Klaus Named New HPD President

Ted Klaus, vice-president of Honda R&D Americas, has been named president of Honda Performance Development, effective April 1. 

He will succeed Art St. Cyr, who also came to HPD from Honda R&D Americas in 2012, and completes a seven-year tenure as president of the wholly-owned subsidiary and racing arm of American Honda.

“I’ve enjoyed my time at HPD immensely.  It seems like the past seven years have just flown by,” said St. Cyr. 

“While I’m pleased to go out on a ‘high note’ with last year’s run of 11 race wins and manufacturers’ championship, I will miss the daily contact with everyone in the paddock and garage area.  I will certainly keep up with the sport, and all of HPD’s efforts.  Once racing gets in your blood, it never goes away.”

“Like Art, I come to HPD from Honda R&D, said Klaus. “I’m looking forward to working with everyone at HPD and our partner teams, and doing my part to add to the legacy of Honda and Acura in North American racing.”

Klaus, who holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Notre Dame, joined Honda at the company’s Ohio R&D Center in 1990.  He immediately began a two-year assignment at the company’s R&D facility in Tochigi, Japan as part of the team responsible for the 1994 Acura Integra. 

Upon returning to Ohio, Klaus contributed to the chassis performance of a variety of Honda R&D Americas-developed models, including the Acura CL and TL, Honda Accord Coupe, Acura MDX and Honda Ridgeline. 

Klaus then focused on overall vehicle performance, where his team developed the Super Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD®), Active Damping System and Vehicle Stability Assist systems now used in in a variety of Honda and Acura products.

In 2010, Klaus was named Division Director of Complete Vehicle Performance for Honda R&D Americas.

Shortly after that, he took on a major responsibility as the global development leader of the all-new, second-generation Acura NSX.  In this role, Klaus had overall responsibility for strategic planning and development of the NSX.  Klaus took on his current responsibilities as vice president of Honda R&D Americas in 2017.

Completing his seven-year tenure at HPD president, St. Cyr will return to American Honda’s corporate offices in Torrance, Claif., where he will assume new duties as a vice president and business unit head of auto operations for American Honda, responsible for product planning, public relations and logistics. 

During his time at HPD, St. Cyr oversaw the company’s IndyCar Series program transition from single engine supplier to multi-manufacturer competition; the return of Acura to endurance sports car racing; and the success of the Ridgeline Baja Race Truck off-road racing effort.

Milestone achievements during this period include four Indianapolis 500 victories, a sweep of American Le Mans Series championships in 2012 and 2013, a class win at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and World Endurance Championship in 2012; and class victories at both the Baja 1000 and Baja 500.

In addition, HPD’s Commercial Division continued to expand under St. Cyr, adding FIA-approved Formula 4 and Formula 3 programs to the company’s already wide array of products aimed at grassroots and entry-level racers, ranging from karting and Quarter Midgets to the Honda Civic Si, Honda Civic Type R and the race winning Acura NSX GT3.