After winning the 43rd edition of the Suzuka 8 Hours last year, Honda has just formalized its teams in the flagship event of the 2023 World Endurance Championship which will take place on Sunday August 6 in Japan.
Team HRC, which gave Honda its first victory in eight years last year, will compete again this year as Honda's factory team with a factory machine based on the 'CBR1000RR-R FIREBLADE SP' . This year, the riders of the FIM Superbike World Championship (WSBK) Iker Lecuona et Xavi Verge will compete. In addition to these two, Takumi Takahashi, who competes in the MFJ All Japan Road Race Championship ST1000 class, will also compete this season. Takumi Takahashi was one of last year's winning drivers, and if he wins again it will be his 5th victory overall, tying for the most wins at the Suzuka 8 Hours. There remains doubt about the role of Tetsuta Nagashima (HRC test pilot) injured at the start of the year.
FCC TSR Honda France, which won the title of champion of the 2022 EWC category, will participate in the race with its regular drivers Josh Hook, Mike Di Meglio and Alain Techer. After winning the season-opening round at Le Mans this season, the team is currently in second place (after Round 2), one point behind the leader, in the points standings.
SDG Honda Racing will line up Teppei Nagoshi, who competes in the JSB1000 class of the MFJ All Japan Road Racing Championship, Naomichi Uramoto, which competes in the Spanish Superbike championship, and Yuki Kunii, who is competing in the Japanese ST1000 category this season.
Finally, Honda Asia-Dream Racing with SHOWA will rely on Mohamed Zakwan bin Zaidi, Andy Farid Izdihar and Nakarin Atirapwapa.
#33 Team HRC
Takumi Takahashi: “ I am very happy to be able to participate in the Suzuka 8 Hours again as a Team HRC driver this year. WSBK riders Iker Lecuona and Xavi Virginie will be there. In addition, I would like to work with the staff of the best team to fulfill my role. Please come to Suzuka Circuit and support the HRC team. »
Iker Lecuona : " I am very happy to be able to fight again at the Suzuka 8 Hours with Team HRC this year. I was able to win last year, but I understood that it was not easy. This year my teammates will be Takumi Takahashi and Xavi Virgo, and I can't wait to race with them now. We will do our best with the team and the staff and aim for the top step of the podium. »
Xavi Verge : " This time I will participate for the first time in the Suzuka 8 Hours with the HRC team. I am very happy to be able to participate as a driver on the same stage where many drivers have made history so far. Iker Lecuona is also a teammate in WorldSBK, and Takumi Takahashi is a great rider with a lot of racing experience. I think if all three drivers work together we can win the race. »
Tetsuta nagashima : " Unfortunately this year, due to an injury to my left foot, I was not in perfect condition at the start of the school year. However, I am currently working on rehabilitation so that I can compete in the event as soon as possible. I will also fight desperately so that I can participate. »
#1 FCC TSR Honda France
Josh Hook : « I'm really looking forward to going back to Suzuka. It's one of my favorite places, and it's the home race for TSR and Honda, so it's a circuit I really like because the machines handle well there. So far this season, the team, the mechanics, everyone is doing a great job, so I'm even more looking forward to racing at Suzuka. I'm really looking forward to coming to Suzuka and meeting all the Japanese fans and racing at Suzuka again in 2023. »
Mike Di Meglio : " The 2023 season got off to a very good start by winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The team has worked very hard to be more competitive this winter. The mechanics also sped up the driver change process. Suzuka is always a special place, so it's a dream to be on the podium. It's a special race for the team and for Honda, so I will do my best to go as fast as possible. » »
Alain Techer : " I am very happy to be able to participate in the Suzuka 8 Hours again this year, and especially to be able to compete with the FCC TSR Honda France team. The team works very well and my teammates are very fast. After this legendary race, we will do our best to stay at the top of the championship. »
