October 31, 2024 — SANTA CLARITA, CA
- HRC announces new business to develop authentic performance parts for retail Honda and Acura consumers
- New HRC performance parts developed by championship-winning HRC engineers
- Nine HRC vehicles will be displayed at the SEMA show, November 5-8 including the Oracle Red Bull Racing RB20 Formula 1 car
- Prototype parts are expected to be ready for testing as early as next year
Honda Racing Corporation USA (HRC US), the North American racing arm for both Honda and Acura, today announced it will create a new business to produce authentic performance parts for customer use for street, track and off-road applications. Formerly known as Honda Performance Development (HPD), HRC US has been winning races and championships on and off the road for three decades and will use this extensive know-how to introduce a new line of performance parts for retail customers.
Based on strong interest generated by the Acura Integra Type S HRC Prototype, displayed at Monterey Car Week in August 2024, HRC has decided to move forward with the creation of new lines of authentic performance parts specifically for retail consumers in North America. These new parts will leverage the technical knowledge and expertise of championship-winning HRC race engineers with the first prototypes expected to be ready as early as next year. As a hugely successful racing brand for years, HRC US is uniquely positioned to offer parts for customers to enhance the performance of their own Honda and Acura vehicles.
“HRC US has been winning races and championships on and off road for three decades, and we’re excited to apply this experience to new lines of performance parts for Honda and Acura enthusiasts eager to augment their performance driving experience,” said Jon Ikeda, senior vice president, HRC US. “To be an HRC genuine part, it must meet our exacting standards, while functionally improving vehicle performance and the driving experience.”
Illustrating the breadth of its expertise, HRC will showcase nine racing and special project vehicles at the SEMA automotive trade show November 5-8, 2024. Reflecting its new role in supporting global Honda Formula 1 racing activities, one of the vehicles on display is an Oracle Red Bull Racing RB20 Formula 1 car. The HRC booth will be in the southeast corner of Central Hall, booth #24789 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
“At Honda, competition fuels our challenging spirit, ignites our best thinking and powers many of the imaginative ideas we bring to life,” said David Salters, president of HRC US. “We couldn’t be more excited and challenged to apply the technical knowledge of our HRC race engineers to the vehicles our customers can enjoy. We believe adding a performance parts line from HRC will build stronger connections with Acura and Honda enthusiasts while credibly enhancing their driving and ownership experience.”
HRC DISPLAY VEHICLES AT SEMA
Oracle Red Bull Racing RB20 Formula 1 Car – Following the dominance of the RB19, which won a record 21 of 22 races in 2023, the RB20 powered by the Honda RBPTH002 power unit is currently leading the 2024 drivers’ championship with driver Max Verstappen. Verstappen is trying to secure his fourth consecutive drivers’ championship and the Red Bull Racing Honda RBPT team’s third consecutive world constructors’ championship.
Acura ARX-06 – The electrified Acura ARX-06, is the latest in a successful line of endurance prototypes fielded by the brand since 1991. Acura has won three of the last five IMSA Prototype championships and three of the last four Rolex 24 at Daytona endurance races. The ARX-06 competes in the 2024 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar GTP Championship hybrid-powered GTP category and recently claimed victory at the iconic 12 Hours of Sebring.
Honda IndyCar – Powered by the 2.2-liter Honda Indy twin turbo V6 hybrid power unit, Honda-powered IndyCars are capable of speeds over 240 mph. This year, Honda powered Alex Palou to his second drivers’ championship in a row and his third title in the last four years. Since entering IndyCar competition, Honda drivers have won championships in 20 of the last 31 seasons and more Indianapolis 500 races than any major automaker.
Honda Ridgeline Baja Race Truck – The Honda Ridgeline Baja Race Truck has four class wins in the Baja 1000 and five class wins in the Baja 500. Now competing in the premier Trophy Truck category, it is the only V6-powered entry in the top class. The Baja Ridgeline is powered by a production-based HRC-built turbocharged 3.5L V6.
Honda CR-V Hybrid Racer – Known as “an IndyCar wolf in CR-V clothing,” the CR-V Hybrid Racer is a rolling electrified laboratory used to investigate where the talented men and women of HRC can go with hybrid technology and 100% renewable fuels. The Hybrid Racer harbors a 2.2-liter twin-turbo hybrid Honda V6 IndyCar power unit under the body of a Honda CR-V. Now featuring a new wrap design, the CR-V Hybrid Racer has been driven on track by IndyCar and Formula 1 drivers.
Acura Integra Type S HRC Prototype – The Acura Integra Type S HRC Prototype builds upon the dynamic capabilities of the most powerful, best performing Integra ever to deliver ultimate street and track performance for Acura enthusiast customers to enjoy on their own Integras. Showcasing advanced aerodynamics, weight reduction and suspension components, the HRC Prototype shows how future HRC parts could greatly improve performance.
Acura Integra Type S DE5 Race Car – The HRC-developed Acura Integra Type S DE5 is designed, developed, and assembled inside Honda’s state-of-the-art North American facilities and sold directly to racers. The competition version of the Integra Type S participates in the top class of SRO TC America racing where it won six races in its debut season. The DE5 features advanced aerodynamics, a 6-speed sequential paddle-shift transmission and a modified version of the factory 2.0-liter turbocharged engine co-developed by HRC in Japan and US with over 360hp among many other upgrades. The DE5 also competed in the 2024 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb where Katherine Legge drove it to a fifth in-class finish.
HRC Honda Civic Type R Pace Car – The latest in a series of Honda Pace Cars utilized for IndyCar competition since 2006, the 11th–generation Civic Type R has led the field of IndyCars to the green since 2023. In addition to the standard Type R’s impressive performance numbers, the pace car adds a HRC brake package, four-point racing harness, Honda graphics and exclusive pace car lighting system.
Honda Pilot HRC Prototype – HRC plans to produce both on- and off-road performance parts with the Pilot demonstrating possible off-road equipment. The HRC Pilot Prototype is fitted with HRC designed experimental products that are intended to increase the Pilot’s capabilities while providing some food for off-road thought.
About Honda Racing Corporation USA
Honda Racing Corporation USA (HRC US), has a rich heritage creating, manufacturing, and supporting Honda Racing and Acura Motorsports customers since its founding in 1993 as Honda Performance Development (HPD). In January 2024, HPD became HRC US, combining with HRC Japan to strengthen the company’s overall motorsports capabilities. From pinnacle racing in INDYCAR and IMSA sports cars to commercial racing programs, HRC US leads all Honda and Acura high-performance racing programs in North America and will be involved in Formula One power unit development and race support related to the next phase of Honda starting in 2026.
HRC US specializes in the design and development of powertrain, chassis, electronics, and performance parts, as well as technical and race support. The company also offers parts and race support to Honda and Acura amateur and professional motorsports racers; and is continually expanding its palette of racing programs that make Honda racing products available to all racing styles, from karting and quarter midgets to the highest levels of professional racing. hondaracing-us.honda.com
[Source: Acura]