David Salters resigns from HRC USA to pursue a tech‑startup venture
David Salters, former president of Honda Racing Corporation USA, departed the organization on September 12 after a decade of leadership, accepting a position with a technology startup outside motorsports.
Kent Fu appointed new president, ensuring continuity
Kelvin Fu is to take over the presidency, having advanced from Vice President to the role last week. Fu will guide HRC USA through the final two rounds of the 2026 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and the forthcoming IndyCar season.
Nick Yelloly voices respect for Salters’ human‑centered leadership
“David is a fellow Brit, so we got on very well from the get‑go,” Yelloly stated. He added, “I contacted him directly when I had made my decision to move away from BMW, and we had straightforward, good chats. Everything he did above and beyond was honest. It was a pleasure driving for him.”
Yelloly continued, “Kelvin is very well known to us; he’s already familiar with the IMSA side and will handle the IndyCar side too. The transition will be seamless, with the same performance, just a new face.” He also noted, “We’ll miss David for the last couple of rounds, but Kelvin is a more than worthy replacement.”
Salters’ decade‑long legacy at HRC USA
Salters joined Honda Performance Development in 2015 as chief engineer, rose to technical director in 2019, and became president in 2020. During his tenure, HRC USA collected three IndyCar manufacturers’ titles, five drivers’ championships, and one sweep of the 2022 IMSA team, driver, and manufacturer titles.
He pioneered electrification, launching the Acura ARX‑06 LMDh in 2023 and the hybrid IndyCar engine in 2024, while launching new business divisions for apparel, performance parts, and vintage race‑car preservation.
Future prospects for HRC USA and its drivers
Nick Yelloly and Renger van der Zande sit third in the overall GTP standings for the #93 Acura Meyer Shank Racing ARX‑06, 185 points behind leader Jack Aitken. Yelloly has secured a seat in Ford Racing’s Hypercar program in the FIA World Endurance Championship for 2027, joining teammate Tom Blomqvist.
Yelloly reflected that Salters bet on young talent, stating, “The rookie engineering crew was brand new, and we rose from our first test in November to challenging on a week‑to‑week basis. Salters’ structure and constant presence made that possible.” He added that Salters called every other day at launch, seeking feedback on structure, and attended every test.
"