2005 Honda Racing Kick Off Party, February 26, 2005
Address by Takeo Fukui, President and CEO, Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. My name is Takeo Fukui.
Thank you very much for taking the time from your busy schedules to join us today for this 2005 Honda Racing Kick Off Party. I would like to express my sincere appreciation to all of you–Âour sponsors, the media, those involved with our racing teams, our manufacturing partners, and the various corporations and race-related organizations that have lent us their support in so many ways–for your ongoing encouragement and support of our motor sports activities.
Since the company’s foundation, in racing and in all our activities, Honda has always taken the initiative to pursue lofty objectives, and to engage each and every associate in the challenge of realizing those objectives.
Not long after the company was founded, we took up the challenges of entering the Isle of Mann TT Race and Formula One. Anticipating the environmental preservation requirements of the US Clean Air Act, we developed the CVCC engine. Exploring the mobility of our future, we have created the bipedal robot ASIMO, and realized our founder’s dream of entering the aerospace industry. One after another, Honda initiatives have surprised the world and exceeded the expectations of our customers everywhere.
Last year, Honda Racing gave everyone plenty to talk about. Driven forward in so many races by the support and encouragement of our fans, Honda made good progress in 2004, but a lot of hard work remains to be done. This year, we plan to take up the challenge in every racing category, and show our fans what we’re made of.
In Trials, we are fielding fuel-injection-engine 4-stroke machines, a world’s first. Astride this environmentally friendly machine, Takahisa Fujinami will go for his second championship in a row.
Last year Hiroshi Aoyama represented Japan on the world stage as a member of Telefonica Movistar Honda in the WGP 250cc class. This year, he will be joined by Yuki Takahashi, reigning All-Japan Road Race Championship GP250 class champion, who will be representing Team Scot. I’m confident these two riders will show the world great things in the future.
In Moto GP, the Works Repsol Honda Team is back, with a new Technical Director in Erv Kanemoto, primed with a new strategy and an even more advanced RC211V. Riders Max Biaggi and Nicky Hayden will be sharing their comments with us in a moment.
Honda will also be highly active in automobile racing.
Ever popular in Japan, the GT races have been renamed Super GT. Honda is back with a newly improved NSX, ready to gun for both driver and team titles and to provide plenty of excitement.
In the IndyCar Series, we’ll be shooting for a second straight Triple Crown. While aiming for the Manufacturers’ Championship and the Drivers’ Championship, we’ll be cheering on our new female driver Danica Patrick as she makes her bid for Rookie of the Year.
And in Formula One, we approach this year’s challenges with a new approach and a reinforced partnership with Lucky Strike B.A.R.. We’ll be going all out for victory starting with the first round in Australia. Drivers Jenson Button and Takuma Sato, along with our new Lucky Strike B.A.R. Honda CEO Nick Fry are gearing up for Australia right now. In fact, they’ll be leaving for Melbourne even before this party is over, but before they go we’ll hear their thoughts on this year’s push for victory.
In conclusion, Honda will continue to aim for the top in motor sports, working to build on the reputation for innovativeness and advanced technology that is the source of the growing strength of our brand. I hope you will all share in our adventure, as we pursue new challenges in motor sports and show the world what Honda can do.
Thank you very much for joining us today.