The all-new 2026 Honda Passport TrailSport will make its competitive debut at the Mint 400 this weekend, marking the first time Honda’s most off-road-capable SUV has entered the storied race. The event, considered the oldest and most prestigious off-road race in the U.S., will take place March 7-8, featuring the Passport TrailSport in the Stock Production Truck class and a Honda Baja Passport Race Truck in the top-tier Unlimited Truck 2WD class.

Honda Baja Passport Race Truck

The Honda Baja Passport Race Truck draws design inspiration from the 2026 Passport but is heavily modified for off-road competition. It is powered by a Honda Racing Corporation (HRC) twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6, producing approximately 550 horsepower. The race truck features an HRC-developed intake plenum, custom engine programming, 24 inches of front suspension travel, 30 inches in the rear, and 40-inch tires.

Professional off-road racer Ethan Ebert will pilot the Baja Passport in the Unlimited Truck 2WD class. Ebert previously competed in the 2024 off-road season with Honda’s Ridgeline Race Truck. Honda’s off-road racing program, active since 2015, has earned 17 class victories in 40 races, including wins at the Mint 400, Baja 500, and Baja 1000. The Baja Passport Race Truck is slated to compete in the Baja 500 and Baja 1000 later this year.

Stock Production Truck Entry

In addition to its heavily modified race truck, Honda will enter a near-stock Passport TrailSport in the Stock Production Truck class. Modifications to the production vehicle include 33-inch General Grabber X3 tires, three-way adjustable coilovers, and enhanced cooling and filtration systems. The drivetrain remains unchanged, featuring a 3.5-liter V6, a 10-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters, and Honda’s i-VTM4 all-wheel-drive system.

The production-based Passport entry is being prepared and raced by engineers from the Honda of America Racing Team (HART), a volunteer group of Honda associates. The vehicle has been equipped with safety upgrades such as a roll cage, racing seats, and a fuel cell, while additional underbody protection—including skid plates and rock sliders—was designed by HART members in collaboration with Honda’s Auto Development Center in Ohio.

Mint 400 Challenges and Development Insights

Held since 1968, the Mint 400 consists of four laps on a roughly 100-mile loop of desert terrain near the Nevada-California border. The event’s punishing conditions will provide HRC engineers with data to evaluate the Passport’s suspension performance and aid the development of HRC Performance Parts, a new business venture announced at SEMA 2024.

2026 Honda Passport TrailSport Enhancements

Honda describes the 2026 Passport TrailSport as its most off-road-capable SUV to date. The vehicle features an off-road-tuned suspension, all-terrain tires, skid plates, and front and rear recovery points. Structural improvements include a 72% increase in front lateral rigidity and a 50% increase in rear torsional rigidity compared to the previous model.

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