Page 1 of 2 Next >> As luck would have it, Honda's maiden victory came at the very last race run under the 1.5-litre regulations. From 1966, new rules would come into effect with the displacement limit raised to 3,000cc. Honda's first three-litre F1 car was delayed considerably and when it finally arrived proved substantially overweight. Powered by a mighty V12 engine and dubbed the RA273, it was further developed for the 1967 season with some success.
For 1967, Honda had reinforced their ranks with 1964 Formula 1 World Champion, John Surtees. He was perhaps held in even higher regard with the Japanese company for his exploits on two wheels than his successes on four. Surtees set up a separate base in Britain to develop the RA273 and compete in the European Grands Prix from. He recognised the shortcomings of the car's design and, with approval from Honda, asked his friend Eric Broadley from Lola to build a new chassis for the V12 engine.
Broadley did not start from a clean sheet but instead used an adaptation from the design for the Lola T90 Indy car. Known internally as the T130, the new 'Hondola' was officially designated the RA300. Whereas the RA273 had a full length monocoque, the new car used a separate tubular subframe to house the engine and gearbox. Suspension was wholly conventional with rocker actuated, in-board springs and dampers at the front, and wishbones and links with twin trailing arms at the rear. Page 1 of 2 Next >>
Ultimatecarpage.com
> Cars by brand
> Japan
> Honda
Racing cars
> Formula 1
As luck would have it, Honda's maiden victory came at the very last race run under the 1.5-litre regulations. From 1966, new rules would come into effect with the displacement limit raised to 3,000cc. Honda's first three-litre F1 car was delayed considerably and when it finally arrived proved substantially overweight. Powered by a mighty V12 engine and dubbed the RA273, it was further developed for the 1967 season with some success.