HPD Drivers Academy Expands to TCR for 2022

Photo: Mike Levitt/IMSA

Honda Performance Development will offer a Drivers Academy with the Honda Civic Type-R TCR car as part of an expansion of the overall program for 2022.

The innovative track-day initiative, featuring up-and-coming drivers in a school-like environment, will be offered for both GT3 and TCR cars next year following two years of exclusively with the Acura NSX GT3 Evo.

The now-known HPD Drivers Academy will continue to be operated by Racers Edge Motorsports under the support and guidance of HPD, with access to factory drivers, HPD engineering and trackside support staff, as well as SRO America and IMSA engineers and teams.

A total of four events will be offered for both platforms in 2022, building on the experience gained from the first two seasons.

“As HPD looks ahead to the evolution of motorsports, we’re continually growing and adapting the academy to equip graduates with the skills and support for a successful racing career’” said John Whiteman, HPD Commercial Motorsports Manager.

“This includes incorporating sustainable technology into our academy program that we look forward to announcing in the near future.

“Our challenging spirit defines program success by both the opportunities available to our graduates, and our readiness to compete – and win — at the highest levels of motorsports, both present and future.”

This year’s GT3 program, which concludes at Sebring International Raceway later this month, features Nicky Hays, Kyffin Simpson, Cat Lauren and Ashton Harrison, who became the first female driver to win a Fanatec GT World Challenge America powered by AWS race overall in her GT3 debut last weekend at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

The inaugural crop of drivers from 2020 — Jacob Abel, Dakota Dickerson, Karl Wittmer and Taylor Hagler — have all raced in HPD-prepared equipment this year, with Abel, Dickerson and Hagler coming off a Silver class podium finish in the Indianapolis 8 Hour in Racers Edge’s Acura.

The cost of the NSX GT3 Evo program is listed at $145,000 per driver with the new-for-2022 TCR program at $95,000 per driver.

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John Dagys

John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John