Company type | Subsidiary [1] |
---|---|
Industry | Automotive |
Genre | Motorsport |
Founded | September 1, 1982 |
Headquarters | 2-wheel centre: Asaka, Saitama, Japan 4-wheel centre: Sakura, Tochigi, Japan [2] |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | Koji Watanabe (president) |
Products | High-performance auto parts |
Services | Research and development |
Parent | Honda |
Website | honda |
Honda Racing Corporation (HRC), also known as Honda Racing, is a motorsport subsidiary of the Honda Motor Company formed in 1982. [3] From its founding, the company was initially solely responsible for Honda's motorcycle racing activities, before the brand's automobile racing activities were integrated into HRC's scope of work on 1 April 2022. [4] The company combines participation in motorcycle races throughout the world with the development of racing machines. Its racing activities are an important source for the creation of technologies used in the development of Honda motorcycles. HRC activities include sales of production racing motorcycles, support for satellite teams, and rider education programs.
In February 2023, the FIA confirmed that Honda, through HRC, is provisionally listed as a power unit manufacturer for 2026. [5]
Initially, Honda's racing efforts were run from within the company. In the early 1970s, the Racing Service Center (RSC) was created as a separate company to oversee racing. On September 1, 1982, RSC became HRC, and ran Honda's road racing, endurance, trials and motocross racing programs.
HRC's involvement in Formula One began in 2022, when it started supplying power units to Red Bull Racing and AlphaTauri through Red Bull Powertrains (RBPT). The power units were previously developed and manufactured by the Honda Motor Company itself. In 2022, they were badged as RBPT units, and from 2023 they will be known as Honda RBPT units. HRC will continue to manufacture, assemble and supply the current power units until the end of 2025. From 2026, HRC will enter into a works contract with the Aston Martin F1 team to supply power units; HRC will be responsible for the development of the F1 power units and for race entry and management on the Honda side.
HRC has also taken over the domestic Japanese motorsport activities previously carried out by HRD Sakura, such as the development of the NSX and Civic Type R cars in the GT500 class of Super GT, and the supply of engines to Super Formula. HRC also participate in the Super Taikyu championship.
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For the development of special racing motorcycles and parts Honda created a separate company in 1970 called Racing Service Center Corporation later renamed Honda Racing Corporation, which is also focused on research and development activities. [6] It combines racing around the world with the development of advanced racing cars. HRC's R&D activities include research to create new technologies, materials, designs and developments to translate these advances into commercial products. [7] [8]
HRC has HRC Service Shops at 23 locations in Japan and seven sites overseas.
HRC is a wholly owned subsidiary of Honda.
HRC has a racing team that competes in World Superbikes, which is called Team HRC.
This section needs to be updated.(April 2020) |
2023 name | Team HRC |
---|---|
Base | Saitama, Japan |
Team principal/s | Leon Camier Project Director Team Manager |
Race riders | 7 Iker Lecuona 97 Xavi Vierge |
Motorcycle | Honda CBR1000RR (2019→) |
Tyres | Pirelli |
Team HRC is the official factory team of the Honda Racing Corporation in the Superbike class of WorldSBK (World Championship road racing).
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)
* Season still in progress.
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