Honda RA302

Category	Formula One
Constructor	Honda R&D
Designer(s)	Yoshio Nakamura, Shoichi Sano
Technical specifications
Chassis	Magnesium-skinned monocoque
Suspension (front)	double-wishbone
Suspension (rear)	double-wishbone
Engine	Honda RA302E, 2991cc V8 naturally aspirated Mid-engined, longitudinally mounted
Transmission	Honda 5-speed manual
Fuel	BP/Shell
Tyres	Firestone
Competition history
Notable entrants	Honda Racing France
Notable drivers	Jo Schlesser
Debut	1968 French Grand Prix, Rouen.
Races Wins Poles Fastest laps 1 0 0 0
Constructors' Championships	0
Drivers' Championships	0
n.b. Unless otherwise stated, all data refer to Formula One World Championship Grands Prix only.

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

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

A second RA302 was built, with slight modifications, earmarked for Surtees to drive at the next race, but when Surtees again refused to drive it, Honda decided to pull out of Grand Prix racing and did not return as a constructor until the 2006 Formula One season with the Honda RA106.

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Honda RA302

• The Question: Victory or Technology

v t e Honda Racing F1 Personnel: 1963–1968: Soichiro Honda | Yoshio Nakamura | Shoichi Sano 1999: Harvey Postlethwaite | Tim Densham 2006–2008: Nick Fry | Ross Brawn | Yasuhiro Wada | Geoff Willis | Shuhei Nakamoto | Loïc Bigois Notable drivers: Jenson Button | Rubens Barrichello | Ronnie Bucknum | Richie Ginther | Jo Schlesser | John Surtees Formula One cars: RA270 | RA271 | RA272 | RA273 | RA300 | RA301 | RA302 | RC100 | RA099 | RA106 | RA107 | RA108

This Formula One-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. v t e