Wirth Research

General information

Wirth Research is an innovative engineering group, founded by Nicholas Wirth in 2003. The team of engineers specialise in research, development, design and manufacture for the motor racing industry and other high technology sectors. In 2008 the company received a Queen's Award for Enterprise having achieved growth in export sales of 378% over three years. This outstanding achievement was the result of a small number of strategic partnerships, of which Honda Performance Development, Inc (HPD) was the main one. This partnership culminated in winning both the 2004 and 2005 Indy Racing League drivers and engine manufacturer's championships.

On receiving the Queens Award, Nicholas Wirth, President and Owner, said "This is really a great day for everyone involved in Wirth Research. The sustained effort needed to achieve our success is a testament to the talent and commitment of all of our associates, and reflects the growing confidence that our clients have in our services and products, of which we are immensely proud. The UK has traditionally been a centre of excellence for motor sport engineering world wide. Wirth Research is proud to continue this tradition, and actively encourages young engineers by pursuing a policy of offering unparalleled opportunities for their development, education and hands on experience at the cutting edge of motor sport engineering".

The partnership with HPD was extended into a multi-year agreement in the American Le Mans Series where the two companies jointly designed and Wirth Research manufactured the Acura ARX-01b Le Mans Prototype chassis for teams entered under the Acura brand. The ARX-01b won its first race in class at the 2008 Long Beach Grand Prix in April and won Acura's first overall ALMS race at the 2008 Northeast Grand Prix at Lime Rock Park, USA.

For the 2009 ALMS series, Wirth Research designed a radical, all-new LMP1 prototype sports car - the Acura ARX-02a. In its first year of competition, this ground-breaking car won the driver, team and manufacturer championships in the LMP1 category. In the same season the ARX-01b sportscar won the driver, team and manufacturer championship in the LMP2 category.

In 2010 Wirth Research completely updated the championship-winning HPD ARX-01b LMP2 sportscar in readiness for HPD's Le Mans debut. The new low-drag aerodynamic revisions were so extensive that the car was redesignated the HPD ARX-01c, and was raced in the European Le Mans Series by Strakka Racing and in the ALMS by Highcroft Racing. The car took a sensational 1-2 in Le Mans qualifying, beating the 3rd place car by over 6 seconds. In the 2010 Le Mans race, Stakka Racing ARX-01c broke all LMP2 records on its way to a class victory, finishing over 6 laps in front of the 2nd placed car. In the USA, Highcroft Racing took the ARX-01c to win their 2nd straight ALMS championship.

For 2011, HPD presented Wirth Research with a double challenge - the first was to adapt the Le-Mans winning LMP2 ARX-01c to take HPD's all-new road-car based V6 twin-turbo engine, to create the 2011 LMP2 ARX-01d. The second challenge was to create the strongest possible LMP1 version of the ARX-01c for customers, which resulted in the 2011 LMP1 ARX-01e. The LMP1 car features a new gearbox, new suspension, and all-new bodywork and had its first shakedown seven days before its debut at the legendary Sebring 12 hour race in March 2011. Racing three works Peugeots and two works Audis plus a 55-car field, the car scored a sensational second place on its debut race, confirming Wirth Research's determination to provide its customers with the best possible products and services.