Hondanews Online Newsroom

Headlines: Honda Performance Development Unveils Ambitious Worldwide Sports-Prototype Effort

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 10:29:00 -0800

Honda Performance Development today unveiled its largest customer endurance racing program to date, as six teams will campaign a total of seven HPD-powered LMP1 and LMP2 prototypes in the 2012 World Endurance Championship and the American Le Mans Series.

"In recent years, teams running HPD engines and chassis have delivered remarkable results at some of the world's greatest sports-car races," said Steve Eriksen, HPD vice president, "starting with an amazing LMP2 victory - and second and third overall finishes - at our endurance racing debut, the 2007 12 Hours of Sebring. Another highlight was Strakka's LMP2 victory and fifth-place finish overall at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2010, also on our first attempt!

"Returning to LMP1, while continuing our LMP2 program, will be the biggest challenge yet for our engineers and associates," Eriksen added, "but I'm extremely confident in our capabilities and look forward to another exciting season in 2012. We expect that the proven design, development and engineering expertise of HPD and its technical partners will provide our teams with the tools they need to succeed. It will be an exciting season."

Three teams, all experienced, accomplished racing organizations, will campaign the new HPD ARX-03a in the LMP1 class. The British-based Strakka Racing group continues its three-year association with HPD, but moves from LMP2 to the premier category in the new FIA World Endurance Championship with drivers Jonny Kane, Nick Leventis and Danny Watts.

Joining them on the WEC grid in 2012 will be JRM Racing, which comes to LMP1 after winning the drivers' title in the FIA GT-1 World Championship last season. Now, drivers David Brabham, Karun Chandok and Peter Dumbreck will have HPD's LM-V8 engine and new ARX-03a chassis at their command for the eight-race WEC schedule, which begins March 17 with the classic 12 Hours of Sebring endurance contest.

Sebring also marks the start of the 2012 American Le Mans Series, where Greg Pickett's Muscle Milk Racing team will debut the ARX-03a chassis it will campaign during the full ALMS schedule for team regulars Klaus Graf and Lucas Luhr.

In addition to the LMP1 program utilizing the new ARX-03a chassis and proven HPD LM-V8 normally aspirated, gasoline engine, HPD will continue its support of the cost-capped LMP2 formula in 2012, which features the production-based HR28TT twin-turbocharged V6 engine powering the new HPD ARX-03b cost-capped LMP2 chassis.

Fresh off an undefeated LMP2 season with HPD power in the 2011 ALMS, Level 5 Motorsports returns to defend its team and drivers' championships, and HPD's LMP2 engine-manufacturers' title, with a pair of new ARX-03b chassis for regular drivers Christophe Bouchut and Scott Tucker. The team also plans on returning to the 24 Hours of Le Mans, following up on their strong third-place finish in LMP2 last year, in their inaugural attempt at the French racing classic.

Level 5 will be joined on the ALMS grid this year by Black Swan Racing, which will campaign an HPD-powered Lola B10/80 coupe after winning the ALMS GTC championship in 2010. The driving duo of team owner Tim Pappas and Jerome Bleekmolen now move up to LMP2 competition as part of the HPD lineup.

Another American-based team has announced plans to take part in the full WEC schedule, as the Florida-based Starworks Motorsport team completes the 2012 HPD sports-prototype lineup. Coming off a strong second-place finish at the recent 24 Hours of Daytona, the Starworks HPD ARX-03b will join the LMP2 grid for the first time with team regulars Ryan Dalziel and Enrico Potoliccio behind the wheel.

In 2011, Wirth Research and Honda Performance Development announced a new long-term technical partnership building upon the global successes achieved in recent years - a partnership that has produced numerous class and/or outright victories in all the world's premier sports-car races and championships, including the Le Mans 24 Hours and 12 Hours of Sebring.

Honda Performance Development (HPD) is the Honda racing company within North America. Founded in 1993 and located in Santa Clarita, Calif., HPD is the technical operations center for high-performance Honda racing cars and engines. HPD prepares and fields the Honda Indy V6 turbocharged engines used in the 2012 IZOD IndyCar Series; and spearheaded championship-winning efforts in the 2009-2010 American Le Mans Series, 2010 Le Mans Series and the 2010 24 Hours of Le Mans.

HPD also participates in multiple U.S.-based Touring Car series; and administers The Honda Racing Line to provide racing enthusiasts and professionals with dependable racing products and support, from entry level to pinnacle forms of motorsports.

2012 HPD Sports Prototype Program

FIA World Endurance Championship
Class	Team	Chassis	Engine
LMP1	Strakka Racing	HPD ARX-03a	HPD LM-V8
LMP1	JRM Racing	HPD ARX-03a	HPD LM-V8
LMP2	Starworks Motorsport	HPD ARX-03b	HPD HR28TT V6

American Le Mans Series Championship
LMP1	Muscle Milk Racing	HPD ARX-03a	HPD LM-V8
LMP2	Level 5 Motorsports	HPD ARX-03b	HPD HR28TT V6
LMP2	Black Swan Racing	Lola B11/80 coupe	HPD HR28TT V6

Headlines: Honda to Power Dale Coyne Racing in 2012

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 09:20:00 -0800

American Honda and its Honda Performance Development (HPD) subsidiary will power a two-car effort from Dale Coyne Racing in the 2012 IZOD IndyCar Series, HPD and the team announced today.

Under terms of the agreement, HPD will provide its new, turbocharged 2.2-liter Honda Indy V-6 engines to all Coyne entries in the IZOD IndyCar Series and at the Indianapolis 500.

"Dale Coyne Racing has been one of IndyCar's most durable teams, with a history that extends for nearly 30 years." said Erik Berkman, president of Honda Performance Development and vice president, corporate planning and logistics, for American Honda. "It's great to have them racing with us in 2012. Dale's team has made great strides in recent seasons, and he has made moves this off-season to further improve. We're looking forward to continuing our association with him in 2012."

Designed at HPD's Santa Clarita, California, facility, the all-new Honda Indy V-6 engine is now being tested on the race track. Dale Coyne Racing joins Chip Ganassi Racing - winner of the last four IndyCar drivers' championships - A.J. Foyt Racing, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing and Sam Schmidt Motorsports as Honda-powered teams in 2012.

"We have felt a part of the Honda family from their first days in CART back in the early 1990s till today," commented DCR team owner Dale Coyne. "We are very pleased to enter this next stage of IndyCar history with a company so dedicated to winning and rich in successful motorsports heritage like Honda. Together we hope to accomplish great things in 2012."

Honda has been a fixture in North American open-wheel racing since 1994, and has played an active role in the growth of the IZOD IndyCar Series - as both a Manufacturers' Championship competitor and single engine supplier - since joining the series in 2003.

The company scored its first Indianapolis 500 victory in 2004 with Buddy Rice; Manufacturers' Championships in 2004 and '05; and became engine supplier to the entire IZOD IndyCar Series in 2006.

Honda has supplied racing engines to the full, 33-car Indianapolis 500 field every year since 2006, and for a record-six consecutive years, the ‘500' has not seen a single engine failure. The 2010 Indianapolis 500, won by Dario Franchitti, marked Honda's 100th race win as a manufacturer and engine supplier in IZOD IndyCar Series competition.

Founded in 1993, Honda Performance Development (HPD) is the Honda racing company within North America. HPD is the technical operations center for high-performance Honda racing cars and engines and operates at race circuits around the world from its headquarters in Santa Clarita, California.

In addition to its efforts in Indy car racing, HPD spearheaded championship-winning efforts in the 2009-2010 American Le Mans Series, 2010 Le Mans Series and the 2010 24 Hours of Le Mans.

HPD offers a line of race engines for track applications from prototype sports cars to karting; for professional, amateur and entry-level efforts.

Starting in 1984 as a driver/owner, Dale Coyne raced for five seasons in Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART) competition, before stepping out of the cockpit in 1990 and becoming a full-time owner for his Plainfield, Illinois-based team. Through the years, his team has given many up-and-coming drivers their first opportunities in IndyCar competition, including Paul Tracy, future fellow IndyCar team owner Eric Bachelart and 2011 rookie James Jakes.

In 1998, Coyne developed Route 66 Speedway, a state-of-the-art drag racing facility in nearby Joliet, Illinois. Later, in partnership with then Indianapolis Motor Speedway CEO Tony George and the International Speedway Corporation, the facility was expanded to include the 1.5-mile Chicagoland Speedway oval. In 2009, Justin Wilson scored the team's first IndyCar Series victory at Watkins Glen International Raceway in New York.

Headlines: Honda to Power Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing

Thu, 03 Nov 2011 13:20:00 -0700

American Honda and its Honda Performance Development (HPD) subsidiary will power Rahal Letterman Lanigan in the 2012 IZOD IndyCar Series, HPD and the team announced today.

Under terms of the agreement, HPD will provide its new, turbocharged 2.2-liter Honda Indy V-6 engines to all Rahal Letterman Lanigan entries in the IZOD IndyCar Series and at the 2012 Indianapolis 500.

"Many fans already know that the roots of Honda's relationship with Bobby Rahal and his team extend to our initial entry into American open-wheel racing in the early 1990s," said Erik Berkman, president of Honda Performance Development and vice president, corporate planning and logistics for American Honda.

"In addition to being our first partner when Honda entered Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART) competition in 1994, the Rahal team also joined us when Honda entered the IndyCar Series in 2003 and joined us in Victory Circle with driver Buddy Rice for Honda's first Indianapolis 500 win in 2004. We're looking forward to continuing our long and successful relationship with Rahal Letterman Lanigan as IndyCar begins a new era of multi-manufacturer competition in 2012."

Designed at HPD's Santa Clarita, California, facility, the all-new Honda Indy V-6 engine began track testing in late October . Rahal Letterman Lanigan is the fourth team to align with Honda in preparation for the 2012 return of OEM competition to the IZOD IndyCar Series.

In May, Honda announced that Chip Ganassi Racing, winner of the last four IndyCar drivers' championships, would be its anchor team beginning next year. A.J. Foyt Racing and Sam Schmidt Motorsports will also utilize Honda power in 2012.

"We are pleased to once again be partnering with Honda," said team co-owner Rahal. "We have a storied history with Honda and respect its tradition of excellence in motorsports. In putting together our plans for 2012, we felt that having the full support of a proven winner such as Honda would aid us in building the strongest program possible, and we intend to represent Honda in the best manner possible."

The company scored its first Indianapolis 500 victory - with the Rahal team and driver Buddy Rice - in 2004; IndyCar Manufacturers' Championships in 2004 and '05; and became engine supplier to the entire IZOD IndyCar Series in 2006.

Honda has supplied racing engines to the full, 33-car Indianapolis 500 field every year since 2006, and for a record-six consecutive years, there has not been a single engine failure in the '500'. The 2010 Indianapolis 500, won by Dario Franchitti, marked Honda's 100th race win as a manufacturer and engine supplier in IZOD IndyCar Series competition.

In addition to its efforts in Indy car racing, HPD spearheaded championship-winning efforts in the 2009-2011 American Le Mans Series, 2010 Le Mans Series and the 2010 24 Hours of Le Mans.

HPD offers a line of race engines for track applications from prototype sports cars to karting; for professional, amateur and entry-level efforts.

Headlines: 2011 IndyCar Las Vegas Championships

Mon, 17 Oct 2011 10:15:00 -0700

2011 IndyCar Las Vegas Championships

Headlines: 2011 IndyCar Las Vegas Championships

Mon, 17 Oct 2011 10:15:00 -0700

2011 IndyCar Las Vegas Championships

Headlines: 2011 IndyCar Las Vegas Championships

Mon, 17 Oct 2011 10:15:00 -0700

2011 IndyCar Las Vegas Championships

Headlines: 2011 IndyCar Las Vegas Championships

Mon, 17 Oct 2011 10:15:00 -0700

2011 IndyCar Las Vegas Championships

Headlines: 2011 IndyCar Las Vegas Championships

Mon, 17 Oct 2011 10:15:00 -0700

2011 IndyCar Las Vegas Championships

Headlines: 2011 IndyCar Las Vegas Championships

Mon, 17 Oct 2011 10:15:00 -0700

2011 IndyCar Las Vegas Championships

Headlines: 2011 IndyCar Las Vegas Championships

Mon, 17 Oct 2011 10:15:00 -0700

2011 IndyCar Las Vegas Championships

Headlines: 2011 IndyCar Las Vegas Championships

Mon, 17 Oct 2011 10:15:00 -0700

2011 IndyCar Las Vegas Championships

Headlines: 2011 IndyCar Las Vegas Championships

Mon, 17 Oct 2011 10:15:00 -0700

2011 IndyCar Las Vegas Championships

Headlines: 2011 IndyCar Las Vegas Championships

Mon, 17 Oct 2011 10:15:00 -0700

2011 IndyCar Las Vegas Championships

Headlines: 2011 IndyCar Las Vegas Championships

Mon, 17 Oct 2011 10:15:00 -0700

2011 IndyCar Las Vegas Championships

Headlines: Dan Wheldon Fatally Injured at Las Vegas

Sun, 16 Oct 2011 19:00:00 -0700

Sunday's season-ending IZOD IndyCar Series race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway was cancelled after a multi-car crash on Lap 11 resulted in fatal injuries for two-time Indianapolis 500 champion Dan Wheldon.

Wheldon was one of 15 drivers involved in the collision, which took place in Turn Two, after relatively minor contact between two cars set off a large, chain-reaction crash. Running in the middle of the field, Wheldon's car went airborne before making heavy impact with the retaining wall and catch fencing. He was airlifted to University Medical Center, where he succumbed from his injuries.

Wheldon was a mainstay of the Honda IndyCar program from his debut in 2003 with Andretti Green Racing. In 134 IndyCar race starts, he won 16 times, and recorded 93 top-10 results. Wheldon won the Indianapolis 500 for the first time in 2005, going on to win the series championship that year, and won the '500' again earlier this year. He also scored Honda's first IndyCar victories at Twin Ring Motegi in Japan, winning at the Honda-owned circuit in 2004 and again in 2005.

In addition to his parents and siblings, Weldon is survived by his wife, Susie, and sons Sebastian and Oliver.

Erik Berkman (President, Honda Performance Development) on the loss of Dan Wheldon: "For everyone in the Honda family, this is a day of tragedy and incalcuable loss. For us, Dan was more than a driver, he was a member of the Honda family. But most of all, our thoughts and prayers go out to his family, wife Susie and two young sons. Dan had a passion for motorsports and a wonderful personality that made him a friend to everyone in the racing community. His talent and dedication were an inspiration to us all. We will miss him terribly, and everyone at Honda extends our deepest sympathies to his family, friends and fans across the world."

Headlines: 2011 IndyCar Kentucky