Tsuki 2026 Refresh: A New Era, Haltech Power, and the Return of VTEC
It is officially the end of an era for Tsuki, our Honda NSX. After five years running Bourne HPP engines and a Life Racing ECU, Terry has made the decision to move on to pastures new. We want to thank him for his support over the years, but as one door closes, another opens.
This transition presented us with a major opportunity to completely rethink Tsuki’s electronic systems. The main change? Saying goodbye to Life Racing and making the jump to Haltech.
Here is a deep dive into the overhaul that is going to make Tsuki an absolute weapon this season.
The Brain Transplant: Going Full Haltech
After getting some excellent advice from the team at Haltech, we spec’d out exactly what we needed to keep Tsuki running at the absolute limit. We decided to go all-in:
- Haltech Nexus R5 ECU: This is Haltech’s top-of-the-range Haltech ECU, and crucially, it features a built-in PDM. This unit is the new brain of the operation, currently managing a highly capable 683 bhp. We are currently only running at 1.5bar boost as well, so there’s plenty left to go when we want to crank things up.
- Haltech PDM16: Because Tsuki has so much going on mechanically and electronically, the Nexus R5’s built-in PDM wasn’t quite enough. We added the 16-channel PDM to handle the extra load.
- Haltech TCA8: An 8-channel thermocouple amplifier so we can keep absolute, precise control over our exhaust gas temperatures (EGTs).
- Haltech Bosch Electric Throttle Body & Sensor Package: For razor-sharp throttle response and reliable data logging.
- Haltech 15-Button Keypad: Giving us sleek, immediate control over the car’s systems.
- Custom Wiring Loom: To wrap it all together, we had a bespoke loom made to keep everything surgically neat, tidy, and reliable.
Taking Control with Haltech NSP
One of the biggest revelations of this swap has been the Haltech NSP (Nexus Software Programmer) software. The user interface is so intuitive that, as soon as we had the pinouts mapped, we were able to set a massive portion of the system up entirely on our own.
Data is Everything: Supported by AIM Technologies
We are incredibly proud to announce that we have official support from the guys at AIM Technologies this year!
If you know motorsport, you know AIM is the gold standard for track data. Their sensors and data systems already feature heavily on Tsuki, but having their direct backing takes things to a whole new level. Their technical knowledge is absolutely out of this world, and their insight ensures we are extracting every last drop of useful data to dial in our new setup.
Fueling the Fire: 8 Injectors
If you followed us last year, you might remember that fueling eventually became our limiting factor. We were maxing out our setup. To ensure we never run into a fuel starvation bottleneck again, we have upgraded to an 8-injector setup. Tsuki now has all the fuel flow required to safely support high boost levels without breaking a sweat.
Breathing Better: Kelford Cams & VTEC Returns
More fuel needs more air. We’ve installed a set of Kelford Stage 1 Turbo Cams, and they have completely transformed the car’s power delivery.
The most exciting part? We didn’t have VTEC previously, and now we do. The difference in how the car pulls through the rev range is staggering.
Keeping it Cool: PWR Radiator
All of this newly unlocked power generates a massive amount of heat, especially on track. To combat this, we’ve upgraded our setup with a PWR radiator, and the cooling efficiency speaks for itself when you look at the AIM data from a lap around Blyton.
Take a look at the data comparison below. The green line represents our 2025 data, where you can clearly see the Intake Air Temperature was being artificially controlled by water-methanol injection—hence the visible plateaus on the graph. Without that water-meth injection, those intake temperatures would have just kept climbing.
The red line is our fresh 2026 data, running purely on the new system with no water-meth injection. It clearly shows just how incredibly effective the PWR setup is at managing and stabilising temperatures under heavy track load all on its own, plus we get the benefit of weight reduction now we’ve removed the water meth tank and lines.
The Cockpit: Zestek CAN Wheel & Carbon Tidy-Up
We didn’t just spend time upgrading the engine, the driver’s office got a major upgrade, too.
We’ve installed a brand new Zestek CAN hub and got a new steering wheel too. This isn’t just for aesthetics, it communicates directly with our Haltech setup, allowing the driver to control the PDM outputs right from the steering wheel. Integrating this was an absolute breeze thanks to the Zestek Racing Suite.
To finish off the winter refresh, we added more carbon fibre detailing to the interior and spent time properly tidying up the cabin, giving the driver a clean, focused, and distraction-free environment.
Tsuki is leaner, smarter, and significantly more powerful than she was at the end of last season. We can’t wait to show you what this new Haltech-powered setup can do on the track!