Wednesday 29th October 2014

Honda's F1 history: Time For Tea?

Honda's GP racers of the 60s celebrated with some gorgeous period footage and geekery

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Mention Honda in F1 and it's hard to not to think of the McLaren-Honda cars of the late 80s and early 90s, particularly with the dream team returning in 2015. But of course Honda has a GP history that stretches back into the 60s and it's the early years that are beautifully documented in this film from Honda Japan.

Fair warning: you will have to read subtitles. The only audio comes from F1 V12s and odd fake applause. Best focus on the former there. But the story is fascinating, Honda's first victory in F1 actually coming in the last race of the 1,500cc era at Mexico in 1965. With the engine limit raised to 3,000cc, Honda had no problems with producing power but made a car too heavy to be competitive with the RA273. Following a single podium at South Africa the RA273 was retired to be replaced by the RA300. Which won on its first attempt at Monza. Can't fault the effort!

There are also a couple of minutes on Honda's alliance with Brabham in F2. If you thought the F1 team had some success then wait until you see that section... Lovely little film. Put the kettle on!

Watch it here.

 

[Lead image: LAT]

[dinkel]

1966 BT18 scream:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXxT_4S335A

BT18 at Hampton Downs:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YZoos7u0uc

Nice vid - thanks.

[rwindmill]

You have to have a rye smile at the PR spin in this video. The subtitles state that the RA302 only runs in one race, in which it spun off the track and crashed. It conviniently misses out the fact that the driver, Jo Schlesser was burned to death as a result of the crash. Due to the car being made out of magnesium, once it caught fire, it couldnt be extingushed by the track side marshalls.

Just a minor point, not really worth mentioning is it!!!!

[Oddball RS]

rwindmill said:

You have to have a rye smile at the PR spin in this video. The subtitles state that the RA302 only runs in one race, in which it spun off the track and crashed. It conviniently misses out the fact that the driver, Jo Schlesser was burned to death as a result of the crash. Due to the car being made out of magnesium, once it caught fire, it couldnt be extingushed by the track side marshalls.

Just a minor point, not really worth mentioning is it!!!!

Just what he said!

[3304hl]

It's interesting to think how things might have been so different for Brabham & Hulme in F1 if the F2 Honda link up had been extended to F1!