Italy: Engine failures end 2007 engine plans

By Honda Racing F1
September 9 2006

Honda Racing F1 managed just ten laps of running at Monza today, with their new RA807E engine failing twice in the practice session. Keen to flex his understatement muscles, Gil de Ferran commented that "this has not been the best start to the weekend".

In a bid to improve performance in 2007, Honda elected to run next years engine in the last four races of this season, following a successful test at Monza last week.

However, the RA106 car driven by Anthony Davidson managed to run just two laps this morning before the engine expired. A refit later, and Davidson trundled round a further eight times before the engine once more let go.

"Obviously we had a difficult day," Gil de Ferran mentioned in passing. Keen not to let the situation take on any degree of drama, he continued, commenting that, "as the failures they were totally unexpected, we elected not to run the race cars until we could gain a better understanding of what was causing them."

Choosing to keep Rubens Barrichello and Jenson Button on the sidelines for a day means that the team can still fit new engines, be they 2006-spec or the new 2007 engines, without fear of receiving a penalty.

"Needless to say this has not been the best start to the weekend for us as we collected very little data today about cars and tyres," continued Honda Racing F1's Sporting Director. "Thankfully we were testing here a week ago so the set-up of the car and tyre choice are more dialled-in than they would otherwise be.

"We look forward to a better day tomorrow," added Gil, before drifting off.