Fu named new HRC US President

Honda Racing Corporation US vice president Kelvin Fu will succeed David Salters as its next president.

“I would like to say a heartfelt thank you to the marvelous men and women at Honda Racing Corporation USA, our racing teams and talented drivers. It has been an honor to work together to add to Honda’s racing history here in the US,” said Salters, who joined the company in 2015 and led it to multiple IndyCar and IMSA championships.

“Honda Racing gave me and my family the opportunity to come to California 11 years ago. We had the honor of becoming American citizens and have had the most amazing life experience as part of the Honda family. HRC US is stronger than ever, with a brilliant team, a very exciting future in IndyCar and many other cool new projects on the horizon. Now is the perfect time to pass the baton to Kelvin. We have worked closely over the last six years, and Kelvin is the ideal person to support and lead the HRC US team into the future.”

The combination of “David and Kelvin” was a staple in the series where HRC competes as the company’s top two executives made a habit of working side by side whenever possible, and on weekends when IndyCar and IMSA clashed, it was common for Salters and Fu to split their responsibilities and lead each series on the ground.

Fu will take the baton from Salters, who is moving onto a technology startup, next week and become the company’s latest in a long line of presidents who’ve been appointed from within Honda or HRC.

“When I joined HRC US, I never imagined that one day I would have the privilege of leading this extraordinary organization. I am truly humbled by the opportunity,” said Fu, who also joined American Honda’s racing division in 2015.

“Throughout my career at HPD and HRC US, I have been fortunate to work on a wide range of programs, from the development of the NSX GT3, Acura DPi race cars, and the LMDh engine and car to building lasting partnerships with our racing teams.

“I want to sincerely thank David Salters for his leadership, friendship and mentorship. Dave challenged all of us to think bigger, move faster and never lose sight of the fact that we are competitors at heart. He is a true racer whose vision and commitment have helped shape HRC US into the world-class organization it is today, and his impact will be felt for many years to come.”

With bachelor’s and master’s degrees in mechanical engineering and both PhD and post-doctoral achievements to draw from across universities in California, Michigan, and Wisconsin, Fu’s extensive education has been a perfect fit for the intensive demands of research and development at HRC.

“Looking ahead, I am excited about the future of HRC US,” Fu said. “We recently renewed our commitment to IndyCar as the series continues to grow and strengthen its position in North American motorsports. Our new business ventures also position us to better serve Honda racing fans. We will remain committed to innovation, competition, and developing the people and technologies that define the future of motorsports.

"The Honda racing spirit has always been about challenging convention and pushing boundaries, and I look forward to leading HRC US as we write the next chapter of that story together.”