Honda Racing (HRC) President Watanabe Koji (渡辺康治) will leave office effective 1 January 2027, and current Executive Vice President Yasuda Keiichi (安田啓一) will become president. Since becoming president in 2020, Watanabe Koji (渡辺康治) has promoted an integrated management structure covering HRC’s four- and two-wheel operations.
Honda Racing announced its executive appointments on 5 October, revealing that President Watanabe Koji (渡辺康治) will leave office effective 1 January 2027. Preparations for the new management team will proceed in connection with his departure.
Current Executive Vice President Yasuda Keiichi (安田啓一) will become president. Yasuda Keiichi (安田啓一) joined Honda in 1990 and has held positions including president of a local motorcycle subsidiary. He has served as HRC’s executive vice president since April this year. After Watanabe Koji (渡辺康治) leaves office, Yasuda Keiichi (安田啓一) is expected to oversee the expansion of the global motorsport structure.
Since taking office, Watanabe Koji (渡辺康治) has transformed HRC, which had overseen motorcycle racing, into an integrated structure covering four-wheel operations as well, driving the strengthening of Honda’s motorsport activities. In 2026, Honda pursued active initiatives, including its return to F1 by supplying works power units to Aston Martin.
Honda described the personnel change as “part of a regular personnel rotation planned to strengthen the management structure in response to a period of global transformation and accelerate business development for the next generation.” The new management team aims to begin full-scale operations from the start of the 2027 season.