Honda Racing Corporation (HRC) in Japan and Honda Performance Development (HPD) in the United States have announced a significant restructuring of their motorsports operations. Starting from the 2024 motorsports season, HPD will be rebranded as Honda Racing Corporation USA (HRC US). This change aims to integrate HRC US into Honda’s global motorsports activities, including contributions to Honda’s Formula One (F1) program.
HRC, established in Japan in 1982, has been primarily focused on motorcycle racing, with a history spanning over 40 years in various global racing categories. In 2022, HRC expanded its scope to include auto racing, including Honda’s F1 program. HPD, on the other hand, was founded in 1993 by American Honda Motor Co., Inc. and has been involved in various racing series in the United States, including IndyCar and IMSA. The rebranding aims to combine the unique expertise and resources of these two entities to enhance Honda’s global motorsports capabilities.
Koji Watanabe, the president of HRC Japan, stated that the goal of this restructuring is to strengthen the HRC brand and sustain the success of Honda’s racing activities. David Salters, the current president of HPD, who will become the president of the new HRC US, echoed these sentiments. He emphasized that the combined efforts of the U.S. and Japanese race engineers would make the organization stronger on a global scale.
Starting in 2026, HRC will also become the official engine supplier for the Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant F1 team. This comes as the United States is increasingly becoming a significant market for F1, with races now being held in Austin, Miami, and Las Vegas. The newly formed HRC US will be actively involved in F1 power unit development and race support from that year.
The first race for the new HRC US will be the 2024 Rolex 24 at Daytona, scheduled for January 27-28. The defending champion Acura ARX-06 prototypes will feature HRC logos, marking the official debut of the rebranded entity.