ZF Friedrichshafen AG has announced a technical partnership with Honda Performance Development (HPD), which will see HPD implement ZF’s high-performance clutch and shock absorber technology in a variety of North American racing series.
HPD was founded in 1993 as the performance arm of American Honda Motor Company, to spearhead the company’s entry into IndyCar racing. No other manufacturer has matched Honda’s success in IndyCars, which includes 207 race victories, 15 drivers’ championships, six manufacturers’ championships and nine consecutive Indianapolis 500 victories (2004-2012). In 2013, Honda powered veteran Scott Dixon to four race wins and the IZOD IndyCar Series championship, while Tristan Vautier won series Rookie of the Year honors.
Both companies have long records of success in motorsports, and will work together to investigate other potential performance-enhancing technology, utilizing their respective engineering and R&D strengths.
“We are very proud to welcome ZF to HPD as a technical partner,” said Art St. Cyr, president of HPD. “ZF’s reputation as a technology supplier in the motorsport world and beyond is second to none, so we are delighted to be working with them. Together, we will continue to work on innovative products, to better help our teams and drivers stand on the top step of the podium in all of our racing series.”
“We are really looking forward to the new technical partnership with Honda Performance Development,” added Dr. Stefan Sommer, CEO of ZF Friedrichshafen AG. “We already have a very successful and growing business relation with Honda, supplying products and technology for Honda production vehicles in the U.S. With the partnership in racing we are able to point out our prominent competencies as a development partner and technology leader in motorsports. The racing series where HPD participates are an ideal platform for this. We are looking forward to many future victories together.”
