Honda Performance Development To Form Technical Partnership With Magneti Marelli
Honda Performance Development and Magneti Marelli S.p.A. have announced a technical partnership to develop powertrain components for use in the IZOD IndyCar Series.
The partnership between HPD and Magneti Marelli will see the two companies utilize their extensive research and development resources to assist the HPD effort in the IZOD IndyCar Series. Plans call for the two companies to extend the program to include other pinnacle racing series, such as the World Endurance Championship and North American road racing that will combine the American Le Mans Series with the Grand-Am Championship starting in 2014.
"We believe the partnership between HPD and Magneti Marelli will be rewarding for both organizations," said Steve Eriksen, vice president of HPD. "Magneti Marelli has a well-deserved reputation for excellence in motorsports R, and its capabilities are well matched with our own R efforts. We believe the combination will quickly provide improvements to our IndyCar Series program, and grow with HPD's other pinnacle racing efforts."
In the IZOD IndyCar Series, HPD produces, prepares and develops the Honda HI13RT turbocharged V6 engine for competition in the world's fastest closed-course racing championship. Seven teams and 12 drivers will utilize Honda power in the 2013 series, as the manufacturer seeks its seventh Manufacturers' Championship (with competition), tenth consecutive Indianapolis 500 win and 200th IndyCar race victory.
Features of the HI13RT V6 engine include direct fuel injection, a single Borg-Warner turbocharger and "Drive-by-Wire" throttle technology.
"We are proud to supply our best motorsport technology to HPD, who can exploit it at the maximum level on Honda engines," said Roberto Dalla, Head of Magneti Marelli Motorsport. "We are fully committed to the development of high-technology solutions for the new engines and new powertrain configurations that will characterize future races and top motorsport championships. The partnership with HPD will be the ideal environment to convey our deep R activity and apply our high-end solutions".
About HPD:
Honda Performance Development (HPD) is the Honda racing company within North America. Founded in 1993, HPD is the technical operations center for high-performance Honda racing cars and engines and operates at race circuits around the world from its headquarters in Santa Clarita, California.
HPD spearheaded championship-winning efforts in the 2009-2012 American Le Mans Series, 2010-11 European Le Mans Series and the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2010 and 2012. HPD developed and supplied the ARX-03b whjch Starworks Motorsport raced to the LMP2 title in the inaugural World Endurance Championship in 2012, the first FIA World Championship for an American-based organization since 1968.
Honda has been a fixture in North American open-wheel racing since 1994, and has played an active role in the growth of the IZOD IndyCar Series – as both a Manufacturers' Championship competitor and single engine supplier – since joining the series in 2003.
The company scored its first Indianapolis 500 victory in 2004 with Buddy Rice; Manufacturers' Championships in 2004 and '05; and became engine supplier to the entire IZOD IndyCar Series in 2006. The 2012 season marked the return of manufacturer competition to IndyCar racing, and Honda again won the Indianapolis 500, powering Dario Franchitti's third triumph at the American racing classic, which marked HPD's ninth consecutive "500" victory.
HPD offers a line of race engines for track applications from prototype sports cars to karting; and showcases "fun-to-drive" products for professional, amateur and entry-level efforts.
For more information about American Honda's motorsports activities and Honda Performance Development, contact:
T.E. McHale, Motorsports Manager, American Honda Motor Co., Inc. 1.310.783.3169 Thomas_mchale@ahm.honda.com
Dan Layton, Honda Racing/HPD Public Relations 1.314.614.9763 danlayton47@earthlink.net
About Magneti Marelli:
Founded in Italy in 1919 and headquartered near Milan, Magneti Marelli is a leader in component manufacturing electronics and the production of other technologically advanced automotive products. With an established presence in the U.S. since 1976, the company operates more than 80 locations in 19 countries, with 36,900 employees worldwide. Its business areas include: Electronic Systems, Lighting; Powertrain, Suspension Systems and Shock Absorbers, Exhaust Systems, Aftermarket Parts and Services, Plastic Components and Modules and Motorsport. Magneti Marelli is part of Fiat S.p.A..
Innovation and quality are at the core of Magneti Marelli. The company invests heavily in research, development and engineering. The company has a long list of accomplishments in both motorsports and the passenger car industry, and supplies all the leading carmakers in the world.
Magneti Marelli USA coordinates the activities of all Magneti Marelli divisions in the NAFTA region from its North American headquarters, located in Auburn Hills, Michigan. Magneti Marelli can rely on a longstanding presence in North America with Powertrain, Lighting, Electronic Systems, Suspension Systems (Shock Absorbers) and Motorsport businesses.
In the Auburn Hills Headquarters, Magneti Marelli houses all the engineering development, application engineering, testing labs and administrative support functions and sales for all the North American business lines, including Magneti Marelli After Market North America. The Magneti Marelli Motorsports NA team is also located in the Auburn Hills offices.
Magneti Marelli has industrial operations in Sanford, North Carolina (Powertrain); Pulaski, Tennessee (Suspensions Systems, Exhaust Systems, Lighting); El Paso, Texas: (logistics and warehouse); Juarez, Mexico (Automotive Lighting) and Tepotzoplan, Mexico (Electronic Systems and Automotive Lighting).
For more information about Magneti Marelli please contact:
Marc W. Harlow Rohatynski-Harlow PR 810-599-2558 (mobile) Marc@harlowpr.com
Maurizio Scrignari +39 02 972 27262 maurizio.scrignari@magnetimarelli.com
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