Honda Racing Corporation (HRC) announced on 5 October that its representative director and president would change. Koji Watanabe (渡辺康治) will leave office effective 1 January 2027, and Yuichi Yasuda (安田裕一) is scheduled to become the new president and CEO.
Honda Racing Corporation announced that Representative Director, President and CEO Koji Watanabe (渡辺康治) will leave office and that Executive Vice President Yuichi Yasuda (安田裕一) will become the new president and CEO. The effective date has been set as 1 January 2027, and the announcement stated the intention to enter the motorsport season under the new leadership.
In 2020, Koji Watanabe (渡辺康治) took charge of motorsport operations and communications as head of the Brand and Communications Division. In 2022, he led HRC as its first president following the integration of its four-wheel vehicle development functions, creating what was described as the "new HRC."
Yuichi Yasuda (安田裕一) built experience in human resources, labour relations and serving as president of local subsidiaries globally, including in the head office's human resources division. In 2023, he became Honda Motor Co.'s Senior Managing Executive Officer and head of the Human Resources Division, and in April 2026 he became HRC's executive vice president.
Under the new leadership, HRC has indicated a policy of strengthening its organisation and investing in talent to pursue victories, and is expected to draw on management experience overseeing overseas subsidiaries.