Honda Performance Development Becomes Honda Racing Corporation USA in January
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Already possessing a powerful global motorsport presence, Honda looks to strengthen that position by uniting its two independent racing arms and combining resources starting in 2024.
The company announced Thursday that Honda Performance Development (HPD), the California-based U.S. race development arm formed in 1993, will become Honda Racing Corporation USA (HRC US) in January. HRC US will collaborate with Honda Racing Corporation in Japan (HRC) to bolster the brand’s racing initiatives around the world. Honda is an active manufacturer partner in IMSA, with the Acura brand competing in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and the Honda brand in the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge.
Fittingly, the first race for HRC US will be the 2024 Rolex 24 At Daytona in January, where the Acura ARX-06 prototypes will sport HRC logos on their racing liveries.
“Our goal is to increase the HRC brand and sustain the success of our racing activities, and we believe that uniting Honda motorsports globally as one racing organization will help achieve that,” said Koji Watanabe, the president of HRC Japan. “Our race engineers in the U.S. and Japan will be stronger together and I am so happy to welcome our U.S. associates to the HRC team.”
HRC was established in Japan in 1982 as Honda’s motorcycle racing arm, where it has achieved worldwide success. In 2022, HRC added auto racing including Honda’s Formula 1 program and currently supports Red Bull Powertrains for F1 power units.
HPD was established by American Honda Motor Co., Inc. in 1993, as a separate racing arm to compete in the IndyCar Series, where it has won 15 Indianapolis 500s. HPD also has led the Acura brand to three consecutive wins in the Rolex 24 and three IMSA manufacturer, driver and team titles in the WeatherTech Championship since 2018.
“Honda’s racing heritage is unparalleled over the last 30 years and the talented men and women of HPD have contributed to that success in the U.S.,” said David Salters, president of HPD, who will become president of the new HRC US. “We are thrilled and very proud to join forces with our friends and colleagues in HRC Japan and represent Honda Racing as a global racing organization. We will continue to challenge ourselves in U.S. motorsports activities even as we develop our people and technology to compete on a rapidly changing global motorsports stage.”