Honda Racing Company USA (HRC US) has introduced that Kelvin Fu will take over because the group’s subsequent president, succeeding David Salters. The management transition will formally take impact on September 12, 2026.
Salters, who turned president of then-Honda Efficiency Improvement (HPD) in 2020, is leaving HRC US to hitch a know-how startup outdoors the motorsports trade. He initially joined HPD in 2015 as chief engineer and engine technical chief earlier than advancing to technical director in 2019. Previous to his time with Honda, he constructed an intensive resume in high-profile motorsports, serving as head of inner combustion engine energy unit growth for Ferrari’s Formulation 1 program, head of Formulation 1 engine growth at Mercedes-Benz Excessive-Efficiency Engines (previously Ilmor), and a growth and design engineer for the CART Indy automobile program at Cosworth Racing Ltd.
Throughout his tenure on the helm, Salters oversaw important success on and off the observe. Below his management, HRC US secured three IndyCar Sequence producers’ championships and 5 drivers’ titles, alongside sweeping the 2022 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship groups’, drivers’, and producers’ titles.
Salters additionally pioneered the electrification and modernization of HRC US’s aggressive portfolio, launching the Acura ARX-06 LMDh automobile for the 2023 IMSA season and introducing the hybrid-powered Indy automobile in 2024. Moreover, he spearheaded the creation of a brand new HRC US enterprise division encompassing attire, efficiency components, and a lately introduced heritage racing initiative connecting collectors with classic Honda and Acura race automobiles.
“I wish to say a heartfelt thanks to the marvelous women and men at Honda Racing Company USA, our racing groups and proficient drivers,” Salters mentioned. “It has been an honor to work collectively so as to add to Honda’s racing historical past right here within the US.
“Honda Racing gave me and my household the chance to come back to California 11 years in the past. We had the dignity of turning into Americans and have had essentially the most superb life expertise as a part of the Honda household.
“HRC US is stronger than ever, with a superb crew, a really thrilling future in IndyCar and lots of different cool new tasks on the horizon. Now’s the proper time to go the baton to Kelvin. We now have labored intently over the past six years, and Kelvin is the perfect particular person to help and lead the HRC US crew into the long run.”
Kelvin Fu (left), with newly-crowned five-time IndyCar Sequence champion Alex Palou (center), and David Salters (proper)
Photograph by: HRC
Incoming president Kelvin Fu steps into the highest position after serving as vp, a place by which he helped information the group to 4 of its 17 whole Indianapolis 500 victories.
Fu joined HPD in 2015, initially managing chassis design, aerodynamics, and the efficiency engineering group. He was named director of applications in 2020 earlier than his promotion to vp in 2021. Earlier than getting into the motorsports sector with Honda, Fu constructed his profession within the protection and aerospace industries. He earned bachelor’s and grasp’s levels in mechanical engineering from the College of Michigan, adopted by a PhD and postdoctoral appointment on the College of California, Berkeley, in addition to a second postdoctoral appointment on the College of Wisconsin–Madison. He then joined HR Textron as an R&D engineer, rising to product supervisor earlier than shifting to ITT Aerospace as director of engineering.
“After I joined HRC US, I by no means imagined that in the future I’d have the privilege of main this extraordinary group,” Fu mentioned. “I’m really humbled by the chance. All through my profession at HPD and HRC US, I’ve been lucky to work on a variety of applications, from the event of the NSX GT3, Acura DPi race automobiles, and the LMDh engine and automobile to constructing lasting partnerships with our racing groups.
“I need to sincerely thank David Salters for his management, friendship and mentorship. Dave challenged all of us to suppose larger, transfer sooner and by no means lose sight of the truth that we’re opponents at coronary heart. He’s a real racer whose imaginative and prescient and dedication have helped form HRC US into the world-class group it’s at this time, and his affect might be felt for a few years to come back.
“Trying forward, I’m enthusiastic about the way forward for HRC US. We lately renewed our dedication to IndyCar because the collection continues to develop and strengthen its place in North American motorsports. Our new enterprise ventures additionally place us to raised serve Honda racing followers. We are going to stay dedicated to innovation, competitors, and creating the individuals and applied sciences that outline the way forward for motorsports.
“The Honda racing spirit has all the time been about difficult conference and pushing boundaries, and I stay up for main HRC US as we write the subsequent chapter of that story collectively.”
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