Honda Performance Development (HPD) officially became Honda Racing Corporation U.S. on Tuesday. The new company sees the Honda Racing units in the U.S. and Japan collaborate more closely than before. HRC U.S. will take on a greater role in Honda’s Formula One engine development program beginning in 2024 along with other racing programs.
Collaborating as one global entity, these two independent racing arms of Honda – HRC Japan and HRC US – will combine their unique expertise and resources to strengthen Honda’s overall motorsports capabilities.
HPD was established by American Honda Motor Co., Inc. in 1993, as a separate racing arm to compete in the IndyCar series. For 30 years, HPD has participated in various racing series including IndyCar, IMSA, Baja Off-Road, Touring Cars, and Formula Regional America.
Through HPD, Honda has 280 wins from 510 races in IndyCar competition, including 180 wins from 410 events with multi-manufacturer competition. At the Indianapolis 500, Honda has won 15 times, nine with multi-manufacturer competition.
Honda has won 13 Drivers’ Championships and 10 Manufacturers’ Championships in years with multi-manufacturer competition. HPD also has led the Acura brand to three consecutive wins in the Rolex 24 at Daytona, and three IMSA Manufacturers’, Drivers’, and Teams’ Championships since 2018.
HPD won the NTT INDYCAR SERIES with Alex Palou driving the No.10 American Legion Chip Ganassi Racing Honda Dallara.
HRC’s auto racing development center in Japan currently supports Red Bull Powertrains, and is a vital part of the team’s F1 World Championship victories. Starting in 2026, HRC will partner with the Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant F1 team as the team’s official engine supplier. With three F1 races now in the U.S., the new HRC US will be involved in Formula One power unit development and race support starting in 2026.
President of Honda Racing Corporation U.S. David Salters says:
“The team and I here at HRC US are excited and humbled to embark on this next racing adventure. “Honda’s racing heritage is exceptional. I have just come back from Honda’s annual ‘Thanks Day’ activity at the Twin Ring Motegi circuit: Moto GP, Formula 1, Indycar, Motocross, Dakar endurance, Trials, Touring Car, Super GT all being demonstrated at the highest level by a paddock full of world champions.
“Only Honda does this. We challenge ourselves and entertain our amazing Honda Racing fans across all pinnacle racing, two and four wheels. Add Honda’s cool car and bike culture, cutting edge technology and superb vehicles to this and you can only feel immensely proud to be joining our companies and amazing people together to make one global racing organization, HRC Honda Racing. This really is the power of dreams, moreover we get to race our dreams.”
Honda took victory in the FIA Formula One World Championship with Oracle Red Bull Racing and a 1-2 finish in the Drivers Championship with Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez in 2023.