Honda 2010 Motorsports Overview
In its motorsports activities, the symbol of Honda's challenging spirit, the company has aimed for the world's top level from the days of its founding and taken on challenges in a variety of racing categories. Last year marked Honda's 50th anniversary of first racing at the Isle of Man TT, in the Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix (WGP). With the know-how and challenging spirit cultivated in its motorsports activities, Honda will develop activities to meet more customers' expectations. The company will bring joy to customers in each racing category and share with them the dreams and excitement generated by these activities.
Motorsports Strategy
In North America, Honda began its participation in IRL Indy Car Series in 2003 and became the sole engine supplier to the category from 2006. Once again this year, Honda will provide all teams with a V8 HI10R engine running on 100% ethanol fuel. Japanese drivers show full participation in the IRL, including Hideki Mutoh racing for Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing and Takuma Sato, who was active in Formula One, racing for the KV Racing Technology team this season.
For racing activities within Japan, Honda will compete in the Super GT Series with a newly developed HSV-010 GT, entering five teams and five race cars. As part of the Honda GT Project, this new machine was developed under the leadership of Honda R&D Co., Ltd. with the collaboration of M-TEC Co., Ltd. and Dome Co., Ltd. With this machine in hand, Honda is shooting for a title win in this machine's debut.
In Formula Nippon, where Honda won the dual titles of driver and team championship last season, Honda will enter three teams and equip five cars with the 3.4-liter V-8 HR10E engine.
With the objective of developing drivers who can claim the podium at top-level races both inside and outside of Japan, Honda will actively strive to develop young racers through the Honda Formula Dream Project (HFDP). Honda will promote the cultivation of new talent through the Suzuka Circuit Racing School Kart (SRS-K) and Suzuka Circuit Racing School Formula (SRS-F) racing schools in addition to Formula Challenge Japan (FCJ), the Japanese Formula 3 Championship and Formula Nippon.
