Honda Performance Development to Form Technical Partnership With Magneti Marelli

SANTA CLARITA, California and MILAN, March 14, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --

Honda Performance Development and Magneti Marelli 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&D, and its capabilities are well matched with our own R&D 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 200^th 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 MMarelli Motorsport. "We are fully committed to the development of high-technology solutions for new powertrain configurations. The partnership with HPD will be the ideal environment to convey our deep R&D activity and apply our high-end solutions."

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.

Magneti Marelli designs and produces systems and components for the automotive industry. The company has 83 locations in 19 countries, 36,900 employees worldwide. With a 5.8 billion Euros turnover in 2012, the company supplies all leading global carmakers. More at http://www.magnetimarelli.com

SOURCE Magneti Marelli