Circuit de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain
HONDA RACING F1 TEAM UNVEILS NEW RA107
Following a successful debut for the Honda Racing F1 Team's
new RA107 race car on the Circuit de Catalunya near Barcelona
yesterday, the team's management and drivers today provided
a technical insight into the car and their first impressions
of the new challenger from the track.
With the RA107 sporting its black and white testing colours
in preparation for a reveal of the new team livery next month,
the focus was on the development of both team and car since
the Honda Racing F1 Team concluded 2006 with a strong 4th
place in the Constructors' Championship. As the team put the
new car through its paces, the team's management, together
with race drivers Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello, spoke
of their intent to strive for even greater success in 2007.
Nick Fry, Chief Executive Officer
"We are proud to present the product of a year's excellent
co-operation between Honda facilities in the UK and Japan.
Although the different engineering groups have worked closely
for several years, the RA107 is a true international team
effort involving hour by hour communication, strong team work
and great team spirit across the globe. This year we aim to
build on the latter part of the 2006 season and successful
pre-Christmas testing, during which we completed more testing
than any other team. We intend to benefit from continuity
of drivers and key personnel, combined with performance improvement
designed into the new RA107 using our full-scale wind tunnel
which was completed last season, to move closer to realising
our World Championship ambitions.
"In Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello we have two
of the most competitive and experienced drivers on the Formula
One grid who work together well and play a pivotal role in
team leadership and car development. Supporting them are Christian
Klien and James Rossiter, who have made an impressive start
to winter testing, completing important development mileage
and demonstrating a promising blend of speed, youth and driving
experience."
Shuhei Nakamoto, Senior Technical Director
"We were pleased with the initial performance indications
from our first full day of testing with the RA107. There is
a great deal of on-track development work to conduct before
we embark on the racing season, however positive signs from
the car's testing debut provide the reassurance that we have
taken a good direction.
"The RA107 is the result of ten months of design, development
and manufacture which began almost as soon as the RA106 made
its race debut. It combines the efforts of our staff in Brackley
and Bracknell with some longer-term projects which have been
underway for some time at Honda R&D in Tochigi.
"The main design challenge has been achieving improved
aerodynamic efficiency whilst accommodating tough new safety
regulations specific to the car's crash structures. I am pleased
that we have been able to achieve this objective at the same
time as reducing the overall weight of the car. The RA107
also boasts some innovative packaging solutions, particularly
around the exhaust and radiators, which allow for much tighter
bodywork within what is generally a nicely integrated aerodynamic
design package.
"In addition, we are pleased with the way we are developing
our understanding of the Bridgestone Potenza tyres and our
progress in this area has been due to a combination of the
simulation work conducted at our Brackley headquarters and
an extremely productive pre-Christmas testing programme which
saw our team achieve more mileage than our competitors.
"Engine development has been no less of a challenge
because of the homologation regulation. I am pleased with
what we have achieved in terms of usable torque and fuel efficiency
whilst limiting the engine to 19,000 rpm.
"We now look forward to the next challenge of optimising
the RA107 for the first race in Melbourne on 18 March, with
a comprehensive pre-season development programme."
Jenson Button
"I am looking forward to driving the RA107 for the first
time later today, when I will be able to see the result of
many months of hard work in Japan and England between both
our team and drivers.
"I drove the RA106 here yesterday using the new Bridgestone
Potenza tyres for the first time. Today's run will give me
the benefit of a direct comparison between the two chassis.
Although I have been out of the car for a while, I am very
pleased with my return to the cockpit and also my fitness
level, which I have been working hard on since Christmas.
"We enjoyed a strong second half to the season last
year and of course our first win together will always be special.
This year we will hopefully make even greater strides towards
our dream of winning the World Championship together and I
feel that as we enter our second year under full Honda ownership
we have a realistic opportunity of moving closer to that objective.
There is a great deal of work to be done between now and Australia."
Rubens Barrichello
"We had an encouraging first day of running with the
new RA107 here in Barcelona yesterday and my first impressions
were good ones. I am impressed by how the car and the team
have evolved during my first year here and it is clear that
the RA107 is a step in the right direction.
"The RA107's new steering and suspension geometry is
better suited to the new Bridgestone Potenza tyres, giving
a good balance. The revised traction control system also makes
it possible for us to get closer to maximising the potential
of the tyres.
"I feel confident about the season ahead because I know
the importance of a stable team of key staff and drivers.
It's great that we have that advantage. I also know just how
much work has gone into this car throughout the whole Honda
Racing F1 Team organisation and I believe that kind of effort
will move us closer to achieving our Championship ambitions.
I know that 2007 can be special so I am looking forward to
the start of the season."
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