Honda RA272: Первая победа японской Формулы-1

Formula One racing car

The Honda RA272 was a Formula One racing car designed by Yoshio Nakamura and Shoichi Sano for the 1965 Formula One season. It was the first Japanese car to win in Formula One, achieving victory at the 1965 Mexican Grand Prix after leading every lap with driver Richie Ginther. The win came just two years after Honda started producing road cars, and was the first of victories for Honda powered Formula One cars. An evolution of the company's first car to enter Formula One, the previous year's RA271, the RA272 was noted for its technically advanced 1.5 litre V12 engine, designated the RA272E, which was the most powerful engine in the sport at the time. Besides the win in Mexico, the car also managed to qualify in the top three in four of the eight races it entered.

As it was announced that the 1965 season would be the last for the 1.5 litre engines and new 3.0 litre regulations would come into effect in 1966, Honda decided to improve the previous year's RA271 model rather than develop a completely new car. The car's engine, designated RA272E, was a technically advanced (though rather wide and heavy) 48 valve 1,495.28 cc V12 engine (58.1 x 47.0 mm), which was water cooled and transversely mounted in a rear midship layout. According to Honda's official website, the engine gave between 11,500–12,000 rpm, and by the end of the season it was reportedly producing Ginther had scored multiple podium finishes and gained a reputation for being a great test and development driver. He shot into the lead for the first two laps, but then spun twice, eventually finishing sixth to score more points. The following Mexican Grand Prix, held at high altitude in Mexico City, was the last race of the season and the final race of the 1,500 cc era that began in 1961. Ginther once again qualified third, alongside Lotus' Jim Clark and Brabham's Dan Gurney in the top three, and immediately managed to pass both Clark and Gurney for the lead at the start of the race. Bucknum finished fifth, ahead of the Ferraris and other cars, to make it a double points finish for the team. It was the first of Formula One wins for Honda powered cars, and came only two years after the company started producing road cars. It was also tyre supplier Goodyear's first Formula One win. After the race, team manager Yoshio Nakamura sent the message "Veni, vidi, vici" to the Honda headquarters in Tokyo. The Honda RA272E V12 had strong acceleration and often led the race into the opening lap after leaving the stationary starting grid. Despite not participating in every race, Honda finished their second season in Formula One sixth in the constructors' championship.

Honda's Type R cars traditionally have a Championship White paint option and a red Honda badge as a tribute to the RA272. The RA272 was inducted into the Japanese Automobile Hall of Fame in 2020, who called it "a historical car that made the world know the high level of Japanese technology". Three time Indianapolis 500 winner Dario Franchitti drove the RA272 in 2011, after which he remarked that it "probably has the best sound of any car I've driven or heard, and that's saying a lot. That's special." Two years earlier, the team's driver Max Verstappen tested the RA272 during the week of the Japanese Grand Prix, the first time he had driven a racing car made before 2008. The RA272 appeared in the Formula One Championship Edition video game as an unlockable bonus car. It also serves as the design influence for the B Dasher kart in the Mario Kart series. It was also introduced in Gran Turismo 7 as part of the 1.29 update.