75 Years of Honda Racing Continued

As the 1980’s to early 1990’s were truly Honda’s glory Days…

 

Soichiro Honda wished for Honda to return to Formula 1, this time as an engine supplier only. Wanting to keep a low profile, Honda selected the Minnowesqe Spirit Racing team, founded by ex-McLaren Designer Gordon Coppuck and John Wickham. With the Slough, Berkshire UK team running a Honda powered entry in the European Formula 2 Championship in 1982 with Stefan Johansson and Thierry Boutsen as drivers.

 

The Spirit 201 F2 chassis was quick, claiming eight Pole positions, with Boutsen scoring three wins and finishing runner-up to Corrado Fabi in the Championship.

 

Honda sent prototype 1.5-litre V-6 twin turbo engines to Spirit for winter testing in ’82. With Spirit modifying it’s 201 F2 chassis for Formula 1, and continued extensive private testing, including running at Willow springs Raceway.

 

Having contested the Non Championship F1 Brands Hatch event, ‘lil Stevie Johnson’ (Johansson) made Spirit Racing’s F1 debut at the 1983 British Grand Prix.

 

The car proved fast but unreliable with engine issues. And even though Johansson finished a best of  seventh at the Dutch Grand Prix. Honda was displeased with the team’s perceived lack of progress. And with Williams courting Honda, the Japanese manufacturer moved it’s supply of engines to Sir Frank’s Team Willy’, and the rest was History.

 

The Williams/Honda package soon became a force to reckon with, despite infighting by the team’s two drivers, Nigel Mansell and Nelson Piquet. With Piquet securing Honda’s first F1 World Championship in 1987.

 

Honda also supplied its engines to rival’s McLaren, joining Williams and Lotus for 1988. As we All know about the rivalry between Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost! With Senna and Prost winning the next four consecutive F1 Drivers and Constructors Championships. With Honda winning six Constructors and five Drivers titles between 1986-91.

 

Honda then withdrew from Formula 1 at the end of the ’92 season, before returning again in 2000 as engine supplier to British American Racing, known as BAR-Honda.

 

The team reached its zenith in 2004, finishing runner-up to Ferrari in that year’s Constructors Championship, including Takuma Sato’s lone F1 podium finish of third at the USGP at Indianapolis.

 

Yet the team was also surrounded in controversy the following year, being disqualified from the San Marino Grand Prix for its cars being under weight and using Fuel as an illegal ballast. Being further banned from the following two Grands Prix.

 

Initially Honda bought a 45% stake in BAR, owned by British American Tobacco in 2004. And then the following year purchased the remaining 55%, once again becoming a F1 Constructor as Honda Racing F1 in ’06.

 

As Jenson Button would score His maiden F1 victory at Hungary, Honda’s third and final Grands Prix W’ as a Constructor, before the team slowly declined, and once again withdrew from Formula 1 at the end of the ’08 F1 season. With the team ultimately being bought out by Ross Brawn and becoming Brawn GP, whom dually won the 2009 F1 Drivers and Constructors Championships!

 

Honda returned to formula 1 in 2015 as a Power Unit (PU) supplier to McLaren, one year after the new PU era began. With both parties hoping to resurrect their former F1 glories…

 

Yet the McLaren Honda relationship suffered under the strain of Honda’s underperforming PU. For which I think everyone knows about that Smarmy Spaniard Frederico Suave’, aka Fernando Alonso publicly Humiliating Honda by calling their Power Unit a GP2 engine! No less than during the 2015 Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka, owned by Honda! Upon Alonso being overtaken easily by a Toro rosso.

 

As the relationship finally fractured, with McLaren jettisoning their Werks’ Honda PU supply at the end of 2017 in favour of customer Renault PU’s for 2018.

 

And although Sauber initially thought they’d secured Honda PU’s for 2018. Ultimately Red Bull’s ‘lil Seester’ Toro Rosso won the supply of Honda Power Units instead. With the Fienza squad ultimately serving as a test bed for HondaPU development, with Red Bull becoming Honda powered the following year.

 

Armed with arguably the second best PU on the F1 Grid, and now most reliable in terms of mechanical failures. Red bull’s Max Verstappen scored Honda’s first Grand Prix victory at the Austrian Grand Prix. Becoming the first of many Honda victories.

 

For 2021, Honda announced it would leave Formula 1 once again at season’s end. For which Honda went out on top thanks to Verstappen’s controversial win at the season finale in Abu Dhabi. Where Maximilian won the F1 Drivers Championship.

 

Yet with Red Bull faced with the prospect of no PU supply and threatening to leave Formula 1. The FIA allowed for an engine development Freeze between 2022-25 with Honda supplying it’s PU’s to be produced by Red Bull newly created Power Train unit instead, (RBPT) for which the 2022 PU were “badges” as. Before now being known as a Honda RBPT.

 

But Honda’s Formula 1 saga doesn’t end there. As they’ve since done another U-Turn and oddly, will provide Factory PU’s to Aston Martin for the new 2026 E-E-E-lectrified’ F1 Power Unit formulae…

 

Interestingly, Honda is denoted as the All-time fifth most successful Formula 1 engine with a total of 89 victories. Which doesn’t include any of Red Bull’s 2022-23 subsequent wins. Claiming a whopping 17 W’s in 2022 and preposterous 21 wins this year!

 

Honda IndyCar Beginnings

In a forever languishing story I’ve intended to scribble her upon No fenders. Engine Developments Limited, a racing engine manufacturer founded by John Judd and Jack Brabham, were commissioned by Honda to build its first IndyCar engine.

 

Following the demise of the European formula 2 Championship in 1984, Engine Developments Limited better known simply as Judd, created the Judd AV engine. A 2.65-litre turbocharged V-8 lump’ producing some 740-850bhp.

 

The Judd AV was produced between 1984-90, with presumably updates being made at least thru 1992? But I’m getting ahead of myself…

 

Naturally the Brabham-Honda engine would make it’s IndyCar debut with Galles Racing driver Geoff Brabham, son of Sir Black Jack during the 1986 season. Apparently making it’s CART/IndyCar debut none other than at Portland International Raceway.

 

As Geoff Brabham would score a best finish of fourth with the Brabham-Honda engine, also known as Honda/Judd at Michigan International Speedway.

 

Galles Racing continued running the Honda/Judd V-8 in 1987, where the Honda/Judd lump’ made its debut in that year’s Indianapolis 500.

 

Brabham would claim three podiums with the Japanese funded engine. Claiming second at Pocono and Road America, along with third in Miami.

 

For 1988Truesports with driver Bobby Rahal became the engines primary customer. Yet the Honda name was dropped in favour of just Judd. For which astute IndyCar Aficionados know that Rahal would give the Judd V-8 it’s lone IndyCar victory at the Pocono 500 that year. As the Honda/Judd engine had become known for its fuel efficiency, but lacked the outright “grunt”, i.e.; superior Horsepower of the dominant Ilmor/Chevrolet.

 

As the Judd V-8 IndyCar engine would continue to compete thru early 1993, but was never a factor for     wins or IndyCar Championships

For the Conclusion of this story, please visit the following No Fenders link below.

 

Honda Racing’s 75yrs Trilogy Conclusion…

Honda turns 75 years Old

As I miss those Quirky Mayor ‘O Hinchtown’s (James Hinchcliffe) Honda IndyCar Commercials…

 

Yeah, I chose today’s date on purpose for obvious reasons. Andnah, No Day ‘O Infamy jokes here. Especially since we’re still reigning Bombs down upon other nations…

 

Having read recently the Smithsonian’s article upon Operation Linebacker II. Y’all know when somebody named Richard Milhous Nixon decided to Carpet Bomb Vietnam into submission during Christmas, with eleven straight days of bombing between December 18-29, 1972. Focusing upon Hanoi, with some 20,000 Tons of munitions dropped Killing 1,624 Civilians, sound familiar?

 

Like one of it other storied Automobile rivals named Porsche, the Honda Motor Company that was incorporated on September 24, 1948 has just celebrated it’s 75th anniversary of officially being in business…

 

Yet like Porsche, the company’s roots naturally began far before it’s official incorporation date.

 

As I’ll confess, I’ve really never known much about Honda’s founder Soichiro Honda, who was born on November 17, 1906, and His father was a Blacksmith who ran a Bicycle repair shop. While reportedly, Soichiro’s witnessing of American Aviator Art Smith flying an airplane early in life cemented His fascination with machinery.

 

Soichiro left home at age 15 and went to Tokyo where He found work as an Automobile Mechanic Apprentice, staying for six years before returning home to establish His own Automobile Garage at age 22.

 

Ironically, Soichiro established a company making piston rings for Automobile manufacturer Toyota in the late 1930’s. Although initially losing the contract with Toyota due to poor manufacturing  quality.

 

By 1941, Honda was producing piston rings for Toyota that met their rigorous quality demands, utilizing automated manufacturing processes. Then in 1944, an American B-29 Bomber destroyed Honda’s factory, which subsequently collapsed in a January 1945 Earthquake. With Soichiro selling the remaining assets to Toyota and creating the Honda Technical Research Institute in 1946.

 

Then Honda Motor company LTD was incorporated in September, 1948, producing motorized Bicycles using surplus 50cc radio generator motors. Before producing the A-Type with it’s own copy of the motors for it’s motorized Bicycle known as the “Bata Bata’s” for the sound the engines made

 

Honda built it’s first full frame and engine motorcycle, the B-type in 1949 and a decade later entered motorcycle racing at the legendous’ Isle of Man’s TT. (Tourist Trophy) As Soichiro wished to compete in the TT since it was the most gruelling motorcycle race the, and naturally would garner attention for Honda worldwide.

 

Honda scored their first World Championship motorcycle victories in the 125cc and 250cc categories in 1961. Along with Mike “the bike” Hailwood winning the 1961 Isle of Man TT 125cc category, before Honda withdrew from motorcycle racing at the end of the 1967 season.

 

Yet Soichiro pushed for Honda to return to Motorcycle racing, and in 1979, Honda made it’s debut in the GP500 Championship with it’s revolutionary NR500. With Freddie Spencer winning Honda’s first GP500 title in 1983 riding the more conventional NS500. Not to mention also winning that year’s 250cc Championship, the only rider to do so in modern history!

 

Honda would go onto dominate GP500 and MotoGP racing the next few decades with the likes of Spencer, Wayne Gardner, “Steady Eddie” (Eddie Lawson) and Mick Doohan who scored five consecutive titles aboard the All conquering NSR500! And then there was “the doctor”, aka Valentino Rossi, the “Kentucky Kid”, nee Nicky Hayden, Casey Stoner and lastly, thee Pinball Wizard’, aka Marc Marquez…

 

Meanwhile, it’s funny learning now nearly a half century later, that my introduction to Honda automobiles was in a first generation Civic, which I’ve always remembered as just being a CVCC. Sitting in the back seat of the two door Hatchback as a teenager, I can still recall how small that car was!

 

Yet when I think of Honda, naturally I immediately think of their success as an engine supplier in Formula 1 during 1983-92, when withdrawing from Formula 1 for the second time.

 

Although I do know that Honda first raced in F1 in the 1964 season as a F1 Constructor with it’s revolutionary RA271 chassis. Being the only manufacturer to compete with a 1.5-litre normally aspirated V-12 engine.

 

unheralded American Richie Ginther won Honda’s maiden Formula 1 race at the season ending 1965 Mexican Grand Prix aboard it’s RA272 racecar. Also being the end of the 1.5-litre formula.

 

For 1966, the FIA introduced the 3.0-litre engine formula, with Honda continuing with an enlarged V-12 lump’ mated to it’s RA273 chassis. Then in 1967 upon it’s debut, John Surtees won the Italian Grand Prix aboard the RA300, leading just the race’s final lap!

 

Yet Surtees refused to drive it’s successor, the RA302, proclaiming it a Death Trap! To which Honda ignored and hired Frenchman Jo Schlesser to race it in the 1968 French Grand Prix. Where Schlesser slid wide hitting a bank on the Rouen circuit and perishing when becoming engulfed in a Fireball when the magnesium chassis caught fire!

 

Schlesser’s death, along with Surtees further refusing to drive the RA302 led to Honda’s withdrawal from Formula 1 at the end of the 1968 season. Whilst ironically, Schlesser’s nephew Jean-Louis would make His own bit of unwanted History twenty years later, during the 1988 F1 season, Honda and McLaren’s Dream season. When race leader Ayrton Senna tripped over the hapless back-marker at the Italian Grand Prix!

 

As Jean-Louis Schlesser was deputizing for Il Lione’, aka Nigel Mansell at Williams, and thought Senna would quickly lap Him again, before jinking into Senna’s path! Leaving the Tifosi in ecstasy over a Ferrari 1-2 at Monza with Gerhard Berger ahead of Michele Alboreto.

 

As this would be the lone victory not claimed by the All conquering McLaren MP4/4 Honda in 1988. With Senna and teammate Alain Prost winning 15 of 16 Grands Prix that season. A record that stood for 35 years before being broken by Red Bull this year. With Red Bull’s RB19 Honda RBPT crushing the competition by winning a staggering 21 of 22 races! With thee Dutch Tsunami’, aka Maximilian Verstappen an astounding 19 races. A single season record that surely will be nye impossible to beat!

To continue reading, please visit the following No Fenders link below.

 

75 Years of Honda Racing Continues 

Japan says Sayonara to Motorsports

As Y’all know, most likely from your Primary Schooling, today is “A Day of Infamy.” As countless reports tell us how the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbour at 7:55AM Sunday morning, some 68 years ago…

Recently I received some flak for calling BMW AG’s decision to hastily withdraw from Formula 1 a Knee-jerk reaction, in lieu of our current economic climate… To which was some light weight 40mm AA Flak and I managed to avoid the ensuing shrapnel, but I digress…

As we’ve already learned, we’ve now had a total of three Auto manufacturers pull out of Formula 1 in the past twelve months, while Renault’s future is somewhat cloudy.

And as we all know, it was Honda who set the dominoes falling, as they simply couldn’t stomach being such a back marker anymore, while BMW suddenly decided to Quit after having one bad season, before Toyota decided it was also time to “Punt” as the red ink steadily flowed from Toyota’s books…

Having indeed decided to withdraw from Formula 1, they’ve (Toyota) just laid off a massive 500 employees from the Team’s Cologne HQ, leaving a staff of 150 for other various projects; perhaps an Hybrid “Sin-ergy” attack upon Du Circuit de la Sarthe?

Not to mention Japanese Rubber Giant Bridgestone withdrawing from Formula 1 at the end of the 2010 season, while Japanese Auto manufactures Mitsubishi, Subaru and Suzuki all walked away from the World of Rallying at the beginning of this year.

Yet my claim to BMW’s Knee-jerk reaction was made over the fact that BMW AG’s Board of Directors saw the perfect opportunity to cut costs on a suddenly losing proposition, since they’re still heavily advertising on Television, sponsoring Non-racing Sporting events and planning to compete in GT & WTCC Championships next year, along with the continuation of their Formula BMW Series…

While all of the above Japanese manufacturers with the exception of Mitsubishi also decided to “Save Face” by cancelling their poorly performing Motorsports activities under the guise of financial difficulties…

As let’s examine the following: Honda didn’t have a sponsor for two dreadful seasons under their “Planet earth” scheme, as they had a grand total of one victory during their third “Official” foray into Formula One. (BAR-Honda 2000-05; Honda F1 2006-08) Even being outperformed by the supposed “B” Team of “Super Best Friends,” (Super Aguri) not to mention their two race Ban for running illegal fuel tanks at the San Marino GP in 2005.

Meanwhile Toyota, who’s NEVER won a Grand Prix during its eight seasons in F1, was reputedly spending $500+ million per season, and having suffered the first ever Operating loss in the Companies 71yr history, upon reporting a $2.5 Billion loss in the winter of 2008, followed up by more losses, it decided the potential $150 million fine from failing to show-up for the 2010 Formula One season was far less expensive; (even including the 500 employees severance packages…) i.e.; ten times less then the projected budget to fulfill its Concorde obligations thru 2012. Yet notice how they’re still in RASSCAR, eh? ) Where they continue winning… As recall how Toyota bolted from the Indy Racing League after getting their ARSES kicked by rival Japanese auto manufacturer Honda)

And both Subaru and (especially) Suzuki have been getting their ARSES kicked in the World Rally Championship (WRC) by Sebastian Loeb in his Citroen for the past six seasons, while I’m guessing “Mr. Bitchy” (Mitsubishi) simply decided it was better to walk away from the DAKAR after multiple wins and facing increased pressure from Volkswagen, a la Audi who quit racing in the American Le Mans Series as there simply wasn’t any competition for them to compete against.

So, while yes, the Economy is at its WORST since the Great Depression, possibly worse since it’s a Global dilemma, I still suggest that these manufacturers simply walked away from the table in order to Save Face while trying to improve their bottom line, as after all, one of the first things cut during a Recession is Entertainment, which ultimately Motorsports is…

Another Racing Team Bites the Dust

Brawn GP Formula 1 team announced

Within one minute of Big Ben striking midnight, the Honda Motor Company made official one of the worst kept secrets by announcing that all shares of Honda HRF1, the British holding company for the firm’s Formula One effort have been sold to Ross Brawn.

Thus look for Brawn GP to indeed take the green flag at Melbourne this March 29th with current ex-Honda F1 drivers Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello, whom enter their fourth season as teammates, with an astounding 423 starts between them.

The team will indeed utilize customer Mercedes Benz lumps, with “Jense” set to take some exploratory laps behind the wheel of the BGP001 at Silverstone shortly before the team will participate in the final test session next week at Barcelona...

The team seemingly is good to go on its nomenclature, as the team’s website will be Brawngp.com, with NO words of Bernice having any hissy-fits over this... While speculation suggests that former Force India Chief Technical Officer Mike Gascoyne, currently on forced Gardening leave, could potentially take on the role of Technical Director at the newly constituted Brawn GP...

Will Honda F1 become Brawn Racing?

With less than four weeks remaining until this season’s opening round of the F1 Championship in Australia, rumours abound that the management buyout of Honda F1 Racing has gone ahead after rejection of both Richard Branson’s possible bid and Bernie Ecclestone’s offering of $143 million failing, as it now appears that Ross Brawn will lead the team into battle this season under the name of Brawn Racing... As reportedly web domains have been purchased (for humour try searching for brawnracing.com) and Caroline McGrory has been appointed as Secretary, who will be responsible for all legal proceedings of the company, as McGrory is a lawyer and has previously worked for both BAR Honda and Honda F1 Racing.

Interestingly during the USF1 “LUV-Fest” on SPEED, Peter Winsor commented in the extra innings of Wind Tunnel that it would cost Honda $130 million to close the Team, so as the pundits are predicting, look for Honda to remain a silent partner in hopes of repurchasing the team in the future, as it made little sense to pull the plug upon its massive investment...

And like USF1, the Brackley based outfit will run with customer engines, as reportedly Vijay Malia has given his blessing for the Mercedes Benz supply to ross Brawn to go ahead, which seems a tad funny if the Honda links do in fact remain, while USF1 has yet to announce any deals with any FIA approved engine suppliers...

Virgin to the rescue?

As the clock continues ticking down on the impending 2009 Formula 1 season opener in Melbourne, there’s been a flurry of rumours flying about le internets over the current state of the Honda F1 team.

Speculation has suggested just about everything (minus the kitchen sink) including Carlos Slim buying the team, Brazilian Oil money, Bruno Senna being signed, etc. As the perceived notion was that having missed Honda’s Jan. 31st deadline for deals; Nick Frye and Ross Brawn were leading a management buyout of the team from parent company Honda...

Yet, apparently at the eleventh hour, a new bidder has entered the fray, which will potentially see Richard Branson and his Virgin Group outbidding Frye & Brawn’s deal, as even Emperor Bernardo has publicly welcomed Branson’s addition to the F1 circus, claiming he’ll do whatever possible to get hold of Virgin’s money!

And although some pundits are pondering the advantages of Virgin joining the Formula 1 paddock, consider that departing F1 sponsor ING has reported a global marketing presence up tick of 16% during its tenure in the sport, while Branson may be keen to use the sport to his advantage to market his Virgin Fuels, a company targeting commercial aircraft biofuel production, or simply draw brand attention overall and ultimately make a profit upon a future sale-off of the team? (Not to mention perhaps potential write-off?)

The interesting part of this deal if true, is whom will lead the Technical aspect of the operation, as scuttlebutt has linked David Richards in the deal, while reputedly Branson’s next door neighbor and friend is some bloke named Adrian Reynard... Thus would this make Ross Brawn the odd man out? Or just send Nick Frye packing...

Honda quits F1

As noted last week, the Honda Motor Company dropped another bombshell on the F1 community by announcing that it will close down the Brackley based operation if a new suitor isn’t found within the next three months.

James Allen:
“This is a major moment for the sport and I imagine Bernie Ecclestone and Max Mosley will be ringing around frantically this evening (last Thursday) ensuring that the remaining teams are solid.
Toyota are the ones most are nervous about. They may use the withdrawal of their major rival as an excuse to get out, should they feel the conditions demand it.”
(Source: ITV-F1.com)

James Allen: on Honda’s F1 future

Thus, Rubens Barrichello’s revelations that former employer Ferrari did indeed instruct him to render the lead to Michael Schumacher in the 2002 Austrian Grand Prix, which led to the ridiculous “NO Team Orders in F1” rule revision, seems a bit tepid at the moment. But then again, look on the bright side Rubino, at least you didn’t just sign a contract extension with the Honda F1 team like poor “Jense” just did...

Then again, this probably won’t help his marginal chances of remaining with whoever the new concern is, if they’re “Powered by Ferrari,” eh?

Barrichello spills the beans on ’02 Austria GP

Honda leaving F1

WOW! Holy shrinking yen, Batman!

Honda has just dropped another bombshell on the F1 community by announcing that it will close down its Brackley based operation if a new suitor isn’t found within the next three months.

AYE KARUMBA!

Reports of this shocking announcement were spotted all over the internets late Thursday afternoon, while awaiting Honda’s confirmation in Tokyo this Friday morning, as this is apparently another net result of the widening global economic crisis.

Recently, It had been reported in the UK’s Financial Times that Honda Racing F1 spent an astonishing $148 million during the 2007 F1 season, (with only $7m coming from sponsorship) an increase in budget of 22% and with the news of its 32% drop of automobile sales, and no other major entities to shed, along with the squad’s dismal performance the past two seasons, it only makes sense to pull the plug upon this money loosing proposition.

Thus, Honda will once again leave the Formula 1 arena, divesting itself of the ex BAR-Honda entity it took control of in 2005, and will not provide engines to whomever the teams new suitor may be, having to rely upon Ferrari lumps instead. Yet, could backing be secured from the relatively oil rich Middle East, which now has two Grand Prix’s on the calendar...

It’s Official! Honda to quit F1

Now it’s a Record!

Although Rubens Barrichello and Honda F1 Racing have already celebrated the Brazilian’s accomplishment of completing 257 starts at the Spanish Grand Prix, many of us including myself have stuck to the figures provided by F1 Racing and other such sources which have slightly disagreed with the numbers the ageless Rubino used to reach his milestone, while I suppose we could argue over the statistical anomalies for countless hours, eh?

Like all major Formula 1 drivers, both previous record holder Ricardo Patrese and Barrichello both began their motor racing careers by racing go karts and then moving up the junior ranks prior to beginning their illustrious careers in Formula 1.

Patrese made his F1 debut in 1977 for the Shadow team before moving to Arrows the following season, when several Shadow team members left to start-up the Arrows outfit. Due to his overly aggressive driving style, Ricardo was accused of triggering an accident which led to the death of Ronnie Peterson and was subsequently banned by his fellow drivers when the GPDA successfully had Patrese refused entry to the following Grand Prix, (Watkins Glen; USGP East) leaving great bitterness between his fellow competitors, most notably World Champion James Hunt.

Patrese then moved onto Messer Ecclestone’s Brabham team to partner triple World Champion Nelson Piquet from 1982-83, before switching to Alfa Romeo from 1984-85, prior to returning to Brabham for a further two seasons. (1986-87) In 1988, the Italian made the switch to Sir Frank Williams racing team and would stay thru as teammate to Nigel Mansell’s clinching of his lone driver’s title in 1992 prior to spending his last season in Formula One alongside some young German up and comer named Michael Schumacher…

SPEED’s Professor Matchett has waxed on eloquently about being the man to have strapped in Ricardo for those final 16 starts which propelled the Italian to the staggering total of 256 Grand Prix starts, as Patrese holds two lesser known records of scoring points the longest number of years along with longest separation between Grand Prix victories; Monaco, 1982 and Suzuka, 1992, as the likeable Italian scored a total of six wins and eight poles between 1977-93.

Ironically the torch for F1 “Supermen” would be passed from elder statesmen Patrese to a young fresh faced Brazilian in 1993, as Barrichello would begin his rookie Formula 1 season for the Jordan Grand Prix concern that very season, showing up his more experienced teammates Ivan Capelli and Thierry Boutsen by claiming his first career pole at Spa Francorchamps that year before scoring his maiden GP points at Suzuka, finishing fifth, one place ahead of his new teammate Eddie “IRV THE SWERVE” Irvine.

Although I only recall being focused upon the ascending super Star Herr Schumacher in ’93, my first recollections of Barrichello’s talent was aboard those distinctly painted Sasol Jordan’s which the plucky Irishman’s team seemed to continuously make deals with the wrong engine suppliers, which ultimately led to Rubens decision to leave the team and sign-up to drive for the upstart Stewart Grand Prix concern in 1997, where BArrichello scored a superb second in the rain soaked Monaco GP in only the team’s fifth race. Barrichello would remain with the Stewarts for three seasons prior to being called up as Schumacher’s vigilant wingman in 2000, and would score his maiden Grand Prix victory in the bizarre German GP, (Nurburgring) where a nutso priest would wander about the racing line in protest before being tackled and removed forcibly from the tarmac!

Fed up with playing the dutiful number two behind German Wunderkind Schuey, Rubino signed up to drive alongside Honda’s Jenson Button for the 2006 season, where he now looks set to finish out his Grand Prix career at, as Barrichello has scored 13 poles and 9 victories, with the latter all coming during his Scuderia Ferrari days...

Honda RA108

Honda officially unveiled its 2008 challenger at the companies Brackley factory on January 29th, although the car first broke cover at Valencia on January 22nd in the hands of Rubens Barrichello before Jenson Button got behind the wheel.

The team’s new test and reserve driver Alex Wurz then got his first taste of the RA108 when he drove it several metres at the official launch party. Like most of its competition, the RA108 is an evolution of its predecessor, yet in Honda’s case hopefully it’s a major evolution after the dismal performance of the RA107.

Honda has reverted back to a variation of its traditional white paint scheme while blending the Earth “Friendly” theme Honda and the rest of the major auto manufacturers are so keen to promote…

Brawn joins Honda

Honda F1 has announced the signing of Ross Brawn as their newly hired Team Principal, responsible for the Day to Day operations of the team, while current Team Boss Nick Fry will stay on as CEO. Fry will now concentrate upon the commercial side of the team, leaving Brawn in charge of turning the team into a championship challenger.

Brawn, who’s spent the past year on “Fishing Sabbatical,” was long rumoured to be seeking a new role at Ferrari where he oversaw Michael Schumacher’s Grand Prix dominance. As Technical Director of both Benetton and Ferrari, Brawn was instrumental in all seven of Schuey’s titles and was part of the “Brain Trust” that followed the German’s move to the Prancing Horse in 1996.

Interestingly Brawn has been out of the spotlight the entire year except for serving as a witness in the “Stepney-Gate” proceedings, as Nigel Stepney had originally hoped to entice Brawn to join him while he was in possession of the 780 pages of documents that ultimately winded up in Mike Coughlin’s hands.

Brawn will begin his tenure at Honda on November 26, planning to work with the current staff on hand and will report directly to Fry.

Nose Jobs

As I’ve mentioned before, “Formula 1 never sleeps.” And with the unusually LONG one month gap between Bahrain and Barcelona, it should come as no surprise that the various Constructors have been busy concocting new bits to debut in Spain.

Interestingly, during last week’s testing at the Circuit de Catalunya in preparations for the forthcoming Spanish Grand Prix. Honda and McLaren showed up with radical nose (“Snauzages”) treatments.

Upon the McLaren teams return from a brief “Holiday” on the isle of Menorca, Ron Dennis sent test driver Pedro de la Rosa to Barcelona to test drive a MP4/22 chassis with a “biplane” front wing. The extra wing element is mounted to the top of each front wing endplate and spans across the nose of the chassis.

These chassis developments are part of what has become critical for the entire F1 grid as a greater demand is put upon aerodynamics. Each Constructor spends countless hours in the wind tunnel searching for the slightest “aero” improvement, which are crucial towards increasing their team’s lap times. Yet then again the aero-gains must be balanced with mechanical grip in order to achieve maximum output on track as evidenced by Honda and Toyota’s mid-pack performance.

And can Honda claw its way out of its grasping at straws design by committee attempts to cure the woefully “SLOW” RA 107 with upgraded “aero-bits.” I suspect NOT. As Steve Matchett has stated before. “Son you’re gonna need more than just some fancy new piece’s of kit.” (Once a bad chassis, almost always a bad chassis)

Yet it will also be interesting to see if the FIA lets the Biplane noses become “de-rigueur” in Formula 1? Of course these new appendages would offer extra billboard space.

Now comes reports that McLaren will take the “"Bi-Nostril"” MP4/22 to the upcoming Spanish GP, while Honda’s “Dumbo Wings” will be scrapped. And while every bit helps, it doesn’t hurt having the reigning World Champion and the hottest Rookie on the grid as your current drivers either…

NOT so green at Honda

I’m sure that everyone by now has heard about Honda’s massive struggles this season to get up to speed with the rest of the F1 frontrunners.

Yet Honda seems to be walloping in the hinterlands towards coming to grip with its Planet Earth RA107 chassis as driver Ruben Barrichello has called it a “Parachute!”

And Jense doesn’t have much good to say about the wayward chassis himself as its given him nothing but grief… Especially during the Friday practice when the “Lump” went “KABLAMOE!”

Apparently Honda’s “Design by Committee” seems to be not working very effectively as its little Sister’s team, “Super Best Friends” continues to outshine the mighty Honda factory team with last year’s RA106.

And it seems a long time ago when Prodrive’s David Richards brought respectability to the BAR squad by clinching second in the Constructor’s championship. Also the firing of Technical Director Geoff Willis seems to have not been such a wise decision…

Honda Turning Green

Interestingly I just had a discussion two weeks ago about the virtues of seeing Formula 1 chassis devoid of the obligatory sponsorship decals and how AWESOME the all black Honda test chassis looked.

But I seriously doubt anybody expected this paint scheme as the new livery for the Honda’s “Planet Earth” RA107. (Actually its done with decals) And I think it’s totally COOL!

Yet while cynics might suggest that Honda has taken this unusual route due to lack of landing any new title sponsors, Adam Cooper’s lengthy commentary: Honda’s World Car gives some pretty good insights on this issue. Meanwhil Honda is already hard at work on producing a revised RA107 in time for the second Grand Prix in Malaysia…

Marco seeing double

Marco Andretti has just made his second trek “Across the Pond” along with his chaperone, none other then Grandpa-pa Mario…

The young IRL phenom has completed testing for Honda Racing in Jerez aboard last year’s Honda RA06. While the team kept a low profile towards the young American’s progress, it was hard to not focus upon Marco’s return… (Especially with grandpa Mario wandering the pits)

While Honda F1 Racing boss Nick Frye stated that there’s no future plans to test Marco any further this year, it’s quite possible that Tony George may hope to trot out the youngster in front of the USGP fans this summer. Honda is also quite keen to use the star power of the Andretti name. Is a Formula 1 drive on the horizon for Marco?

Honda RA107

Honda unveiled its newest creation, the RA107 at Barcelona last week. And to keep the suspense going Honda unveiled the chassis in their winter’s testing scheme of black with a separate February launch to unveil the teams new racing colors…

Rubeins Barrichello gave the RA107 its initial shakedown test while Jenson “Crash” Button was on hand and seems to have healed from his cracked ribs…

To read about Renault's 2007 Launch, see: Renault R27

Honda Blacks Out

In deference to McLaren’s tradition of running it’s interim test cars in founder Bruce McLaren’s “Kiwi Orange.” Honda is sporting a solid black chassis during this years winter testing.
For the upcoming season Formula 1 will be “Tobacco Free,” with no cigarette title sponsorships, nor “fag” logos adorning race cars. The only Constructor not conforming to the Anti-Tobacco universe of Formula 1 will be the Prancing Horse: Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro, which will continue in its traditional red and white paint scheme. The Scuderia may be able to run with BAD HABITS decals in selected markets since it’s an Italian Constructor allowing it to “skirt” British regulations…
BAR-Honda’s majority stake holder, BAT (British American Tobacco) campaigned their cars as Lucky Strike/Honda’s. Lucky Strike and 555 are both BAT brands. Upon Honda’s takeover of BAR last year, BAT’s Lucky Strike title sponsorship deal was curtailed… (Renault will also drop its Mild Seven title sponsorship in 2007)
In order to spruce up its image, Honda has hired Simon Fuller to supervise the teams impending makeover. With four F1 Constructors sporting primarily white paint schemes last year, (BMW-Sauber, Honda, Toyota, Williams) hopefully Honda will sport a new unique colour in 2007…
Meanwhile in a further effort to project its environmentally friendly image, (Is this possible from a major automobile manufacturer?) Honda will sport solar panels on its F1 truck transporters and motor homes next season in concert with Honda’s marketing of it’s new spin-off: Honda Soltec Co. Ltd. (Specializing in thin film solar cell technology) Honda Racing boss Nick Fry says that its probably too early to see solar paneling on its 2007 F1 chassis…

Marco gets Honda Christmas present

Nineteen year old IRL phenom Marco andretti will test a Honda F1 chassis for his very first time at Jerez, Spain later this week. Apparently it doesn’t hurt having your father own Andretti-Green Racing which was the de-facto Honda factory IRL team prior to Honda becoming the league’s sole engine supplier in 2006.

Also helping to open doors is Grandpa Mario. The senior andretti was the Formula 1 World champion in 1978. Marco is under contract to AGR through 2009 and will race next year in the IRL along with focusing on winning the Indy 500 and the IRL championship. Honda sees the testing debut as a great marketing ploy, hopefully stirring up F1 interest in the U.S. as well as evaluating the youngster’s potential for a future F1 drive…

Button Banged-Up

Not surprisingly after suffering hairline cracks to two ribs, Jense “Crash” Button missed Formula 1’s first winter test in Barcelona. Button will now remain “grounded” for the remainder of the year spending the holidays drinking eggnog. Button will forgo this week’s upcoming F1 test at Jerez and most likely cancelling his appearance in the upcoming ROC (Race Of Champions) at the Staid de Paris…

“Jense” Cracks Up

Honda Racing has recently revealed that Jenson Button has sustained two cracked ribs from a go karting accident. The go kart testing was part of Honda’s preparations for winter testing prior to the team’s first test at Barcelona this week. Apparently “Jense” has been taking notes from “Sand Dune” Tracy and will not take part in testing at Barcelona…