The biggest car news and reviews, no BS. Honda Racing Corporation US President David Salters confirmed to The Drive that the automaker’s ability to contribute to discussions about future IndyCar regulatory sets is “critical” to its continued participation in the American open-wheel series.
In February of this year, Honda and Chevrolet both committed to continue as engine manufacturers in the IndyCar series for “multiple years” as part of a push to secure the sport’s future—particularly after years of rumors that Honda was perhaps looking for an exit strategy. Part of the agreement was the requirement that both automakers “be heavily involved in the development of the engine and competition rules to be implemented” in 2028, per IndyCar’s press release at the time.
View Price on AmazonAnd in response to a question from The Drive regarding the extent to which Honda’s ability to contribute to future IndyCar regulations dictated its decision to continue racing with the series, Salters didn’t mince words: “I think it’s critical.”
“We need to make a framework that makes the series, from a manufacturer’s point of view, sustainable,” he continued. “We need to contribute from: how do we move things a bit forward from a technology point of view?” But there’s perhaps an even bigger determining factor: According to Salters, Honda needs to ask, “How do we help make this where it’s sustainable for a manufacturer from an economic point of view?
Sustainability in motorsport isn’t just a matter of eco-friendliness. Salters emphasized time and again that sustainability also involves the ability to afford the sport over the long term, as well as ensuring that tech innovation is reflected in the production car technology that defines Honda. Motorsport is resource-intensive; to genuinely make the most of those resources, the effort poured into motorsport must have applications beyond the track.
Salters called it a “balance”: “It’s gotta be relevant. We have to be able to afford it, otherwise your series will stop. Make it sensible. Make it sustainable over time. We also need to be responsible; we’re trying to make things that are more efficient, save energy, all that sort of stuff. We’ve got to put all that together and come up with something that works.”
“And to IndyCar’s credit, they’re aware,” said Kelvin Fu, HRC US Vice President. “They’re always trying to understand what everybody wants: fans, teams, OEMS, suppliers. It’s a balancing act that we all play. We all try to help each other move. We want to see the series grow, 100%. That’s important. We need to get partners to make sure it’s happening. But it also means that everybody gets what they need out of the series, too.”
Source: thedrive.com
