What we know!

This past weekend, on March 7-8, the TrailSport made its debut in what is an iconic off-road race, taking on a tough 400-mile off-road challenge through desert conditions near the Nevada-California border. Competing in both the Stock Production Truck and the Unlimited Truck 2WD classes, Honda is making history.

With its new body, inspiration for which was taken by the all-new Honda Passport and made clear in the front fascia, hood, roof and side profile, the Honda Baja Passport Race Truck took part in the Unlimited Truck 2WD class. It boasted its 550 horsepower, made possible through the HRC’s HR35TT 3.5-liter twin turbo engine, which uses the same block and cylinder heads as the production Honda 3.5-liter i-VTEC V6. It also featured additional custom elements within the powertrain such as an HRC-designed intake plenum and custom Engine Control Unit programming. It also made its way on the course with 24-inches of suspension travel in the front, 30-inches in the rear and 40-inch tall tires.

It competed in the top unlimited class, driven by professional HRC driver Ethan Ebert, who also raced the Honda Ridgeline Race Truck in the 2024 off-road season.

For the Stock Production Truck Class, the Passport TrailSport’s new rugged design was both suitable and capable for the entry, one in which minimal modifications are permitted. For example, the chosen modifications for the stock production entry are 33-inch General Grabber X3 Tires, 3-Way adjustable rollovers and improved powertrain cooling and air filtration. The truck will be driven by Ohio-based Honda engineers Andrew Shapiro, Jordan Guitar, Craig Ackerman and Thomas Accardo. They race with the Honda of America Racing Team or HART, a volunteer program run entirely by Honda’s associates nationwide.

In combating the harsh terrain of the desert, HART members designed high strength skid plates, rock sliders and other underbody protection parts, all of which were manufactured in collaboration with the Honda Auto Development Center fabrication department in Ohio. In the

area of safety, this truck also delivered, complete with roll cage, fuel cell and racing seats. Remaining unmodified for the competition was the Passport’s production 3.5-liter V-6 engine, 10-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters and Intelligent Variable Torque Management all-wheel-drive system.

Overall, the Passport TrailSport is the most off-road capable Honda SUV ever, complete with standard and rugged features. Those include a wide array, such as off-road tuned suspension, expanded all-wheel-drive system capabilities, robust steel skid plates, bright orange heavy-duty recovery hooks and specially engineered all-terrain tires.

Sporty and engaging both on and off-road, the Passport’s platform was engineered from its start with the pure intention of giving the TrailSport keen off-road abilities. That is due in large part to a 72 percent increase in front lateral rigidity and a 50 percent increase in rear torsion rigidity.

The race/racers itself!

A Honda Off-Road racing program has roots that date back to 2015, and it has secured 17 class victories in 40 races including a class win in the 2019 and 2023 Mint 400 as well as multiple victories in the Baja 500 and Baja 1000. Honda’s Off-Road Racing team and Baja Passport Race Truck will also compete in the Baja 500 and the Baja 1000 later this year.

First run back in 1968, the Mint 400 holds the title of the oldest off-road race in the country as well as the toughest course in the sport. In the 2025 edition of the event, drivers take part in four laps of an approximately 100-mile loop of desert terrain located south of Las Vegas near the Nevada-California border.

With a rich heritage of creating, manufacturing and supporting Honda Racing and Acura Motorsports customers since its founding in 1993 as Honda Performance Development (HPD), Honda Racing Corporation USA represents the pinnacle in motorsports capabilities. It specializes in the design and development of powertrain, chassis, electronics and performance parts, as well as technical and race support.

As if that wasn’t enough, in January of 2024, HPD became HRC US, combining with HRC Japan so as to strengthen the company’s overall motorsports capabilities.

With origins that go back over 30 years, the Honda America Racing Team (HART) is a feather in the cap of the automaker’s associate-driven activities, with the team competing in a wide variety of motorsport competitions. Those include everything from road racing and club-level events to rally, off-road racing, karting and more.

Honda has been making cars in America for over 40 years and its racing team is yet another extension of its greatness. Using its most off-road capable SUV ever is fitting – with the Mint 400 the perfect fit. See what’s in store when this TrailSport gets in mint condition!