IMSA: Honda evaluating 2017 P2 participation

Honda has yet to decide whether it will return to compete in IMSA's new-look Prototype class in 2017, but says it's contemplating its options. Among the three active manufacturers currently involved in Prototype with P2s or DPs, only Mazda has routinely expressed its plans to continue in 2017 as part of an ongoing five-year plan, leaving Chevrolet and Honda to confirm their continued presence as suppliers.

"It's a little bit of chicken-or-the-egg thing," Honda Performance Development VP Steve Eriksen told RACER. "If you look at where things are at today, Corvette runs their own body, but everybody else has more of a generic body they use. There isn't a lot of brand engagement right now. With the new 2017 rules coming out, I'm interested in looking at, on behalf of American Honda, which brands are entering, and which brands are talking about entering, because that plays a role of the level of the field and whether it's more of a marketing exercise, or more of a commercial exercise with a customer approach.

"I think the basic concept of the regulations they've designed for the North American market is appealing and appropriate for the current economic environment. This is certainly on our radar to see how it unfolds."

IMSA's new P2-based formula will debut in a little over 13 months, giving HPD a short window to decide whether it will partner with one of the four approved chassis manufacturers to package an engine and bodywork solution bearing the brand's name.

"I think we have time," Eriksen (RIGHT) continued. "The thing I'm looking at is of the four constructors, we have very good familiarity for Ligier because we've been powering their cars for a while now. I understand Riley is doing a brand-new car, but haven't seen much, and I haven't seen anything from the other two (Dallara and ORECA).

"If we were to do something, we'd have quite a bit of due diligence to do to learn what they have to offer and see which one has the best package, on paper at least. Some will be running sooner than others, so it's hard to know how they'll stack up until all four are out there running."

Its current twin-turbo V6 P2 engine fits the production-based requirements, and with its experience in IndyCar where custom bodywork was introduced earlier this year, the upcoming P2 exercise would appears to fall well within HPD's expertise.

Based on Eriksen's praise for the 2017 regulations, it would not be a surprise to see the new-look Prototype class include Honda among its manufacturers.

"I think the set of Prototype regulations they've arrived at for 2017 have some very positive points," he said. "One of them being that you can use your own engines, instead of it being a spec thing, and another thing they've done is they're allowing manufacturers to use their own choice of ECU. That's a new strategy, looking in recent years what they did in Grand-Am, so I'm really pleased they've opened up ECUs and software strategy because I think that helps a lot on the reliability front.

"And another positive thing is the ability to create brand identity through the body shape. They tried to get it off the ground with Daytona Prototypes, but now there's a (P2 chassis) spine – modern-day technology – that gives you a good feeling from a safety standpoint and you can customize it for your brand.

"The spine, of the four brands you pick, isn't open for development, so that helps on costs, but you do have the ability to brand the car the way you want. I think it's going to become a very popular category again because of how they're putting it together."