18/10/2013
NEWS STORY
Honda has released a recording of its new V6 turbo engine which was fired up for the first time.
The engine is being developed for the 2015 season when Honda will join forces with McLaren, thereby reviving a partnership that between 1988 and 1992 won eight world championships and 44 grands prix, took 53 pole positions and set 30 fastest laps - all in just 80 grands prix.
In 1988, the partnership created arguably the single most successful Formula 1 car of all time: the all-conquering McLaren-Honda MP4/4, which was driven to victory by Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost in 15 of the season’s 16 grands prix.
The Japanese manufacturer, which has always admitted to having racing in its blood, first entered F1 in 1964, taking its first win a year later in Mexico with Richie Ginther. In 1968 the company withdrew from F1, a decision widely attributed to the death of Jo Schlesser during the French Grand Prix.
In 1983 the company returned to F1 as an engine supplier, initially with Spirit, subsequently going on to enjoy success with Lotus, McLaren, Tyrrell and Williams.
By the time it left the sport in 1992 it had won six Constructors' Championships in total, five driver titles and 77 Grands Prix.
In 2000 Honda returned yet again, this time as engine supplier to British American Racing (BAR), buying the Brackley outfit at the end of 2005 before subsequently leaving the sport at the end of 2008
"It's exciting to hear the cry of our new born Formula One engine for the first time," said Manabu Nishimae, President of Honda Motor Europe Ltd. "Our engineers are working hard to develop the engine and we are all looking forward to the start of the 2015 season."
Honda will be in charge of the development, manufacture and supply of the power unit, including the engine and energy recovery system, while McLaren will be in responsible of the development and manufacture of the chassis, as well as the management of the new team, McLaren Honda.
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