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Honda Passport TrailSport To Race At Iconic Mint 400 Off-Road Event This Weekend
The 2026 Honda Passport TrailSport is set to make its debut at the Mint 400, America's oldest off-road race. This event, taking place on March 7-8 near the Nevada-California border, will see the Passport compete in both the Stock Production Truck and Unlimited Truck 2WD classes. The race covers a challenging 400-mile course through harsh desert terrain.
The Honda Baja Passport Race Truck will participate in the Unlimited Truck 2WD Class. It features a twin-turbocharged V6 engine from Honda Racing Corporation (HRC), producing around 550 horsepower. The truck's design draws inspiration from the new 2026 Honda Passport, with notable elements in its front fascia, hood, roof, and side profile.
Since its inception in 2015, Honda's Off-Road Racing program has achieved significant success. The team has secured 17 class victories in 40 races, including wins at the Mint 400 in both 2019 and 2023. They have also triumphed multiple times at the Baja 500 and Baja 1000 events.
The Passport TrailSport's rugged design makes it ideal for the Stock Production Truck class. Modifications include General Grabber X3 Tires, adjustable coilovers, and enhanced powertrain cooling. Ohio-based engineers Andrew Shapiro, Jordan Guitar, Craig Ackerman, and Thomas Accardo will drive it under the Honda of America Racing Team (HART) banner.
To withstand the demanding desert conditions, HART members designed high-strength skid plates and rock sliders with support from Honda's Ohio fabrication department. Safety features such as a roll cage, fuel cell, and racing seats have been added to ensure driver protection during the race.
The production version of the Passport TrailSport boasts impressive off-road capabilities. It includes an off-road tuned suspension, advanced all-wheel drive system, steel skid plates, heavy-duty recovery hooks, and specially engineered tires. These features enable adventurers to explore challenging terrains with ease.
Honda's Commitment to Innovation
Honda continues to innovate with its vehicle lineup. In 2024, over a quarter of their sales were electrified vehicles like the all-electric Prologue SUV and hybrid-electric models such as Accord and CR-V. The company has been manufacturing cars in America for over four decades.
The Mint 400 race consists of four laps around a roughly 100-mile loop near Las Vegas. HRC engineers will monitor how well the Passport's suspension performs under these extreme conditions to enhance future HRC Performance Parts development.
About Honda Racing Corporation USA
Honda Racing Corporation USA (HRC US) was established in January 2024 after merging with HRC Japan. It leads all high-performance racing programs for Honda and Acura across North America. HRC US specializes in powertrain design and development while offering technical support to motorsports racers.
The new Passport TrailSport is built on a robust platform with increased rigidity for improved off-road performance. Its suspension system includes forged steel arms and cast-iron knuckles for durability. Skid plates protect vital components like oil pans from damage during rough rides.
Honda engineers have developed an extensive range of Genuine Accessories for the Passport TrailSport model line-up. These include various wheel options along with protective features such as rock sliders made from stainless steel plates or aluminum front scuff plates.
The Honda of America Racing Team (HART) has been active for over three decades participating in diverse motorsport competitions worldwide while providing valuable experience to associates involved within this unique volunteer program run entirely by them throughout United States regions where they operate facilities too!
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