Partners - Commercial partners

Honda

The SPEED EuroSeries has come of age in 2011 with full recognition from the FIA. All the cars are built to the FIA’s CN2 formula and, with their 260bhp Honda VTEC engines, are capable of achieving lap times not many seconds shy of the prototypes of the LMP2 class.

The two-litre Honda powered sports racing cars of the new SPEED EuroSeries are the final step before the sophisticated prototypes that contest the famed Le Mans 24-hour race. Running on the same programme as the Le Mans Series of six-hour races – Spa is the second event, after the opening rounds in Le Castellet – they are endurance events in their own right, each event featuring two 90-minute races as standard with two drivers per car.

“We are really grateful that so many CN2 teams have independently selected the Honda engine to equip their chassis these last years in the many national CN2 series; so, when Stuart McCrudden approached us with the pan-European SPEED EuroSeries project, we thought it was only fair to support it” explains William De Braekeleer, Honda Motor Europe’s Motorsport manager. “Even more so as HPD (Honda Performance Development, the racing arm of American Honda) is providing customer support during the Le Mans Series.

With HPD and with our commitment to the SPEED EuroSeries, we hope our many fans in Paul Ricard, Francorchamps, Imola, Silverstone and Estoril will enjoy this Honda presence as well as the symphony of our VTEC engines!”

Manufacturers like Ligier and Wolf – names that have both appeared on Formula One cars – Norma, Juno and now WFR, grace the grid. There also a number of top drivers regularly competing including Alex Caffi and Philippe Alliot who, between them started 155 Grand Prix. To these can be added leading sportscar drivers such as Warren Hughes, a class winner at Le Mans, and Robbie Kerr, as well as Nigel Moore who, in 2009, was the youngest ever British driver to compete in the 24-hour classic.

“In the SPEED EuroSeries we were mainly charmed by the pleasant, relaxed atmosphere so typical of club races,” continues William De Braekeleer. But it is evident that this Series is the ideal proving ground for young talented drivers wanting to learn the job and move up the ladder to LMS. There were sufficient elements for developing a strategy through Honda Racing Customer Support and to share Honda’s passion for motor racing with the teams and the participants in the SPEED EuroSeries.”

Honda Motor Europe has recognised the SPEED EuroSeries as an important marketing tool for the brand and will provide the SPEED race centre throughout the 2011 season as part of its pan-European “Honda Racing Customer Support” programme.

The 18m long facility will pro-vide a focus point for SPEED EuroSeries functions and act as a base for SPEED Organisers, a a focus point for Honda corporate entertainment and a base for competitors.

“We’re delighted to be associated with Honda Motor Europe,” says SPEED organiser, Oli McCrudden. “The reliability and performance of the Honda engines in SPEED cars are key components to the success of the series and now the race centre will provide a useful and practical fixture. We look forward to welcoming guests to the events across Europe.”