Honda's first Formula 1 era

Today, Honda is justifiably regarded as one of the greats of Formula 1: Honda-powered cars have captured six consecutive world constructors' titles, five world drivers' championships, and 71 Grand Prix victories in all.

The company entered the fray in August 1964 with its own chassis and engine at a time of intense competition between teams such as Ferrari, Lotus, BRM and Cooper. The Honda RA271 featured a jewel-like 60-degree V12 uniquely mounted in a transverse position ahead of the rear wheels.

1965, the final year of the 1.5 litre formula, saw the debut of the RA272 and the first glimmer of success. At the year's third event, the Belgian Grand Prix, Richie Ginther captured sixth place.


Victory in Mexico

Another sixth place came in the Dutch Grand Prix, but it was to be the last race of the year, in Mexico, that would finally bring Honda hard-earned success. Ginther's win signalled the first victory by a Japanese car since the dawn of grand prix racing, as well as being the final race of the 1.5 litre formula.

Honda's contender for 1966, the RA273, did not appear until late in the season. The elegantly engineered 3 litre V12 engine, installed longitudinally, developed 400 PS at 10,000 rpm, 50 PS more than its closest rivals, yet was at a weight disadvantage. There would be only one points finish, a fourth place in Mexico City.

With John Surtees on board as driver, technician and strategist during 1967, results began to improve, first with the RA273, and then with the lighter RA300 which brought Honda its second victory, this time at Monza, with a last-lap sprint to the line in one of the most dramatic grands prix of modern times.

The subsequent RA302 of 1968 was one of the most innovative cars of the 3 litre formula, its air/oil-cooled V8 engine initially developing 390 PS at 9,000 rpm. However, the need to devote engineering resources to the task of reducing engine emissions in production cars, led to Honda's withdrawal from Formula 1.


Back to the rostrum

Honda's quiet return to Formula 1 in the 1980s gave little indication of the eventual impact the Japanese manufacturer would have in the world's most technologically advanced race series.

The Formula 1 programme got off the ground with a turbocharged 1.5 litre V6 engine in a Spirit chassis driven by Stefan Johansson, providing invaluable experience prior to a concerted effort with the Williams team. A new FW09 Williams-Honda was built in the summer of 1983, and raced in the South African Grand Prix at the end of the season, finishing an impressive fifth with Keke Rosberg at the wheel. Then in 1984 at Dallas, Rosberg captured what was to be the first of many, many victories for Honda-powered cars.

The 1985 season was one of steady engine development as the team worked towards achieving competitive engine output whilst maintaining reliability. Victory for Rosberg eventually came in the season's sixth event at Detroit, then, towards the end of the season, team-mate Nigel Mansell scored two resounding wins and Rosberg rounded off 1985 by winning the final race in Australia, demonstrating conclusively that the Honda engine was a match for anything.

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