Honda is increasing its commitment to racing in 2012 by officially sponsoring teams entering the Pirelli World Challenge thanks to growing interest in both the U.S. and Canada.

Honda Performance Development (HPD) provides components and support to teams ranging from amateur to professional levels. In the past the company supported teams in the Grand-Am Continental Tire Challenge Series, but will move into the Sports Car Club of America’s World Challenge and B-Spec categories as well.

“With the development of the 2012 Honda Civic Si for Touring Car racing and the introduction of B-Spec for both professional and club racing, it’s been a very busy off-season for HPD,” said Lee Niffenegger, HPD senior engineer responsible for production-based racing.

“There has been a definite upsurge in interest from both the U.S. and Canada for this year, and we’re looking forward to exciting seasons in Grand-Am, World Challenge and Canadian Touring Cars,” he said.

According to Honda, the Civic Si is the car of choice this year with at least five teams taking part in the 14-race schedule in the World Challenge Touring Car class. Cars that run these races range from being almost factory stock to heavily modified based on the series. World Challenge Touring Car entrants run on the less modified end of that spectrum.

In the B-Spec segment, Honda will race their Fit cars, which represents and inexpensive, entry-level option for racers to get into the sport.

Compass360, a Toronto-based racing team has long used Hondas to compete in the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) and Gand Am series and claimed first place in the 2010 Canadian Touring Car Championship for Honda.

This year Compass360 will also enter the World Challenge for Honda with a multi-car effort in the SCCA Pirelli World Challenge and Grand-Am Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge.

GALLERY: Compass360 Civic Si

Honda Racing has officially announced the HSV-010 GT will join Japan’s Super GT racing series this year, releasing a huge selection of photos for those who just can’t get enough of the car. Based on the discontinued NSX replacement (yup, we’re still crying about it too), the HSV-010 is powered by a 3.4-liter V8 that makes 500-ish horsepower and 289 ft-lbs of torque. While the road car was expected to be powered by a V10 and get AWD, this race car is RWD and the V8 engine is thought to be a version of the V8 found in the Acura ARX ALMS cars.

Thanks to a stripped-down interior and bountiful use of carbon fiber, the HSV-010 weighs just 2,424 lbs.

The car will debut  on May 20-21st during the season opener, with four cars expected to compete.

We’ll keep our fingers crossed that a successful racing season might make Honda reconsider a road version of the car. Then again, the HSV-010 will be up against some very steep competition in the Super GT series, including several race-prepped Nissan GT-Rs.

GALLERY: Honda Racing HSV-010 GT

Official release after the jump:

PRESS RELEASE

Honda introduces HSV-010 GT for competing in GT500 class of SUPER GT Series

January 18, 2010 – Honda Motor Co., Ltd. introduced the HSV-010 GT, which will compete in the GT500 class of the 2010 Super GT Series (managed and run by GTA Co., Ltd.).
* The letters “HSV” stand for Honda Sports Velocity.

Honda HSV-010 GT: Specifications and performance characteristics

Honda Performance Development (HPD), a division of Honda that is behind motorsports activities like the company’s American Le Mans Series efforts, is launching a new program to help both professional and amateur racers.

Dubbed Honda Racing Line, this new grassroots motorsports initiative will allow members access to HPD and OEM products, as well as certain services. Members can log on to HondaRacingLine.com to see parts and even order them for expedited delivery.

Now celebrating 50 years in America Honda launched Honda Racing Line to help those Honda racers who have relied on their products. In turn Honda wants to raise its profile and the profile of Honda Racing int he U.S.

“For many years, Honda enthusiasts have campaigned our products in racing series throughout the U.S.,” said Erik Berkman, President of Honda Performance Development. “On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Honda brand in the United States, we are pleased to announce that we will now support those efforts directly, by introducing products and services geared toward helping our customers fulfill their racing dreams.”

Official release after the jump:

Honda Performance Development, Inc. Launches Grassroots Motorsports Initiative
Will Develop Products, Services for Amateur, Lower-Level Professional Racers

07/24/2009 – ELKHART LAKE, Wis. – Honda Performance Development, Inc. (HPD), the authorized Honda and Acura auto racing company in North America, today announced a new automotive initiative targeted at expanding its presence in the grassroots motorsports market.

The broad-based initiative will include the development of products and services that support competition in the amateur and entry-level professional ranks, and will also include integrated marketing activities designed to raise the profile of Honda Racing and HPD.

“For many years, Honda enthusiasts have campaigned our products in racing series throughout the U.S.,” said Erik Berkman, President of Honda Performance Development. “On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Honda brand in the United States, we are pleased to announce that we will now support those efforts directly, by introducing products and services geared toward helping our customers fulfill their racing dreams.”

The new program will ultimately include an array of products and services for Honda and Acura customers who compete in amateur and professional racing. These products include both original equipment parts and racing-performance parts.

To launch its new grassroots initiative, HPD will operate the Honda Racing Line, a club targeted at licensed participants in amateur and entry-level professional racing. The Honda Racing Line will provide its members with a direct connection to Honda Performance Development and its unparalleled record of success at the pinnacle levels of motorsport.

This channel to factory support, which will offer Honda Racing Line members the opportunity to purchase racing-performance parts for expedited delivery, has not existed previously.

“Thousands of our customers are racing Hondas or Acuras today with a need for regular access to parts,” Berkman noted. “A market has clearly been established for a service like the Honda Racing Line. We are pleased to provide that service, and look forward to expanding the roster of benefits and services available to Honda Racing Line members.”

Competitors may register for the Honda Racing Line club and gain access to the parts catalogue through a website portal, HondaRacingLine.com . Additional Racing Line membership benefits will be announced as they are developed.

HPD’s new grassroots motorsports initiative also supports the fans of grassroots racing through an integrated marketing plan, focusing on fan identification with the Honda Racing brand through merchandise sales and additional services.

Specific details regarding other components of the new grassroots motorsports initiative will be announced throughout the year.

Honda Performance Development, Inc. (HPD) is the factory-authorized Honda and Acura racing company within North America. Founded in 1993, and located in Santa Clarita, Calif., HPD is the technical operations center for Honda and Acura’s highperformance racing cars and engines. In addition to its grassroots motorsports participation, HPD is the single engine supplier to the IndyCar Series and competes in prototype sports-car racing under the Acura banner in the American Le Mans Series.