• Baja Passport Race Truck competing in top unlimited class
•2026 Passport TrailSport is the most off-road capable Honda SUV ever; a production SUV will also compete with minimal modifications in a stock production class
•Mint 400 is America's oldest and most prestigious off-road race
The all-new 2026 Honda Passport TrailSport will make its racing debut this weekend in the iconic Mint 400, the oldest and most prestigious off-road race in America. The most off-road capable Honda SUV ever will take on the grueling 400-mile off-road challenge through the unforgiving desert conditions near the Nevada-California border on March 7-8, competing in both the Stock Production Truck and Unlimited Truck 2WD classes.
Honda Baja Passport Race Truck – Unlimited Truck 2WD Class
Powered by a twin-turbocharged V6 engine produced by Honda Racing Corporation (HRC), the Honda Baja Passport Race Truck features a new body with inspiration taken from the all-new 2026 Honda Passport. Key design cues drawn from the 2026 Honda Passport can be seen in the front fascia, hood, roof and side profile.
Making approximately 550 horsepower, HRC's HR35TT 3.5-liter twin turbo engine uses the same block and cylinder heads as the production Honda 3.5-liter i-VTEC® V6. Additional, custom elements of the powertrain include an HRC-designed intake plenum and custom Engine Control Unit programming. The Honda Baja Passport Race Truck also features 24-inches of suspension travel in the front, 30-inches of travel in the rear and 40-inch tall tires.
The Honda Baja Passport Race Truck will compete in the top unlimited class, driven by professional HRC driver Ethan Ebert, who raced the Honda Ridgeline Race Truck during the 2024 off-road season.
The Honda Off-Road Racing program began in 2015 and has gone on to record 17 class victories in 40 races including a class win in the 2019 and 2023 Mint 400 and multiple victories in the Baja 500 and Baja 1000. The Honda Off-Road Racing Team and Baja Passport Race Truck will also compete in the Baja 500 and Baja 1000 later this year.
Stock Production Truck Class
The Passport TrailSport's new rugged design and capability make it suitable for a Stock Production Truck entry, where minimal modifications are allowed. Chosen modifications for the stock production entry are 33-inch General Grabber X3 Tires, 3-Way adjustable coilovers, and improved powertrain cooling and air filtration. The Passport will be driven by Ohio-based Honda engineers, Andrew Shapiro, Jordan Guitar, Craig Ackerman and Thomas Accardo who race with the Honda of America Racing Team (HART) – a unique volunteer program run entirely by Honda associates throughout the United States.
To survive the harsh terrain the desert presents, HART members designed high strength skid plates, rock sliders and other underbody protection parts, which were manufactured with support from the Honda Auto Development Center fabrication department in Ohio. For safety, a roll cage, fuel cell, and racing seats have also been installed. The Passport's production 3.5-liter V6 engine, 10-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters and intelligent Variable Torque Management (i-VTM4™) all-wheel drive system are unmodified for competition.
First run in 1968, the Mint 400 lays claim as the oldest off-road race in the United States and holds the reputation as one of the toughest courses in the sport. The 2025 edition of the event consists of four laps of an approximately 100-mile loop of desert terrain south of Las Vegas near the Nevada-California border.
The extreme conditions of the event will be monitored by HRC engineers to understand the performance of the Passport's suspension in the highly demanding terrain, and advance development of HRC Performance Parts, a new HRC business announced at SEMA 2024.
2026 Honda Passport TrailSport The new Passport TrailSport is the most off-road capable Honda SUV ever, with standard rugged features, including off-road tuned suspension, expanded all-wheel drive system capabilities, robust steel skid plates, bright orange heavy-duty recovery hooks, specially engineered all-terrain tires and more to get weekend adventurers even farther down the trail or up the mountain.
Based on the extremely rigid Honda light truck platform, the 2026 Passport is sportier and more engaging to drive, both on and off-road. The platform was engineered from the very beginning with the intention of giving TrailSport true off-road capabilities, thanks to a 72% increase in front lateral rigidity and a 50% increase in rear torsion rigidity.
The all-new suspension of Passport is fortified with stronger forged steel suspension arms and sturdy cast-iron knuckles. Thick steel skid plates protect the oil pan, transmission and gas tank from damage. Designed in collaboration with Honda Powersports engineers, the skid plates can support the entire weight of the vehicle crashing down on a rock.
To take the rugged capability and appearance of Passport even further, Honda engineers created the broadest line of Genuine Honda Accessories ever, including a variety of 18-inch wheels, an aluminum front scuff plate, robust rock sliders with stainless-steel plates, and a Full-Size Spare Kit.
About Honda
Honda offers a full line of clean, safe, fun and connected vehicles sold through more than 1,000 independent U.S. Honda dealers. The award-winning Honda lineup includes the Civic and Accord, along with the HR-V, CR-V, Passport, Prologue and Pilot sport utility vehicles, the Ridgeline pickup and the Odyssey minivan. The Honda electrified vehicle lineup, representing more than a quarter of total sales in 2024, includes the all-electric Prologue SUV, hybrid-electric Accord, CR-V, and Civic, and Fuel-Cell-electric CR-V e:FCEV. A hybrid-electric Prelude set to join the lineup late this year.
Honda has been producing automobiles in America for over 40 years and currently operates eight major manufacturing facilities in America. In 2024, more than 99% of all Honda vehicles sold in the U.S. were made in North America, with nearly 60% made in America, using domestic and globally-sourced parts.
About Honda Racing Corporation USA
Honda Racing Corporation USA (HRC US), has a rich heritage creating, manufacturing, and supporting Honda Racing and Acura Motorsports customers since its founding in 1993 as Honda Performance Development (HPD). In January 2024, HPD became HRC US, combining with HRC Japan to strengthen the company's overall motorsports capabilities. From pinnacle racing in INDYCAR and IMSA sports cars to commercial racing programs, HRC US leads all Honda and Acura high-performance racing programs in North America and will be involved in Formula One power unit development and race support related to the next phase of Honda starting in 2026.
HRC US specializes in the design and development of powertrain, chassis, electronics, and performance parts, as well as technical and race support. The company also offers parts and race support to Honda and Acura amateur and professional motorsports racers; and is continually expanding its palette of racing programs that make Honda racing products available to all racing styles, from karting and quarter midgets to the highest levels of professional racing.
About the Honda of America Racing Team (HART)
Founded more than 30 years ago, the Honda of America Racing Team (HART) is among the longest-running associate-driven activities in Honda's rich history. HART competes in a wide variety of motorsport competitions ranging from road racing, club-level events, rally, off-road racing, karting and more. HART provides invaluable experience to associates through motorsport, while transferring vehicle performance learnings into the development and manufacturing of next-generation Honda and Acura products.
Photo credit: Honda posted on conceptcarz.com
