Shuhei Nakamoto, formerly Engineering Director for Honda Racing Development, has been appointed Senior Technical Director of the Honda Racing F1 Team.

Nakamoto has been a key part of Honda's third generation of F1 involvement for the past six years and has also been a member of the Honda Racing F1 Team management board since Honda acquired full ownership of the team in December 2005. Prior to that he enjoyed a highly successful 17 year career in motorbike competition with Honda as Project Leader for its championship-winning 250cc WGP Motorcycle, 750cc and 1000cc superbike race machines.

Discussions are currently taking place with Geoff Willis, Technical Director, regarding his future role with the team.

2006 saw Honda's return to Formula One works team status for the first time since 1968, pledging a single-minded determination to repeat the successes of its first two generations of F1 involvement. The first
eight races of the season have proved a tough challenge but the Team has made a long-term commitment including investments such as its brand new state-of-the-art wind tunnel and the commissioning of its new machine shop.

Nick Fry, Chief Executive Officer of the Honda Racing F1 Team, commented: "Honda has set itself some very tough targets for its Formula One team and made a considerable investment in order to achieve them, so we have to ensure that we do everything necessary to pursue those objectives. Shuhei Nakamoto has an excellent record of achievement with Honda and we have confidence that his appointment, together with our investments at the Brackley HQ, will help us towards our goal."