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Honda Racing Corporation to replace CEO Koji Watanabe in 2027
Honda Racing Corporation (HRC) has announced a leadership transition, with current President and CEO Koji Watanabe set to retire on January 1, 2027. He will be succeeded by Keiichi Yasuda, the current Executive Vice President and Representative Director.
Watanabe, who joined Honda in 1987, has led the company’s motorsport activities since 2022. His tenure included unifying the motorcycle and automobile racing divisions, expanding the global structure through HRC US and HRC UK, and orchestrating Honda’s return to Formula 1 as a power unit supplier for Aston Martin starting in 2026.
The transition follows a period of performance challenges for Honda’s racing programs. As a supplier for Aston Martin, the current engine projects have faced reliability and power issues, impacting the team's competitive standing in Formula 1.
Honda stated that the change is part of a “planned periodic personnel rotation” intended to strengthen management in response to global transformations and to accelerate business expansion for the next generation. Yasuda, who has extensive experience in human resources and international management, aims to build on the foundation established by Watanabe to drive the organization toward future racing victories.
Entities
Aston Martin · Fernando Alonso · Honda · Honda Racing Corporation · Keiichi Yasuda · Koji Watanabe
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 3 SOURCES] Koji Watanabe will retire as President and CEO of Honda Racing Corporation on January 1, 2027. es.motorsport.com · racingnews365.nl · www.crash.net
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Watanabe integrated automobile racing development into HRC in 2022, unifying motorcycle and automobile motorsport activities. www.crash.net
- [● 3 SOURCES] Keiichi Yasuda, the current Executive Vice President and Representative Director, will succeed Watanabe as President and CEO. es.motorsport.com · racingnews365.nl · www.crash.net
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The leadership change is part of a planned periodic personnel rotation intended to strengthen the management structure. es.motorsport.com