Honda’s return to Formula One is set to make steady progress in developing the turbocharged power unit- set to be used for McLaren F1 team. Honda’s return as an engine supplier marks the Japanese’s team return in F1 after the team quit the sports in 2008 when the economical climate went south.
“For the FIA Formula One World Championship, which Honda will rejoin in the 2015 season, the company is making steady progress in developing the power unit,” explained a Honda statement.
“In January 2014 Honda moved its motor sports development base from the Automobile R&D Center of Honda R&D Co., Ltd. (at Haga-machi, Haga-gun in Tochigi Prefecture) to a newly situated area in its facility in Sakura City (also in Tochigi), in a move to further strengthen its development organization for F1 and other races.
“At Honda’s European base for F1 activity in Milton Keynes, U.K., installation of the dynamo and assembly facilities will be completed in June 2014 to further reinforce the already solid setup in preparation for racing.”
This year’s new F1 regulations that foresees the introduction of forced induction power units in F1 cars, with Ferrari, Renault and Mercedes will supply engines to the teams of 2014. The Mercedes powered units are on the advantage after the first test in Jerez, and McLaren is among the biggest beneficiaries, having topped two of the four days in testing. One remains to be seen if McLaren needs to start from stretch once the Honda engines arrives in 2015.
[Source: GpUpdate]
