Formula 1
9 February 2010

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Honda launches 2006 challenger

25 January 2006 / Photos

The new Honda on track this morning
The new Honda on track this morning

The Honda Racing F1 Team unveiled its challenger for the 2006 Formula One season in Spain this morning with the new driver line-up of Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello. This marked an important milestone for Honda as it is the first Formula One car launched by a Honda works team since 1968.

Barrichello in the new car
Barrichello in the new car

While most other teams have only had one new car ready at the time of launch, Honda has worked to have two RA106 race cars on hand immediately for Rubens Barrichello and Jenson Button to start testing at exactly the same time.

The RA106 sported its new base canvas of Honda Racing White, a colour which has been synonymous with the Honda motorsport identity since the company's F1 debut in 1964. The rest of the livery has the more familiar feel of the Lucky Strike brand, which remains as title sponsor for the 2006 season.

"Our target in 2006 is to challenge for race wins and we will do our utmost to achieve that objective," said CEO Nick Fry. "During 2005 we put in place some important building blocks that will help us meet our targets in 2006 and beyond. We secured two of the best racing drivers in the world, we proved our ability to develop a car through the season, resulting in points for Jenson in each of the last ten races, and we gained a better understanding of the strengths of the 2004 car and the issues with our 2005 race car. Lastly, and most importantly, we have "works" team status with access to the technical resources of Honda R&D."

"I'm particularly proud that we have been able to deliver a new car each for Jenson and Rubens today which demonstrates the depth of our manufacturing ability and skill and determination of our people," he added. "With our new wind tunnel also coming on-stream later this year, we are ready to step up to the challenge."


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