Honda RA099 - a prototype Formula 1 car , created by order of Honda by English engineer Harvey Postwright , and built by Dallara in 1999 . The car was supposed to become Honda's test platform before a full debut in the 2000 season. [2]
| Honda RA099 | |||||||||
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| Category | Formula 1 | ||||||||
| Developer |  Harvey Postworth (Technical Director) | ||||||||
| Constructor |  Dallara | ||||||||
| Specifications | |||||||||
| Chassis | Porous fiber carbon monocoque reinforced with aluminum composite honeycomb structures | ||||||||
| Suspension (front) | The system of torsion bar and shock absorber interacting with the pusher, and the angular lever, as well as double triangular levers | ||||||||
| Suspension (rear) | like the front | ||||||||
| Length | 4500 mm | ||||||||
| Width | 1800 mm | ||||||||
| Height | 950mm | ||||||||
| Engine | Mugen-Honda MF-301HD - 2,999 cm³, 670 hp, V10 , (72 °), NGK spark plugs, electronic fuel injection (Honda PGM-FI), Honda RA099E (F4YE) - 2997 cm³, V10 , [1] atmospheric, mid-mounted, longitudinal layout | ||||||||
| Transmission | Honda, 6 speeds + 1 reverse gear, semi-automatic | ||||||||
| Weight | 605 kg (including pilot and liquids) | ||||||||
| Tires | Bridgestone BBS Drives | ||||||||
| Performance history | |||||||||
| Teams | Honda R&D | ||||||||
| Pilots |  Jos Verstappen | ||||||||
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| Unless otherwise indicated, all data are Formula 1 Grand Prix only | |||||||||
Content
History
Suggested Return
In 1998, Honda began to seriously consider the possibility of returning to the sport as a full-fledged team. Harvey Postltwaite , a well-known British co- designer , who was once a technical director at Hesketh , Wolf , Fittipaldi , Ferrari , Sauber , and who was left without work after the sale of the Tyrrell team in the same year to BAT, was invited to develop the chassis . The construction of the car, according to his drawings, was entrusted to the famous Italian company Dallara , and already in the spring of 1999, the car, under the control of the Dutchman Jos Verstappen , appeared on the highway in the Spanish Jerez .
The car turned out quite fast, which was evident when comparing it with the fireballs of the existing teams that conducted their tests, in the same place in Jerez . [3] However, the project was interrupted indefinitely, after the death of Postlethwaite , from a heart attack , during one of the test days. [four]
Summary
After the death of Postlethwaite , Honda curtailed this project and decided to return as an engine supplier for the BAR team [5] and Jordan . With the growth of cooperation, Honda's shareholding in the BAR increased, and ultimately, as a result of the ban on tobacco advertising in Formula 1, Honda completely bought it out, making it its factory team .
Of the six built Dallar RA099, only four managed to pass the test on the racetrack. Currently, it is known for certain about the location of only one of the chassis (the third, which has the factory numbering RA099-3), which was exhibited at the Honda Museum in Motegi .
Notes
- ↑ All Formula One Info - Honda RA099E (F4YE) engine
- ↑ FORMULA-1, No. 7, 1999 Archived on November 25, 2005.
- ↑ FORMULA-1, No.2, 1999 Archived on September 21, 2005.
- ↑ FORMULA-1, No.8, 1999 Archived on November 27, 2005.
- ↑ FORMULA-1, No. 11, 1999 Archived on February 6, 2007.