DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Honda Racing Corporation USA (HRC US) has named Kelvin Fu as its next president, succeeding David Salters.
Salters became president of then-Honda Performance Development (HPD) in 2020 and will leave HRC US to join a technology startup outside the motorsports industry.
Salters joined HPD in 2015 as chief engineer and engine technical leader before becoming technical director in 2019. Prior to joining HPD, he held a series of roles in other high-profile racing programs, including head of internal combustion engine power unit development for the Ferrari Formula 1 program, head of Formula 1 engine development at Mercedes-Benz High-Performance Engines (formerly Ilmor), and development and design engineer for the CART Indy car program at Cosworth Racing Ltd.
During his tenure, Salters oversaw three NTT INDYCAR SERIES manufacturers’ championships and five drivers’ titles, in addition to securing the 2022 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship teams’, drivers’ and manufacturers’ titles.
Salters also pioneered the development and modernization of two electrified HRC US racing programs: the Acura ARX-06 IMSA LMDh car, launched for the 2023 season, and the current hybrid-powered Indy car, which debuted in 2024.
Additionally, Salters oversaw the launch of the new HRC US business division, which includes apparel, performance parts and a recently announced heritage racing business that connects motorsports collectors with Honda and Acura heritage race cars.
Fu has long served in senior roles at HRC US, most recently as vice president, and helped lead the organization to four of its 17 Indianapolis 500 victories while in that position.
Prior to joining Honda, Fu worked primarily in aerospace. He earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in mechanical engineering from the University of Michigan, followed by a PhD and postdoctoral appointment at the University of California, Berkeley, and another postdoctoral appointment at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Fu then moved to Los Angeles to join the defense and aerospace company HR Textron.
At HR Textron, Fu served as an R&D engineer and advanced to product manager before moving to ITT Aerospace, where he became director of engineering.
Kelvin Fu joined HRC US, then known as HPD, in 2015, managing chassis design, aerodynamics and the performance engineering group. He was named director of programs in 2020 before being promoted to vice president in 2021.
Fu’s role as HRC US president will be effective September 12, 2026.
Quotes
David Salters (Outgoing President, Honda Racing Corporation USA): “I would like to say a heartfelt thank you to the marvelous men and women at Honda Racing Corporation USA, our racing teams and talented drivers. It has been an honor to work together to add to Honda’s racing history here in the US.
“Honda Racing gave me and my family the opportunity to come to California 11 years ago. We had the honor of becoming American citizens and have had the most amazing life experience as part of the Honda family.
“HRC US is stronger than ever, with a brilliant team, a very exciting future in IndyCar, and many other cool new projects on the horizon. Now is the perfect time to pass the baton to Kelvin. We have worked closely over the last six years, and Kelvin is the ideal person to support and lead the HRC US team into the future.”
Kelvin Fu (Incoming President, Honda Racing Corporation USA): “When I joined HRC US, I never imagined that one day I would have the privilege of leading this extraordinary organization. I am truly humbled by the opportunity. Throughout my career at HPD and HRC US, I have been fortunate to work on a wide range of programs, from the development of the NSX GT3, Acura DPi race cars, and the LMDh engine and car to building lasting partnerships with our racing teams.
“I want to sincerely thank David Salters for his leadership, friendship and mentorship. Dave challenged all of us to think bigger, move faster and never lose sight of the fact that we are competitors at heart. He is a true racer whose vision and commitment have helped shape HRC US into the world-class organization it is today, and his impact will be felt for many years to come.
“Looking ahead, I am excited about the future of HRC US. We recently renewed our commitment to IndyCar as the series continues to grow and strengthen its position in North American motorsports. Our new business ventures also position us to better serve Honda racing fans. We will remain committed to innovation, competition, and developing the people and technologies that define the future of motorsports. The Honda racing spirit has always been about challenging convention and pushing boundaries, and I look forward to leading HRC US as we write the next chapter of that story together.”