Honda RA302

The Honda RA302 was a Formula One racing car produced by Honda Racing, and introduced by Honda Racing France[1] during the 1968 Formula One season.[1] The car was built based on the order by Soichiro Honda to develop an air-cooled Formula One engine.[2] Thus, the magnesium-skinned car was forcibly entered in the Formula One race alongside the water-cooled, aluminium-bodied RA301 which had been developed by the existing Honda team and British Lola Cars.

Honda RA302
CategoryFormula One
ConstructorHonda R&D
Designer(s)Yoshio Nakamura,
Shoichi Sano
PredecessorRA301
SuccessorRA106
Technical specifications
ChassisMagnesium-skinned monocoque
Suspension (front)double-wishbone
Suspension (rear)double-wishbone
EngineHonda RA302E, 2991cc V8 naturally aspirated Mid-engined, longitudinally mounted air cooled
TransmissionHonda 5-speed manual
FuelBP/Shell
TyresFirestone
Competition history
Notable entrantsHonda Racing France
Notable drivers Jo Schlesser
Debut1968 French Grand Prix,
Rouen.
RacesWinsPolesF.Laps
1000
Constructors' Championships0
Drivers' Championships0
n.b. Unless otherwise stated, all data refer to
Formula One World Championship Grands Prix only.

It would only appear in one race,[3] the 1968 French Grand Prix at Rouen-Les-Essarts,[3] driven by Jo Schlesser.[3] Schlesser was chosen to drive the RA302 because normal Honda driver John Surtees (who was the 1964 world champion and would finish second in that race) refused to drive it as he deemed it to be unsafe and labelled it as a "potential deathtrap".[3] This was proven on lap two of the Grand Prix; Schlesser crashed at the Virage des Six Frères section of the circuit and the car came to rest sideways against a bank.[4] The magnesium-bodied Honda and 58 laps worth of fuel ignited instantly, killing Schlesser[3] and destroying the original RA302.[4]

A second RA302 was built, with slight modifications, earmarked for Surtees to drive at the 1968 Italian Grand Prix, but he again refused to drive it. Honda decided to pull out of Grand Prix racing[3] and did not return as a constructor until the 2006 Formula One season with the Honda RA106.[5] In 2012, the RA302 intended for Surtees at the Italian Grand Prix was on display at the Honda Collection Hall.[6]

The magnesium-bodied Honda RA302 of Jo Schlesser crashes and burns during the 1968 French Grand Prix. Schlesser was killed.

Formula One World Championship results

(key) (results in bold indicate pole position; results in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Entrant Engine Tyres Driver 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Points WCC
1968 Honda Racing Honda V8 F RSA ESP MON BEL NED FRA GBR GER ITA CAN USA MEX 14 6th
Jo Schlesser Ret

References
  1. "Honda RA302". ChicaneF1. Retrieved 2 September 2014.
  2. "Formula One Entry (1964): The Question: Victory or Technology". Honda Motor Co., Ltd. Retrieved 2009-02-11.
  3. "Honda RA302". F1technical.net. Retrieved 2 September 2014.
  4. "Tomica Honda RA 302: Review". Live and Let Diecast!. Retrieved 2 September 2014.
  5. "Honda RA301 - Surtees". tradingpaints. Retrieved 2 September 2014.
  6. "Honda Collection Hall, HONDA RA302". Retrieved 2 September 2014.


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