Robert Clarke

Robert Clarke was the founder of Honda Racing Corporation USA, which was known at first as Honda Performance Development, and led it from its founding in 1993 until January 2008, when Clarke moved into an executive advisory role at HPD that lasted until retirement. Clarke established the new Honda racing subsidiary in Santa Clarita, California, was badge number one at HPD in 1993 and ultimately served as the third president of the organization, according to a tribute from the current president David Salters. Clarke's work laid the groundwork for Honda's racing cars, including those under the Acura brand in North American sports car racing and the Acura LM V8, which was HPD's first engine and Honda's first racing engine built outside Honda R&D Japan. Clarke died in September 2025 at the age of 75.