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| Honda Performance Development | |
|---|---|
| Name | Honda Performance Development |
| Founded | 1993 |
| Headquarters | Santa Clarita, California, United States |
| Key people | Nobuhiko Kawamoto; Shuhei Nakamoto; Nick Fry |
| Industry | Motorsport; Automotive engineering; Racing engines |
| Products | Race engines; Chassis consulting; Vehicle development |
Honda Performance Development is the North American motorsports division of a major Japanese automotive manufacturer, established to manage high-performance racing programs and engine development for series including IndyCar Series, IMSA SportsCar Championship, and formerly Formula One. HPD integrates race engineering, manufacturing, and competition strategy to support factory and customer teams across United States and international events such as the Indianapolis 500, 24 Hours of Daytona, and 12 Hours of Sebring. The organization has combined corporate resources with private racing operations to influence sports car, open-wheel, and prototype racing since the 1990s.
HPD was founded in 1993 as a focused racing and performance arm to expand a manufacturer's presence in North American motorsports, building on prior competition history in Formula One and NASCAR activities. Early years emphasized customer engine supply and partnership with teams competing in IndyCar Series and Trans-Am Series, evolving through the late 1990s and 2000s as series rules changed under governing bodies like the Indy Racing League and Grand American Road Racing Association. The 2000s saw HPD enter prototype sports car racing aligned with American Le Mans Series competitors and later adapt to the unified IMSA SportsCar Championship landscape following the merger of major North American endurance series. Throughout, HPD has hired technical directors and engineers with backgrounds from Formula One and Le Mans programs to bridge road-car technology and race development.
HPD's headquarters and primary research, development, and testing facilities are located in Santa Clarita, with additional engineering and manufacturing partners across the United States and Japan. Facilities include engine dyno cells, manufacturing workshops, composite layup bays, and wind tunnel collaboration arrangements with institutions linked to Aeroacoustics and race logistics centers used during events such as the Indianapolis 500 and 24 Hours of Le Mans. The organizational structure combines program managers, race engineers, powertrain specialists, and customer relations staff who liaise with teams in IndyCar Series and IMSA SportsCar Championship. HPD also maintains technical partnerships with suppliers and machine shops in regions such as Southern California and central Japan to support rapid prototyping and homologation.
HPD has campaigned and supported entries across multiple series: open-wheel programs in the IndyCar Series including the Indianapolis 500, sports prototype programs in IMSA SportsCar Championship and its predecessor series, and historic involvement in Formula One through corporate engineering talent and engine architecture knowledge. HPD engines and chassis consultancy have been used by factory-backed teams, privateer entries, and customer programs in endurance races like the 12 Hours of Sebring. The organization fields direct-run teams at times and supplies turnkey powertrains and support packages to teams competing in sprint and endurance formats across North America.
HPD develops internal combustion engines, hybrid systems integration, and race-specific electronics for series-legal applications, leveraging expertise from engineering centers with histories tied to Honda Motor Company and Honda Racing Corporation. Technology work has included development of V8 and V6 turbocharged units for the IndyCar Series, naturally aspirated and turbocharged powerplants for prototype sports cars, and engine control units compliant with series electronics standards. HPD's engine programs emphasize durability for events such as the 24 Hours of Daytona and performance packaging for the unique demands of the Indianapolis 500. Research activities have intersected with materials suppliers and transmission specialists to optimize weight, thermal management, and fuel efficiency under race regulations imposed by bodies like IMS and the FIA when applicable.
HPD has partnered with teams and manufacturers including factory and privateer operations in IndyCar Series and IMSA SportsCar Championship, as well as technical alliances with engine suppliers, transmission houses, and aerodynamic consultancies. Key collaborations have involved long-term team relationships at events such as the Indianapolis 500 and endurance rounds at Daytona International Speedway and Sebring International Raceway. HPD’s work has often intersected with chassis manufacturers, tire suppliers, and electronics firms that serve series governed by organizations including the IndyCar Series sanctioning body and IMSA.
HPD-supported entries have achieved victories and championships across North American open-wheel and sports car racing, including wins at marquee events like the Indianapolis 500 and endurance races such as the 24 Hours of Daytona and 12 Hours of Sebring. Successes have been recorded by both factory-backed and customer teams in series seasons contested under the IndyCar Series and IMSA SportsCar Championship banners. HPD engines and technical packages have contributed to race wins, pole positions, and endurance-class championships in prototype and GT categories during major series campaigns.
HPD programs have faced technical challenges and regulatory disputes common in top-tier motorsport, including engine reliability issues during endurance events, compliance interpretation with IndyCar Series rules, and the developmental difficulties associated with adapting road-car-based technologies to race environments. Incidents have prompted revisions to component designs and closer coordination with sanctioning bodies and partner teams. As with many manufacturer-backed racing programs, HPD has navigated periods of intense scrutiny over performance parity, homologation, and cost-control measures imposed by series organizers.
Category:Auto racing teams in the United States Category:Motorsport engine manufacturers