Honda Engine Latest

[Crash and Burn]

Honda has decided against running their upgraded 2002 qualifying engine in this weekend's Canadian Grand Prix, revealed race and test team manager Shuhei Nakamoto.
The unit was tested last week at Silverstone and Paul Ricard by their partner teams Jordan and BAR, and gave encouraging results, but the Japanese manufacturer has decided to delay its launch so as to allow further testing.

Both teams will be provided with a further development on the qualifying power packs that they used in Austria instead.

"We've decided to carry out additional testing before the final implementation," Nakamoto said in a press release. "We will race in Canada with a further developed engine, with increased performance based on the engine used in qualifying in Austria."


Takuma Sato finished seventh and 2.34 seconds off Rubens Barrichello's fastest time using the unit, which had not even been mapped before it was run, in the final day of testing at Silverstone last week.

Its characteristics were reported to be "very different" to their current V10, and the team was believed to be encouraged by the results. However, the driveability still needs work.

Jordan and BAR had both experienced disappointing starts to the 2002 season, and all four drivers spoke of the need for more power from their V10 power units.


The Irish team recently redeemed themselves at the Austrian and Monaco Grands Prix, when Giancarlo Fisichella's four-point haul moved them into sixth place in the Constructors' FIA Formula One World Championship™. BAR are yet to register on the title standings