Honda 2024 Motorsports Program Overview

Honda announced its motorsports participation plans for the 2024 season.

【Motorcycle activities】

Despite winning the third round of the 2023 FIM*1 MotoGP World Championship MotoGP class at the Americas GP, the overall season was very disappointing for Honda. 2024 will see Luca Marini join the Repsol Honda Team, and Johann Zarco join the CASTROL Honda LCR team. Honda aims to enhance competitiveness of its racing bikes and regain the MotoGP title.

In the FIM Trial World Championship TrialGP class, Toni Bou won the 2023 championship achieving his 17th consecutive title, and combined with his 17th title victory in the X-Trial World Championship has won 34 consecutive titles. Bou will take on the challenge to break his own unprecedented record in 2024.

Honda aims to achieve carbon neutrality in all of its motorcycle products in the 2040s, and is working on the electrification of motorcycles as the mainstay of its future environmental strategy, while continuing to work on the evolution of internal combustion engines (ICEs). Carbon-neutral fuel is being incorporated in motorsports, as well. In 2023, Honda supported the introduction of carbon-neutral fuel in the JSB1000 class of the MFJ*2 All Japan Road Race Championship (JRR) and will do so in MotoGP and FIM Superbike World Championship (WSBK) in 2024. Last year, Honda made a spot entry in the All Japan Motocross Championship (JMX) with CR ELECTRIC PROTO, and is continuing consideration of entering new electric motorcycle categories.

FIM: Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme

MFJ: Motorcycle Federation of Japan

【Automobile Motorsports Activities】

In the 2023 FIA*3 Formula One World Championship (F1) season, Honda provided technical and marketing support to Oracle Red Bull Racing and Scuderia AlphaTauri as a team partner. As technical support, Honda Racing Corporation (HRC) manufactured components apart from the power unit (PU) ESS*4 which it supplied to Red Bull Powertrains*5 and supported PU operations throughout the season. This partnership helped Oracle Red Bull Racing win the Constructors' and Drivers' titles with an overwhelming 21 wins out of 22 races. Honda will continue the same partnership with both teams in 2024, its 60th anniversary*6 of F1 activities, aiming for even greater heights. Honda will also continue to support the activities of Yuki Tsunoda, who is entering his fourth year in F1.

In Japan, Honda aims to regain the SUPER GT series*7 GT500 class for the first time since 2020 by introducing the new CIVIC TYPE R-GT based on the CIVIC TYPE R, and recruiting talented young drivers.

In addition, Ayumu Iwasa, a Honda-trained driver who achieved good results in the FIA Formula Two Championship (F2) last year, will move up to the All-Japan Super Formula Championship (SF) with a view to F1 participation in the future. Honda will support this move and position the Japanese SF as a category that leads to world-class formula races such as F1, and like the SUPER GT series, will actively promote young drivers and encourage their participation in the series.

In North America, Honda Performance Development (HPD), which has been responsible for Honda's racing activities in the region, has been renamed to Honda Racing Corporation USA (HRC-US) in January 2024, and will aim to enhance Honda’s automobile motorsports development on a global scale. In 2024, HPD will supply five teams competing in the IndyCar Series with engines through HRC-US. In addition, two Acura-branded ARX-06 cars supplied by HRC-US will compete in the IMSA*8 WeatherTech SportsCar Championship with the new HRC logo. HRC in Japan and HRC-US will work together to further enhance Honda's racing activities on a global scale.

FIA: Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile

ESS: Energy Storage System, a battery system that stores recovered electrical energy

Red Bull Powertrains, a Red Bull Group company manufactures F1 PUs, and manufactures and operates ESS’ for current model PUs.

Counting from Honda’s first participation in F1 at the German Grand Prix in August 1964

SUPER GT series is organized and operated by GTA Co., Ltd.

IMSA: International Motor Sports Association

■Participation Overview

as of January 19, 2024

<<Honda Participation in Motorcycle Racing>>

<<World Championship Series>>

◆FIM MotoGP World Championship (MotoGP)

<MotoGP>

Team

Machine

No.

Rider

Age

Nationality

2023 Result

Repsol Honda Team

RC213V

10

Luca Marini

26

Italy

MotoGP
8th

36

Joan Mir

26

Spain

MotoGP
22nd

CASTROL Honda LCR

5

Johann Zarco

33

France

MotoGP
5th

IDEMITSU Honda LCR

30

Takaaki Nakagami

31

Japan

MotoGP
18th

◆FIM Superbike World Championship (WSBK)

<WSBK>

Team

Machine

No.

Rider

Age

Nationality

2023 Result

Team HRC

CBR1000RR-R
FIREBLADE SP

7

Iker Lecuona

24

Spain

WSBK
13th

97

Xavi Vierge

26

Spain

WSBK
10th

PETRONAS MIE
Racing Honda

27

Adam Norrodin

25

Malaysia

WSSP
25th

95

Tarran Mackenzie

28

U.K.

WSSP
18th

<WSSP>

Team

Machine

No.

Rider

Age

Nationality

2023 Result

PETRONAS MIE
Racing Honda

CBR600RR

27

Kaito Toba

23

Japan

Moto3
11th

89

Khairul Idham Bin Pawi

25

Malaysia

ARRC SS600
2nd

◆FIM Endurance World Championship (EWC)

Team

Machine

No.

Rider

Age

Nationality

2023 Result

TATI TEAM
BERINGER RACING

CBR1000RR-R
FIREBLADE SP

4

Randy Krummenacher

33

Switzer land

EWC
7th

Hugo Clere

29

France

Corentin Perolari

25

France

F.C.C. TSR
Honda France

5

Josh Hook

31

Australia

EWC
4th

Mike Di Meglio

36

France

Alan Techer

29

France

MANA-AU COMPETITION

53

Marc Miralles

26

Spain

 

Samuel Trueb

32

Switzerland

 

TBA

 

 

 

Wójcik Racing Team

77

Kamil Krzemień

24

Poland

EWC
19th

Jurand Kuśmierczyk

19

Poland

Artur Wielebski

30

Poland

Honda VILTAÏS Racing

333

Florian Alt

27

Germany

EWC
5th

Steven Odendaal

30

South Africa

Léandro Mercado

31

Argentine

◆FIM Motocross World Championship (MXGP)

<MXGP class>

Team

Machine

No.

Rider

Age

Nationality

2023 Result

Team HRC

CRF450R

70

Ruben Fernandez

24

Spain

MXGP
5th

243

Tim Gajser

27

Slovenia

MXGP
11th

Standing Construct Honda MXGP

41

Pauls Jonass

27

Latvia

MXGP
19th

303

Alberto Forato

23

Italy

MXGP
7th

JM Honda Racing

32

Brent Van Doninck

28

Belgium

MXGP
22nd

Team Ship to Cycle
Honda Motoblouz SR

92

Valentin Guillod

31

Switzerland

MXGP
9th

24

Kevin Horgmo

23

Norway

MX2
7th

JWR Honda Racing

161

Alvin Ostlund

26

Sweden

MXGP
17th

<MX2 class>

Team

Machine

No.

Rider

Age

Nationality

2023 Result

Team HRC

CRF250R

73

Ferruccio Zanchi

17

Italy

EMX250
4th

JM Honda Racing

312

Haaken Osterhagen

19

Norway

EMX250
18th

Honda Astra

325

Muhammad Delvintor Alfarizi

22

Indonesia

MX2
33rd

Team Ship to Cycle
Honda Motoblouz SR

 

TBA

 

 

 

 

TBA

 

 

 

◆FIM Trial World Championship (TrialGP)

Team

Machine

No.

Rider

Age

Nationality

2023 Result

Repsol Honda Team

Montesa
COTA 4RT

1

Toni Bou

37

Spain

TrialGP/X-Trial
Champion

38

Gabriel Marcelli

23

Spain

TrialGP
3rd

◆FIM World Rally-Raid Championship (Dakar Rally 2024)

Team

Machine

No.

Rider

Age

Nationality

2023 Result

Monster Energy Honda Team

CRF450
RALLY

7

Pablo Quintanilla

37

Chile

Dakar Rally
Overall 4th

9

Ricky Brabec

32

U.S.A.

Dakar Rally
DNF

10

Skyler Howes

31

U.S.A.

Dakar Rally Overall 3rd

11

José Ignacio Cornejo

29

Chile

Dakar Rally
Overall 8th

42

Adrien Van Beveren

33

France

Dakar Rally
Overall 5th

68

Tosha Schareina

28

Spain

Dakar Rally
Overall 13th

<<Japan>>

◆MFJ All Japan Road Race Championship (JRR)

<JSB1000 class>

Team

Machine

No.

Rider

Age

Nationality

2023 Result

SDG Honda Racing

CBR1000RR-R
FIREBLADE

Teppei Nagoe

26

Japan

JSB1000
4th

TOHO Racing

7

Ryuichi Kiyonari

41

Japan

JSB1000
7th

Honda Dream RT
Sakurai Honda

9

Kazuki Ito

23

Japan

JSB1000
9th

Team ATJ

10

Satoru Iwata

37

Japan

JSB1000
10th

MurayamaUnso Team AKIYOSHI

11

Kosuke Akiyoshi

49

Japan

JSB1000
11th

Japan Post Honda Dream TP

TBA

Takumi Takahashi

34

Japan

ST1000
5th

Astemo Honda Dream
SI Racing

TBA

Kota Nozane

28

Japan

Moto2

<ST1000 class>

Team

Machine

No.

Rider

Age

Nationality

2023 Result

Astemo Honda Dream
SI Racing

CBR1000RR-R FIREBLADE

1

Kazuma

Watanabe

33

Japan

ST1000
Champion

TBA

Kosuke

Sakumoto

27

Japan

JSB1000
8th

MOTO BUM HONDA

Kota

Arakawa

21

Japan

ST1000
2nd

21

Yasuhiro

Matsukawa

48

Japan

ST1000
21th

TBA

Motoharu

Ito

24

Japan

ST600
11th

TOHO Racing

3

Takuma

Kunimine

25

Japan

ST1000
3rd

SDG Team HARC-PRO.

10

Yuki Kunii

20

Japan

ST1000
10th

<ST600 class>

Team

Machine

No.

Rider

Age

Nationality

2023 Result

Japan Post Honda Dream TP

CBR600RR

5

Tomoyoshi Koyama

40

Japan

ST600
5th

TBA

Shu Yamato

20

Japan

J-GP3
9th

MOTO BUM HONDA

7

Koki Suzuki

23

Japan

ST600
7th

21

Kai Aota

18

Japan

ST600
21th

TBA

Kenichi Sakurai

52

Japan

ST600

TN45 with MotoUP Racing Team

13

Tetsuya Fujita

20

Japan

ST600
13th

SDG Team HARC-PRO.

TBA

Kanta Hamada

19

Japan

Junior GP

◆MFJ All Japan Motocross Championship (JMX)

<IA1 class>

Team

Machine

No.

Rider

Age

Nationality

2023 Result

Honda Dream Racing Bells

CRF450R

2

Yuki Okura

25

Japan

IA1
2nd

Honda Dream Racing LG

TBA

Haruki Yokoyama

25

Japan

Australia MX2
10th

T.E.SPORT

6

Gota Otsuka

27

Japan

IA1
6th

TEAM HAMMER

9

Makoto Ogata

38

Japan

IA1
9th

13

Yuta Ikegaya

34

Japan

IA1
13th

TEAM KOHSAKA

11

Ukyo Michiwaki

29

Japan

IA1
11th

25

Hakuryu Michiwaki

25

Japan

IA1
25th

<IA2 class>

Team

Machine

No.

Rider

Age

Nationality

2023 Result

TKM motor sports Iwate

CRF250R

2

Takumu Yokosawa

25

Japan

IA2
2nd

6

Taiga Yanase

18

Japan

IA2
6th

27

Takato Otsuka

20

Japan

IA2
27th

46

Riki Sato

20

Japan

IA2

TEAM HAMMER

8

Eiki Suzumura

24

Japan

IA2
8th

TBA

Oshi Takahashi

20

Japan

IA2

TBA

Kazuki Fujii

19

Japan

IA2

02

Takeru Fujii

17

Japan

IB-OPEN
2nd

T.E.SPORT

30

Takuya Yamazaki

16

Japan

IA2
30th

37

Mizuki Negishi

25

Japan

IA2

TBA

Hazuki Chiba

20

Japan

IA2

Bells Racing

43

Rukumo Yoshida

15

Japan

Kinki NA
Champion

<Ladies class (LMX)>

Team

Machine

No.

Rider

Age

Nationality

2023 Result

T.E.SPORT

CRF150RⅡ

1

Manaka Kawai

21

Japan

LMX
Champion

6

Ibuki Hamamura

17

Japan

LMX
6th

12

Kotono Yamazaki

15

Japan

LMX
12th

Team ITOMO

3

Myu Minoura

17

Japan

LMX
3rd

TEAM HAMMER

5

Yuzuki Seo

16

Japan

LMX
5th

◆MFJ All Japan Trial Championship (JTR)

<IA Super class (IAS)>

Team

Machine

No.

Rider

Age

Nationality

2023 Result

TEAM MITANI Honda

RTL301RR

1

Tomoyuki Ogawa

47

Japan

IAS Champion

HRC Club
MITANI & Shonai

RTL301RR

20

Mizuki Urayama

16

Japan

IA
3rd

<Ladies class(LTR)>

Team

Machine

No.

Rider

Age

Nationality

2023 Result

COTA4RT
250R

1

Ayuna Yamamori

18

Japan

LTR Champion

<<Asia>>

◆FIM Asia Road Racing Championship (ARRC)

<ASB1000 class>

Team

Machine

No.

Rider

Age

Nationality

2023 Result

Honda Asia-Dream
Racing with Astemo

CBR1000RR-R
FIREBLADE

21

Md Zaqhwan Bin Zaidi

28

Malaysia

ASB1000
2nd

23

Andi Farid Izdihar

26

Indonesia

ASB1000
3rd

41

Nakarin Atiratphuvapat

28

Thailand

ARRC SS600
2nd

SDG Team HARC-PRO
Honda Ph.

92

Yuki Kunii

20

Japan

JRR ST1000
10th

<<North America>>

◆AMA Supercross Championship

<450SX>

Team

Machine

No.

Rider

Age

Nationality

2023 Result

Team Honda HRC

CRF450R

18

Jett Lawrence

20

Australia

250SX West
Champion

96

Hunter Lawrence

24

Australia

250SX East
Champion

<250SX>

Team

Machine

No.

Rider

Age

Nationality

2023 Result

Team Honda HRC

CRF250R

30

Jo Shimoda

21

Japan

250SX East
13th

48

Chance Hymas

18

U.S.A.

250SX East 16th

◆AMA Pro Motocross Championship

<450MX>

Team

Machine

No.

Rider

Age

Nationality

2023 Result

Team Honda HRC

CRF450R

18

Jett Lawrence

20

Australia

450MX
Champion

96

Hunter Lawrence

24

Australia

250MX
Champion

<250MX>

Team

Machine

No.

Rider

Age

Nationality

2023 Result

Team Honda HRC

CRF250R

30

Jo Shimoda

21

Japan

250MX
3rd

48

Chance Hymas

18

U.S.A.

250MX
18th

<<Overview of Honda Participation in Automobile Racing>>

<<Japan>>

◆Japanese SUPER FORMULA Championship (SF)

Team

No.

Driver

Age

Nationality

2023 Result

TEAM MUGEN

16

Tomoki Nojiri

34

Japan

SF
3rd

15

Ayumu Iwasa

22

Japan

FIA-F2
4th

DOCOMO TEAM DANDELION RACING

5

Tadasuke Makino

26

Japan

SF
6th

6

Kakunoshin Ohta

24

Japan

SF
7th

PONOS NAKAJIMA RACING

64

Naoki Yamamoto

35

Japan

SF
13th

65

Ren Sato

22

Japan

SF
10th

TGM Grand Prix

53

Juju

17

Japan

Zinox F2000 Formula Trophy
Champion

55

TBA

 

 

 

ThreeBond Racing

12

Atsushi Miyake

24

Japan

SUPER GT
GT300
19th

B-Max Racing Team

50

Iori Kimura

24

Japan

SFL
Champion

◆SUPER GT <GT500 class>

Team

No.

Driver

Age

Nationality

2023 Result

ARTA

8

 

Tomoki Nojiri

34

Japan

GT500
8th

Nobuharu Matsushita

30

Japan

GT500
6th

16

Hiroki Otsu

29

Japan

GT500
4th

Ren Sato

22

Japan

SF
10th

Astemo REAL RACING

17

Koudai Tsukakoshi

37

Japan

GT500
6th

Kakunoshin Ohta

24

Japan

GT500
14th

STANLEY TEAM KUNIMITSU

100

 

Naoki Yamamoto

35

Japan

GT500
11th

Tadasuke Makino

26

Japan

GT500
10th

Modulo Nakajima Racing

64

Takuya Izawa

39

Japan

GT500
14th

Riki Okusa

24

Japan

GT300
17th

◆SUPER GT <GT300 class>

Team

No.

Driver

Age

Nationality

2023 Result

TEAM UPGARAGE

18

Takashi Kobayashi

36

Japan

GT300
5th

Syun Koide

24

Japan

GT300
5th
SFL 3rd

◆Super Taikyu Series <ST-Q class>

Team

No.

Driver

Age

Nationality

2023 Result

Team HRC

271

 

Hiroki Otsu

29

Japan

SUPER GT
GT500
4th

TBA

 

 

 

TBA

 

 

 

<<North America>>

◆IndyCar Series

Team

No.

Driver

Age

Nationality

2023 Result

Meyer Shank Racing

66

Tom Blomqvist

30

U.K.

IndyCar Series
34th

60

Felix Rosenqvist

32

Sweden

IndyCar Series
12th

06

Hélio Castroneves
※INDY500 only

48

Brazil

IndyCar Series
18th

Chip Ganassi Racing

9

Scott Dixon

43

New Zealand

IndyCar Series
2nd

10

Alex Palou

26

Spain

IndyCar Series
Champion

8

Linus Lundqvist

24

Sweden

IndyCar Series
31st

4

Kyffin Simpson

19

Barbados

ELMS (LMP2)
Champion

11

Marcus Armstrong

23

New Zealand

IndyCar Series
20th

Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing

15

Graham Rahal

35

U.S.A.

IndyCar Series
15th

30

Pietro Fittipaldi

27

Brazil

WEC (LMP2)
6th

45

Christian Lundgaard

22

Denmark

IndyCar Series
8th

Dale Coyne Racing

TBA

TBA

TBA

TBA

Andretti Global

28

Marcus Ericsson

33

Sweden

IndyCar Series
6th

27

Kyle Kirkwood

25

U.S.A.

IndyCar Series
11th

26

Colton Herta

23

U.S.A.

IndyCar Series
10th

TBA

TBA

Takuma Sato

46

Japan

IndyCar Series
29th

◆IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship

Team

No.

Driver

Age

Nationality

2023 Result

Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti

10

Ricky Taylor

34

U.S.A.

IMSA
GTP
2nd

Filipe Albuquerque

38

Portugal

IMSA
GTP
2nd

40

Louis Delétraz

26

Switzerland

WEC (LMP2)
Champion

Jordan Taylor

32

U.S.A.

IMSA
GTD Pro
3rd

<Development of motorcycle riders and automobile drivers>

For the purpose of developing riders and drivers who will become formidable contenders on the global motorsports stage, Honda has been involved in nurturing world-class riders and drivers at the Suzuka Circuit Racing School-Junior (SRS-Junior) for motorcycle riders since 1992, Suzuka Circuit Racing School-Kart (SRS-Kart) since 1993 and the Suzuka Circuit Racing School-Formula (SRS-Formula) since 1995. As a result, these programs have produced a number of outstanding riders and drivers who have been competing in their respective motorcycle and automobile racing categories inside and outside Japan. In 2022, with a goal to further increase the quality of development programs in each category, Suzuka Circuit School was renamed as the Honda Racing School Suzuka (HRS), where top-class riders and drivers provide guidance as instructors.

In the area of motorcycle racing, Honda will continue the activities of Honda Team Asia, which will continue to compete in the Moto2 and Moto3 classes of MotoGP in the 2024 season, and also continue to utilize IDEMITSU Asia Talent Cup (IATC) as a program designed to foster young riders. Through these initiatives, Honda will strive to discover and foster more riders who can compete in world-class races.

In the area of automobile racing, Honda will further strengthen the environment to foster young drivers by offering development opportunities in formula races in Europe, FIA-F4 or Super Formula Lights races in Japan, and other races through the Honda Formula Dream Project (HFDP). 

◆FIM MotoGP World Championship

<Moto2 class>

Team

Machine

No.

Rider

Age

Nationality

2023 Result

IDEMITSU Honda Team Asia

KALEX

35

Somkiat Chantra

25

Thailand

Moto2
6th

34

Mario Aji

19

Indonesia

Moto3
31st

MT Helmets -MSI

Boscoscuro

79

Ai Ogura

22

Japan

Moto2
9th

<Moto3 class>

Team

Machine

No.

Rider

Age

Nationality

2023 Result

Honda Team Asia

NSF250RW

5

Tatchakorn Buasri

23

Thailand

Junior GP
11th

72

Taiyo Furusato

18

Japan

Moto3
16th

◆French F4 Championship

Team

No.

Driver

Age

Nationality

2023 Result

TBA

Taito Kato

16

Japan

HRS Formula
scholarship(1st)

◆All-Japan Super Formula Lights(SFL)

Team

No.

Driver

Age

Nationality

2023 Result

B-Max Racing Team

50

Syun Koide

24

Japan

SFL
3rd

TODA RACING

2

Souta Arao

18

Japan

GB3
17th

◆FIA-F4 Championship(Japan)

Team

No.

Driver

Age

Nationality

2023 Result

HFDP with B-Max Racing Team

TBA

Yuto Nomura

18

Japan

FIA-F4
4th

TBA

Ryota Horachi

17

Japan

HRS Formula
Scholarship
(2nd)

■Honda initiatives to expand the popularity of motorsports

Honda has been making active efforts to expand the popularity of motorsports, through various events and activities that can be enjoyed more casually by people who are not yet so familiar with motorsports.

<One-make race series sponsored by Honda Racing Corporation (HRC)>

HRC is hosting one-make races at approximately 30 circuits throughout Japan under two categories of races with different purposes - to simply enjoy motorsports and to foster future MotoGP riders. 

The one-make race series hosted by HRC include HRC GROM Cup, CBR250R Dream Cup and CBR250RR Dream Cup, which features production models, as well as the NSF100 HRC Trophy, which features the NSF100, an HRC production model racer and the HRC NSF250R Challenge which is designed to foster future MotoGP riders.

The one-make race series are being held at a number of circuits throughout Japan. In addition, HRC has been hosting some Japan-wide races (at Suzuka or Motegi) for riders who fulfill certain conditions and offering support for riders to step up through training classes. In other words, the HRC one-make race series have been a stage where participants can enjoy the races and/or strive to realize their dreams.

<Honda Eco Mileage Challenge 2024>

Since 1981, Honda has hosted the Honda Eco Mileage Challenge, where participants combine their creativity, freewheeling thinking and technology and compete to see how far their handcrafted vehicles can travel on one liter of fuel. The cumulative number of teams participating in the Honda Eco Mileage Challenge since 1981 has reached approximately 15,000 teams.

Honda Eco Mileage Challenge 2023: Schedule in Japan

Date

Event name

Venue

June 8 (Sat)

37th Honda Eco Mileage Challenge 2024, Suzuka

East Course,
Suzuka Circuit (Mie)

June 22 (Sat)

15th Honda Eco Mileage Challenge 2024, Motegi

West Course,
Mobility Resort Motegi (Tochigi)

August 4 (Sun)

39th Honda Eco Mileage
Challenge 2024, Kyushu

Circuit Course,
HSR Kyushu (Kumamoto)

October 12 (Sat): Practice
October 13 (Sun): Race

43rd Soichiro Honda Cup
Honda Eco Mileage Challenge 2024,
National Competition

Super Speedway,
Mobility Resort Motegi (Tochigi)