• by Phyllis Fine , July 16, 2025

American Honda’s technical expertise could help the USA Bobsled/Skeleton team (USABS)  win big at upcoming international competitions.

The company just became the official premier technology and official automotive partner of the USABS, capitalizing on the advanced technical and engineering experience of Honda R&D at the Honda Auto Development Center in Raymond, Ohio.

The multiyear partnership aims to support the USABS team at the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026, then over the next five years at the World Cup and World Championship competitions, leading up to the Olympic Winter Games French Alps 2030., Honda will rely on the same fundamental approach used in automotive development, carefully matching the equipment to the athletes, according to the automaker.

USABS and Honda engineers will also use the HALO (Honda Automotive Laboratories of Ohio) aeroacoustic wind tunnel in East Liberty, Ohio, to provide essential engineering data, and design input to ensure the elite USABS athletes and equipment are set up for optimal performance.  Additionally, Honda is learning about the speed and extreme forces the athletes endure to help fine-tune their performances.

"In skeleton, an athlete's head, shoulders, arms, and leg positions are all imperative to aero and performance. Time at Honda's HALO wind tunnel will provide valuable feedback to our athletes about their sliding positions to allow them to optimize their results," noted Matt Antoine, head coach of the USA Skeleton Team, in a press release.

“In sports where sleds can reach speeds of over 90 miles per hour and the difference between first and last can be measured in fractions of a second, our Honda engineers are eager to apply their engineering skills and racing background to the USABS programs,"  said Larry Geise, executive vice president of Honda Development & Manufacturing of America, LLC, with responsibility for the North American Auto Development Center.

The partnership also includes Acura support of USA Bobsled and Skeleton (USABS) at World Cup/World Championship events and the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 and French Alps 2030. Acura logos will adorn USABS sleds.