Motorsports is Honda’s Corporate Culture
Honda team at 1959 Isle of Man TT races
RC142 at 1959 Isle of Man TT races
RA272 give Honda first win at 1965 Mexican Grand Prix
Honda’s challenge to become the world’s No. 1 in motorsports began in 1954, when it declared its participation in the Isle of Man TT races, a motorcycle world championship event at the time. Soichiro Honda, after Honda’s victory in the Road Racing World Championship in 1961, said in a company newsletter in 1964: “We have to race. Racing lets you know where you stand in the world in terms of your ability and skill level.” In 1964, Honda entered the Formula 1 World Championship*, the premier category of car racing, and in 1965, in his second year, Honda won its first F1TM grand prix in the final race of the season, the Mexican Grand Prix. Holding a press conference after the win, Soichiro said, “Ever since we first decided to build cars we have worked hard and been willing to take the most difficult path. Now we must study the reasons why we lose, and do the same when we win, so that we can use that knowledge to improve the quality of our cars and make them safer for our customers. That’s our duty. ... We will therefore not be content with this victory alone. We will study why we won and aggressively apply those winning technologies to new cars.”
Technology is often said to be refined at the top. The challenge to become the world’s No. 1 in motorsports was also a challenge to evolve the technologies and capabilities of engineers in developing motorcycles and automobiles. Race team members have created new technologies within set regulations, maximized results within a limited time frame, and in difficult situations have aimed for victory through the combined strength of Honda that transcends divisions.
The race track is where customers can see, in real life, Honda’s challenge to become the world’s No. 1 through motorsports. Both the Suzuka Circuit and Mobility Resort Motegi are open to customers not only to watch races, but to foster a culture of mobility and motorsports, based on the principles of “the joy of driving” and “growth through challenge.”
Honda regards motorsports activities as its corporate culture, and has nurtured its technologies, and continued to share the trajectory of its challenges.
- FIA: Fédération Internationale de l 'Automobile, F1: Formula One World Championship
HRC Supporting Honda’s Motorsports Activities
HRC building (1983)
Maintenance of F1 PU
HRC Sakura building (2023)
Honda Racing Corporation (HRC), along with Honda, has been promoting motorsports activities. In 1967, Honda suspended its participation in the Road Racing World Championship, but, believing that it was important to continue racing to improve production models and new technologies, rejoined in 1979. To handle Honda’s motorcycle racing activities, HRC was established in 1982. In the Road Racing World Championship, HRC achieved 500 victories by 2001, and since the transition to MotoGP in 2002, HRC has won 10 riders’ championships in the 21 years until the end of the 2022 season.
In addition to its racing activities, HRC has also been applying factory team-developed racing technologies to its production racers for the public to enjoy, while broadening society’s recognition of motorsports through training the next generation of riders and expanding public participation motorsports events.
In April 2022, on its 40th anniversary, HRC integrated into its motorcycle motorsports activities Honda R&D’s HRD Sakura, which was involved in automobile racing development and race support. HRC’s mission was to coordinate disparate technologies and knowhow developed for motorcycle and automobile racing, streamline racing operations, and continue Honda’s challenge to be the world’s No. 1 as its motorsports division to promote F1, MotoGP and all of the company’s motorsports activities. It was also tasked to build a strong foundation to carry on Honda’s motorsports activities, its DNA, into the future.
Creating New Value:
What Motorsports Activities Aim to Achieve
Honda views motorsports activities as a means to develop human resources as well as technology, and believes that employees with experience in taking on challenges in pursuit of victory can impart the “DNA of challenge” in various areas of Honda, and propose new values wanted by society. The technology, knowhow, and confidence honed through motorsports activities, including F1 and MotoGP, will foster the spirit of aiming to be the world’s No. 1 and proposing world firsts.
The environment surrounding the mobility industry is rapidly changing, including electrification, as part of efforts to realize a carbon-neutral society. Motorsports activities also need to promote the development of future technologies such as electrification and the challenge of combustion technology by switching to carbon-neutral fuels. F1, the top car racing category, has set a goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2030 and will use 100% carbon-neutral fuel from 2026. MotoGP has also set a goal of introducing carbon-neutral fuel by 2027.
Motorsport activities are an important part of Honda’s corporate culture. Honda has grown by challenging and winning races all over the world, including F1 and MotoGP. Through its activities and challenges, Honda continues to propose new values in mobility. This is Honda’s goal to continue to be a company that society wants to exist.
