HONDA RIDGELINE BAJA RACE TRUCK TAKES CLASS VICTORY AT BAJA 500

◾Off-road Ridgeline Race Truck scores Class 2 victory

◾Also won Class 2 in last year's Baja 1000 debut

◾Racing version of next-generation, 2017 Honda Ridgeline

Jun 7, 2016 - ENSENADA, Mexico -- The Honda Ridgeline Baja Race Truck is now two-for-two in competition on its namesake course, as drivers Jeff Proctor and Jason LaFortune claimed the Class 2 victory in last weekend's 48th running of the SCORE Baja 500, adding to their previous triumph last fall in the Baja 1000.

Built jointly by Honda Performance Development, the North American motorsports arm of American Honda, and the Proctor Racing Group, the tube-frame Unlimited Class 2 off-road Ridgeline Baja Race Truck made its competition debut in November, 2015, with another class victory in the Baja 1000.

With ambient temperatures of up to 120 degrees Fahrenheit, this year's Baja 500 was described by competitors as one of the most brutal of all time, with the heat adding to the usual challenges of high-speed desert crossings, technical, rocky mountain trails, silt beds, washes, ditches and jumps throughout the course. Of 236 starters, only 137 competitors completed the 477-mile contest.

This year's Baja 500 also turned tragic, as two motorcycle racers and a spectator lost their lives in three unrelated incidents during the race. Despite the obstacles and high attrition, the Ridgeline Baja Race Truck ran trouble-free, completing the event in 14 hours, 19 minutes and 19 seconds.

'I'm so pumped to get this Honda Ridgeline to the finish of the Baja 500! I can't thank Robert Zeman enough for navigating a smart race, and Jason LaFortune and Karl for bringing the truck to the finish first in class,' said Proctor, driver and owner of Proctor Racing Group. 'Our crew nailed our pit stops and kept this fire-breathing Honda twin-turbo cool, even when we encountered 124-degree temps in some sections of the race!'

Powered by a twin-turbocharged V6 produced by HPD, the Ridgeline Baja Race Truck features a body designed by Honda R&D Americas' Los Angeles Design Studio, with inspiration taken from the next-generation Honda Ridgeline, also being designed and developed by Honda R&D North Americas. Key design cues drawn from the 2017 Honda Ridgeline can be seen in the front fascia, hood, roof, bed and side profile.

Making approximately 550 horsepower, HPD's 3.5-liter HR35TT engine uses the same block, cylinder heads and crankshaft as the production V6 engine that will power the all-new Ridgeline, which will be brought to market later this month. Additional, custom elements of the powertrain include an HPD-designed intake plenum and custom Engine Control Unit programming.

Honda Ridgeline

Honda will bring an all-new second-generation Ridgeline truck to market later this month. Honda introduced the first-generation Ridgeline in 2005 as a 2006 model. The Ridgeline challenged conventional thinking in pickup truck design with its boxed frame uni-body design, offering superior driving dynamics, fuel efficiency and interior space, in combination with midsize pickup towing, hauling and off-road capabilities. It also introduced several industry-first features including a dual-action tailgate and lockable In-Bed Trunk. The Ridgeline was named both the 2006 North American Truck of the Year and Motor Trend 2008 Truck of the Year and led all other midsize pickups in J.D. Power's APEAL study for three consecutive years.

Like the original, the next-generation Ridgeline is being designed and developed by Honda Manufacturing of Alabama in Lincoln, Alabama. All Honda light trucks are manufactured in North America, and all but the HR-V are produced exclusively in the U.S. at Honda's plants in Ohio and Alabama, using domestic and globally sourced parts.

Honda Performance Development

HPD was founded in 1993 to spearhead Honda's entry into Indy car racing. No other manufacturer has matched Honda's success in Indy cars, which includes 218 race victories, 15 drivers' championships, six manufacturers' championships and 11 Indianapolis 500 victories, including this year's event, won by Alexander Rossi of Andretti/Herta Autosport.

HPD's prototype racing efforts have resulted in more than 70 victories and multiple series championships. Honda's latest sports car victories came at this year's Rolex 24 at Daytona and 12 Hours of Sebring. HPD also won the LMP2 title in the inaugural 2012 World Endurance Championship and has twice won the LMP2 category at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

HPD offers a complete line of race engines for cars from grass roots to pinnacle; for professional, amateur and entry-level racers. For more information about HPD and the company's racing product lines, please visit http://hpd.honda.com.

Photo credit: Honda
posted on conceptcarz.com