VIDEO: Alonso takes on Estoril in the Honda NSX

The name “NSX” has a strong association with racing drivers. The late, great Ayrton Senna played a key role in the development of the first generation NA1 model, IndyCar racer Alex Zanardi had a special edition NSX named after him, and now McLaren-Honda F1 driver Fernando Alonso has taken to the circuit in the latest hybrid model, shortly after its European debut.

While one imagines that a road car, even a high-performance one like the NSX, would be too mild to interest a Formula 1 driver, Alonso thinks otherwise. “Driving the NSX is softer and sweeter than an F1 car because you are not searching for every little fraction of an inch, as you do in races. It is like the difference between artistic drawing and technical drawing,” he said.

First unveiled at the 2015 Detroit Motor Show, the NSX is a showcase of Honda’s latest in performance technology. 573 hp and 646 Nm of torque comes courtesy of a 3.5 litre, twin-turbo V6 hybrid with three electric motors; two driving the front wheels and one driving the rears. Aluminium, high-strength steel and carbon-fibre feature in its construction; read our review of the NSX, here.

What does the Honda NSX look like in motion? Watch as Alonso drives the Honda NSX at Portugal’s Estoril circuit for thrill laps with passengers:

GALLERY: Honda NSX European debut

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