Honda Performance Development, along with partner teams Strakka Racing and Level 5 Motorsports, returns to the Circuit de la Sarthe this week as the racing division of American Honda Motor Co., Inc., seeks to extend its run of class victories and podium finishes at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Since first appearing at Le Mans in 2010, HPD and its Honda-powered ARX prototypes have won the LMP2 category twice – in 2010 and again in 2012 – and finished on the class podium in all three years. 

In this year’s race, reigning American Le Mans Series LMP2 champion Level 5 Motorsports will defend HPD’s LMP2 crown at Le Mans. A strong driver lineup including Ryan Briscoe, Marino Franchitti and Scott Tucker will share driving duties aboard Level 5’s HPD ARX-03b, powered by the production-based HR28TT twin-turbo V6 engine found in the 2013 Acura RLX and MDX.

In LMP1, Strakka Racing will continue its battle for privateer honors with drivers Jonny Kane, Nick Leventis and Danny Watts against the two-car effort from Rebellion Racing, in addition to full-factory efforts from Audi and Toyota.  British-based Strakka, which moved up to LMP1 in the World Endurance Championship in 2012, led HPD to victory in LMP2 at Le Mans in 2010, and this year will field an HPD ARX-03c, updated for 2013 and again powered by the race-proven Honda LM-V8 naturally aspirated engine. 

In HPD’s first attempt at Le Mans, Strakka won the category and finished fifth overall, the highest-ever finishing position for an LMP2 entry.  Strakka finished six laps ahead of its nearest competitor, and set a new record for laps and miles completed by an LMP2 entry, joining the elite “5,000-kilometer club” in the process.

“Returning to Le Mans, with both LMP1 and LMP2 programs, is an enormous challenge for our engineers and associates,” said Steve Eriksen, vice president and COO of HPD. “We understand the challenge for us in LMP1: Supplying a very strong, but private team in Strakka Racing with our improved ARX-03c, against the might of full factory efforts from Audi and Toyota.  But Honda and HPD have never been afraid to take on strong competition.  As Mr. Honda said, ‘the best place to learn is at the highest level’.  In endurance racing, there is no higher level than LMP1.

“In LMP2, we expect that the proven design of the ARX-03b chassis and HR28TT turbocharged V6 engine – plus the development and engineering expertise of HPD and its technical partners– will provide Level 5 Motorsports with the tools it needs to successfully defend our 2012 class victory.  It will be an exciting race.”