Australian GP

Alonso’s Lightning Start Highlights Challenging but Insightful Race for Aston Martin

8^th March 2026: Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team, powered by Honda, endured a challenging yet eventful race as Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll fought through the field after starting from the back of the grid. Alonso launched brilliantly from 17th, surging up to 10th in the opening laps with bold overtakes, while Stroll climbed from 22nd to 19th at the start after being granted permission to race by the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile despite missing qualifying. Alonso briefly ran in the points before losing ground under the new active-aero “Straight Mode” and “Overtake Mode” regulations, with both drivers pitting during a Virtual Safety Car on lap 12. After additional checks, Alonso briefly returned to gather data before retiring on lap 34, while Stroll also underwent garage checks later in the race and eventually crossed the line in 17th place, 12 laps down. Although he was not officially classified due to completing less than 90% of the race distance, the demanding event still provided valuable data for the team as they continue developing their package for the season ahead.

Indy Car, Pheonix

Kirkwood Shines for Honda with Phoenix Podium in Thrilling IndyCar Return

8^th March 2026: Kyle Kirkwood led the charge for Honda in the NTT IndyCar Series return to Phoenix Raceway, storming from 11th on the grid to finish second in the Good Ranchers 250 for Andretti Global after leading 47 laps in the closing stages. Kirkwood appeared poised for victory until a late caution allowed Josef Newgarden to pit for fresh tires and make a decisive pass with just a handful of laps remaining to claim the win. Marcus Armstrong delivered another strong result for Meyer Shank Racing in fifth, while Scott Dixon and Graham Rahal secured seventh and ninth respectively, placing four Honda-powered teams inside the top ten. Misfortune struck two other Honda contenders as Álex Palou saw his race end early after contact on lap 22 and Will Power recovered from the back of the grid to lead 10 laps before finishing 16th after late-race contact. The strong Phoenix performance moves Kirkwood to second in the championship standings, just five points behind the leader, as the series heads next to the inaugural Java House Grand Prix in Arlington, Texas on March 15.

X -Trial, france

Toni Bou Clinches 20th X-Trial Title in Dominant Night for Repsol Honda

Sunday 8^th March 2026: Toni Bou secured his 20th title in the FIM X-Trial World Championship and 39th world championship overall with victory in Chalon-Sur-Saône, leading a dominant performance for Repsol Honda HRC. Bou topped the opening lap with just five penalty points, set the fastest Super Pole time, and then edged teammate Gabriel Marcelli in a closely fought final—where Zone 4 was cancelled for safety reasons—to seal the win with two rounds remaining in the 2026 season. The triumph marked Bou’s 98th indoor victory and 116th podium in 128 starts, while Marcelli finished second ahead of Jaime Busto, strengthening his hold on second place in the standings before both Repsol Honda riders represent Spain at the upcoming Trial des Nations.

MXGP Argentina

Herlings Wins on Honda Debut and Takes Championship Lead

Sunday 8^th March 2026: Jeffrey Herlings made a perfect debut for Honda HRC PETRONAS by claiming his 113th Grand Prix victory with a dominant 1-1 performance aboard the Honda CRF450RW, earning the red plate in the MXGP World Championship. Despite crashing in the qualification race, Herlings bounced back on Sunday with maximum points, first battling past teammate Tom Vialle late in race one after briefly suffering arm pump, then charging from around 10th place in race two before making another decisive late pass for victory to secure the overall win and joint lead in the championship. Vialle also impressed with strong starts and a 2-4 result that confirmed him as a title contender, while Rubén Fernández recovered from a difficult first race to finish fifth in race two and sixth overall, and Valerio Lata escaped serious injury after a crash in the second moto. The team now heads to the next round in Almonte, Spain on March 21–22 with strong momentum after leading every MXGP session in Argentina.

For more information and questions, please reach out to the below:

• Mr. Raj Johal, General Manager, Training, PR and Comms: [email protected]
• Ms. Suchita Tuli, Senior Executive, PR and Comms: [email protected]