HPD is back: HRC US to produce aftermarket performance parts

The artist formerly known as HPD is back. This time, though those go-fast parts will be branded with HRC.

Honda Racing Corporation USA–the company that essentially handles all the racing stuff for Honda and Acura here in North America–is creating a side business to produce aftermarket performance parts “for customer use for street, track and off-road applications.”

Nothing that “HRC US has been winning races and championships on and off road for three decades,” Jon Ikeda, senior vice president, HRC US is excited to channel that experience into offering performance parts to Honda and Acura enthusiast, adding that “To be an HRC genuine part, it must meet our exacting standards, while functionally improving vehicle performance and the driving experience."

The announcement comes ahead of the 2024 SEMA Show, November 5-8, at which HRC US will display nine different racing and performance vehicles:

"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."

"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."

"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."

"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."

"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."

"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."

"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."

"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."

"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."

Comments

J.A. Ackley Senior Editor
10/31/24 10:20 a.m.

The more I look at it, the more that CR-V catches my eye.

Rons GRM+ Memberand Dork
10/31/24 12:25 p.m.

In reply to J.A. Ackley :

The CR-V may be a response to What will be racing in 10 years?

J.A. Ackley Senior Editor
10/31/24 1:52 p.m.

Rons said:
In reply to J.A. Ackley :

The CR-V may be a response to What will be racing in 10 years?

Good point. It very well could be.

BTW: The new liveries on these cars are sharp, IMO.

Colin Wood Associate Editor
10/31/24 2:31 p.m.

I'm just here imagining how cool an HRC Honda Fit would have been...

(The fourth-gen Fit not sold here in the U.S. is adorable, btw.)

metallitubby New Reader
11/1/24 5:15 p.m.

In reply to J.A. Ackley :

It's not. The CR-V was thrown together by HART and HRC as a collaborative effort for the sake of showing off the new IndyCar hybrid system and the "Hybrid" CR-V release. We are working on some pretty cool new collaborative efforts that are tying two previously disconnected (silo'ed) groups inside Honda to make a really neat show car that may make a Pikes Peak demo run.

J.A. Ackley Senior Editor
11/1/24 7:40 p.m.

In reply to metallitubby :

That's awesome. Thanks for the update.

I do, however, wonder, in a broader sense, if the compact crossover (with a hybrid drivetrain), such as the CR-V, will be the "car" to motorsport in the next decade. Right now that's where the demand is for cars, will this sport eventually follow?