THR-W Returns to the 25 Hours of Thunderhill Race - This Weekend

Team Honda Research – West has entered an Acura in the 25 Hours of Thunderhill road race, looking for a podium finish in the very competitive E0 classification.

Team Honda Research – West (THR-W) returns to the NASA Pro Racing 25 Hours of Thunderhill race this weekend with the goal of finishing on the podium in the extremely competitive E0 classification. THR-W has participated in the 25 Hours of Thunderhill since 2004, including collaborations with sister team THR-Ohio, and has finished first, second and fourth in class at past events. This year’s effort is led by 2008 25 Hours E0 Class Runner-up Lawrence Hwang, who hopes to better his 2008 finish (second in class, third overall). Honda Canada associate Scott Nichols, retired American Honda associate Bob Endicott and Honda R&D Americas, Inc. associate Steve Neese will handle driving duties in addition to Hwang. The race will begin at 11a.m. on Saturday December 5, 2009 at Thunderhill Raceway in Willows, California. The 25-hour race is the longest endurance road race in the U.S and annually attracts factory-supported and top privateer racing teams. Highlights of the race will be televised on the Versus Network on a date to be determined.

THR-W is the officially sanctioned employee road-racing team of Honda R&D Los Angeles - comprised entirely of Honda associates who strive to exhibit in themselves and their vehicles the challenging spirit first demonstrated by company founder Soichiro Honda. The team and its sister team, THR-Ohio, is an expression of the racing spirit that is a fundamental part of the Honda’s DNA. Operating under the mantra, “We develop what we race, and race what we develop,” the team strives to translate lessons learned on the track into new-vehicle development as part of the “fun-to-drive” character found in Honda products. The fact that Honda associates are themselves enthusiasts and racers is an indication that they have the interests of enthusiasts in mind when they bring new vehicles to market. THR-W was founded in 1996. Additional information about the team can be found at http://thrw.hra.com/.

Through its new Honda Racing Line program, Honda Racing/HPD provides support and incentive programs to Honda and Acura racers competing at the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) Runoffs and in other forms of grassroots motorsports competition. Additional Honda Racing Line details can be found at http://racing.honda.com/hpd.

Team Honda Research-West is proud to represent, test and use products from the following companies: Honda Research & Development Americas, Inc.; American Honda Motor Co., Inc; Honda Racing/HPD; Hoosier Tires; The Westside Group; H&R Springs; Brembo Sport; Baja Designs, Inc.; Skunk2; Traqmate; Hondata; APR; Exedy; Recaro; Red Line Oil; Tyga-Box Inc.; Prototype Racing, Inc.; HMS Motorsport; Schroth Racing safety harnesses; Goodridge; ASR; Porterfield; King Motorsports and Aquapel Glass Treatment by PPG Industries, Inc.