Honda deadline is February 23.

 

Investors Wanted: Sun may soon be setting on Honda F1 Racing, bringing to an end an era which can be traced back to an English lumber merchant by the name of Ken Tyrrell. “Uncle” Ken entered Formula 1 as a constructor in the 1970 Canadian Grand Prix. Jackie Stewart put the car on pole and won the world championship in their first full season of racing in 1971. He repeated the feat in 1973. At the end of the 1997 season, Tyrrell sold his team to British American Racing, key players were Jacques Villeneuve and his then Manager Craig Pollock but the key element was the ash-load of funds provided by British American Tobacco.

The new operation promised much, including the famous Adrian Reynard motto “we win our very first race in every category we enter”, but delivered much in internal politics and little in results. At the end of 2005 Honda took over the team. The glory days of Formula 1 domination which they experienced as an engine supplier to McLaren never materialized. Jenson Button’s victory in the 2006 Hungarian Grand Prix was their only success.

With less than forty days and forty nights before the season opener in Melbourne, days are numbered and the operation is now in Virgin territory. High flying Sir Richard Branson is good friends with Adrian Reynard and now has the open support of Bernie Ecclestone. If a deal is not struck next week, the operation will get the axe from Honda bosses and Ross Brawn will head for the high seas again.

Honda F1 running out of time if It’s to secure Mercedes Benz engines.

Toyota testing the TF109 at Sakhir end with hydraulic problems.

Sebastien Loeb prepares for his 50th World Rally Championship Win.

A1GP drivers competing at Kyalami placed a white rose on the Hector Peterson Memorial in Soweto.