I’m a fan of Honda’s. I’ve grown up with my father owning Honda motorcycles since I was a baby. My first ride on a motorcycle was on my pop’s CB550-Four, in pearl red with a 4-into-1 exhaust custom exhaust no less! The sound that bike made solidified what my old man used to say; “Son, Honda makes the best engines in the world, period.” That’s a strong statement to make but hearing that Honda four-cylinder purring away, with a rhythmic pulse only Honda engines make, the word that comes to mind is “smooooth…”

Another aspect of the Honda company that I admired was their racing department. Honda’s Formula-1 racing efforts are etched in the history books. The period that stands out most for me was when they had Brazilian Formula-1 racing legend Ayrton Senna at the wheel. Senna made that Honda do things that seemed near impossible, but at the end of it all it was a Honda engine that propelled the F1 icon to three world championships. Yes, Honda and well engineered  performance have always gone hand in hand.

So as you can imagine, it came as a great shock to hear Honda president Takeo Fukui recently announce that Honda was pulling out of Formula-1 Racing due to costs. To be honest the feeling of disappointment doesn’t escape me, but ultimately it’s easy to understand Honda’s perspective. Running a competitive Formula-1 Team is expensive. Honda’s team alone costs the manufacture over $200 million a year to run and operate! Also announced was that the comapany would not be supplying other teams with engines either.

“This difficult decision has been made in light of the quickly deteriorating operating environment facing the global auto industry,” Fukui said. “Honda must protect its core business.”

Some 350 engineers work on Honda’s current Formula One project, but they wont loose their jobs. Instead, most team members will be transferred to other duties, most importantly the development of hybrid drivetrains for future Honda passenger and commercial vehicles. Nothing has been said about where their current drivers are headed.

It is a sad day indeed. To think that a company as technologically innovative as Honda wont be lining up in an F1 grid is almost unfathomable. They’ve bettered the sport in so many ways it’s unbelievable. Well, no Honda in Formula-1 in the near future F1 fans. It’s sad but true.

Above: It’s been a great ride guys, thanks for everything…. 
Source: Automotive News

Photo: Sourced for Automotive News