrie Hartanto, a World Challenge Touring Car vet, squeezes out as much speed as he can using a chassis-stiffening roll cage, plenty of lightweight carbon fiber body panels, hard suspension bushings, and revised suspension geometry (to correct for lowering).
Note that our video was not shot during one of the S2000’s fastest laps, our cameras were stuck on during one of the practice sessions. The N1 Concepts Honda S2000 was suffering with some drivetrain mechanical issues, which were sorted out later. The car would run a best of 1:54.832 during the same weekend.
- Click to play and select “720p” to watch in full HD
Engine: J’s Racing F23C engine (12:1 compression, 310ps, 32kg/m torque), exhaust manifold, 70RR titanium exhaust, aluminum SPL radiator, individual throttle bodies, intake duct, oil cooler, engine damper, ATL fuel cell, NGK spark plugs, and Mugen engine and transmission mounts.
Tuning: Motec M400 ECU
Drivetrain: J’s Racing SPL differential mounts, clutch kit, 1.5-way LSD, differential cooler, and 4.1:1 final drive gear.
Suspension: J’s Racing SPL front subframe, rear subframe, tower bar, pillowball tierod ends, camber joint, roll center adjusters, SPL rear pillowball suspension arms, driveshaft spacers, hard spherical suspension bushings, and Crux coilover kit (20kg/mm springs).
Brakes: J’s Racing SPL six-piston big brake kit, rear caliper kit, brake lines, Seidoya N1-500 (F)/GT600 (R) brake pads, and Oberon F555 brake fluid
Wheels: Volk Racing CE28N
Tires: Hankook Ventus
Interior: Full spot welding, roll cage, Max Racing meter, Takata harness, and Recaro seat.
Exterior: Mugen hard top, carbon fiber hood, J’s Racing Type-S aero kit, wide fenders, 3D GT wing, dry carbon doors, carbon trunk, and Craft Square mirrors.
Hands down one of my favorite S2000’s!!!
[...] A Lap Of Buttonwillow With The N1 Concepts Honda S2000 [VIDEO … [...]
[...] A Lap Of Buttonwillow With The N1 Concepts Honda S2000 [VIDEO … [...]