Monday January 24th, 2000

On the occasion of the BAR-Honda launch, Honda released the following statement:

Honda stands on the threshold of its third era of participation in Formula One motor racing. Honda's two previous periods of Formula One competition brought success both as a team in its own right (1964-1968) and as an engine supplier (1983-1992). Honda, however, faces a new challenge in its quest to achieve success with Lucky Strike Reynard BAR Honda.

Honda will not only develop and manufacture its all-new 3-litre V10 RA000E engines for BAR Honda, but will also be concerned with racing car chassis development. The emphasis on chassis and aerodynamic involvement was a key factor in Honda's decision to return to the Grand Prix arena. Honda Motor Company is already recognised as a world leader in terms of engine technology, but the intention is to look beyond this and to consider the comprehensive development of the total car.

"Honda Motor Company manufacturers complete cars," explains F1 Project Leader and Managing Director of Honda R&D, Takefumi Hosaka. "We know that there is a great deal more to recognise than just horsepower output. Racing chassis technologies, the total management system and a thorough knowledge of the whole picture are areas in which Honda is keen to develop and these represent a fresh challenge for our third generation in Formula One.

"When we looked for a partner in Formula One it was important that we could form a relationship which allowed us to accumulate this technology and we felt that British American Racing would provide us with the best opportunity and facilities to do so."

This takes nothing away from the enormous amount of work carried out in the area of engine technology. Indeed, Hosaka, who heads up Honda's entire power division, is determined that the advances in engine technology on the racing machines will complement production car technology at a time when hybrid and advanced diesel power plants are becoming more important.

Under the direction of Honda's experienced and respected racing engineers, the company will thrust its young personnel into the demanding Formula One arena. As in the past, a rapid rotation of young Honda engineers through the new project will bring engineering benefits throughout the company and the lure of Grand Prix racing will attract the most promising prospects to a career with Honda.

"It was always the intention to use the Formula One programme to attract the best engineers," continues Hosaka. "We had a huge amount of interest both within Honda and externally. The unique challenges of Formula One will be extremely important in developing the minds of our young engineers."

The prestige of competing at the pinnacle of world motorsport is enormous. Apart from the obvious marketing and PR advantages, Formula One is also the only truly global motorsport series and provides a fascinating and exciting shop window through which Honda is able to unite the markets of the world.

The third instalment of Honda's Formula One story has just begun. A glorious Grand Prix history is clearly not enough to bring automatic and immediate success this time around, but with its reputation for innovation and a track record of engineering excellence, Honda will once again endeavour to join the Grand Prix elite.