Honda Car Forum

Erik Berkman had a steep learning curve when he took the
reins this year at Honda Performance Development.
Berkman replaced longtime HPD president Robert Clarke
in January, 2008.

Berkman came to HPD after a stellar engineering
career at Honda of America Manufacturing and
Honda R&D. But many people aren't aware that
Berkman has worked with racing previously.

In fact, he actually had the opportunity to drive
the Williams Honda Formula One car back in 1985
at the Marysville, Ohio HAM plant.

"We wanted to bring a Honda
Formula One car to the plant, as
well as Nelson Piquet, the Williams
driver," said Berkman, a Purdue
University graduate. "So, I
flew to Montreal and waited
in the team's hotel lobby
until I was able to meet
Frank Williams and some of
the team members. Next thing
I knew, I had a FOCA [Formula
One pit] pass and I was in the
garage area at the Canadian
Grand Prix. We were able to bring
the car, driver and some of the team to the Honda plants.
And I even got the chance to drive the race car. That was
a thrill."

Now, over two decades later, Berkman is charge of the
Honda IndyCar Series program, as well as the Acura
American Le Mans Series effort.

"I didn't just walk into this new position," explains
Berkman. "I was put into it at a full sprint. I am learning
something new every day. I hope I can apply some of my
background with product planning and development to
the HPD organization. I hope we can marry some of the
current programs with some new projects.

"Maybe we can enter some uncharted water with new
projects like we did with the Acura ALMS program," he said.
"The Acura program is been a big boost for the company.
We have expanded HPD in several areas, and outsourced
the things we are not familiar with at this point. But we plan
to learn more about the things we outsource and develop
those things within HPD. And we might like to do the same
things with other racing applications down the road. Our
company name is 'Honda Performance Development.'
Our business is racing and that is what we do. But,
maybe we move into the performance side in the
future."

Needless to say, Berkman's plate is pretty full at
this point as he oversees Honda's IndyCar Series
involvement, as well as working with four Acura
ALMS organizations and keeping an eye
on other racing activities.

"It is very interesting to work in
meetings with other companies
and sanctioning bodies,"
said Berkman. "There is so
much planning that goes
on behind the scenes, and
it is a unique experience to
discuss racing applications
with other groups."

Berkman likes the current
formula in the American Le Mans
Series, which features leading-edge
automotive technology.

"We enjoy working with technology, and the ALMS gives
us the opportunity to create more and more technicallyadvanced
parts for our racing cars," Berkman said.
"The Acura brand is an upscale brand, and we want to
show that the Acura prototype sports car have the most
sophisticated technology in North American racing. I think
we are showing that right now."

Berkman believes that the Acura teams will add to the
successes they have enjoyed already in 2008.

"We wanted to be right in the thick of the point championship
and we wanted to win races and poles," he said. "We have
one team that is second in points and we have three race
victories and three poles. I think we'll have a good shot at
winning some more events, too. That is our goal this year.
Then we'll establish more goals for the 2009 season."