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2001 BAR
003
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Honda's relationship with British American Racing entered its second season today (Friday) as the wraps came off the new BAR Honda 003 at a spectacular launch ceremony in London, England.
The all-new BAR Honda 003 will feature Honda's advanced RA001E 3-litre V10 engine, an evolution of the powerful and reliable unit that helped BAR Honda to fifth place in the 2000 Constructors' Championship.
The development of the collaboration between the world's largest engine manufacturer and Formula 1's youngest team will build on the encouraging results of the past year and the lessons learned in the course of the 2000 season.
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2001 BAR
003
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Takefumi Hosaka, Managing Director of Honda R&D and Honda's F1 Project Leader joined British American Racing Managing Director Craig Pollock at the launch. Also present were 2001 BAR Honda race drivers, Jacques Villeneuve and Olivier Panis, together with official test drivers Darren Manning and Patrick Lemarié and BAR's young development drivers, Japanese sensation Takuma Sato and British hot shot Anthony Davidson.
"We are looking forward to our second season with BAR Honda," said Mr Hosaka. "We had a good start to last year and there were some encouraging results during the season, but we have to make sure that we build on this in 2001. We have established good working practices with the team and the joint chassis development project is starting to gather momentum.
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2001 BAR
003
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"Our target for the 2001 is to have one Honda-powered team in the top three of the Constructors' Championship. We also want to achieve a Honda-powered driver on the top step of the podium and with the support of our partners, I am sure we should be able to achieve this."
Underlining the importance of Honda to BAR's future growth and development, Craig Pollock stressed the need to build on the achievements of last season and maintain the rate of progress in the coming year.
"Whilst last year was a big improvement on our debut season, I am still not happy finishing fifth in the Constructors' Championship," said Pollock. "Our aim in 2001 has to be to finish at least third place overall and to win some races. With the team and infrastructure we now have in place, that is achievable and that is what I want."
Honda's latest Formula 1 engine may be an evolution of last year's unit, but many new elements have been incorporated in preparation for 2001.
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2001 BAR
003
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"The new engine may look the same from the outside, but we have improved the unit in almost every area," said Kazutoshi Nishizawa, Technical Director of Honda Racing Development. "We have investigated and addressed the issues from last season and the result is a superior unit. There will be a continuous
program of development throughout the year and we expect to make further significant improvements during the season."
The next six weeks will witness an intensive testing program, including Barcelona and Kyalami, before the BAR Honda 003 makes its debut at the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne on 4 March 2001.
"While last year was a big improvement on our debut season, I am still not happy finishing 5th in the Constructors'' Championship. Our aim in 2001 has to be at least a third place finish overall and to win some races - and with the team and infrastructure we now have in place, that is achievable and that is what I want."
So says a typically forthright and determined Craig Pollock, Managing Director of British American Racing. OK, so the newly monickered Lucky Strike BAR Honda team was Formula
One's most improved last year but the rhetoric exuding from BAR Operations Centre in Brackley shows that complacency will not be tolerated and there is some way to go before ''the dream'' is finally
realized. Make no mistake: Lucky Strike BAR Honda are not in Formula One to make up the numbers.
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Reynard
and Pollack
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So what's new for 2001? The car for a start. The BAR003 boasts electronic power-steering, while the gearbox has been substantially reduced in size and the overall race weight has dropped considerably. Allied to a far greater emphasis on detail, the quality of finish and a stunning new Lucky Strike livery, the BAR003 looks the part. "Last year no single facet of our car was really good or really bad, but in order to compete with the likes of Ferrari and McLaren we must ensure that every aspect excels. In the BAR003, we feel we have a car that can
fulfill such high expectations," commented Craig Pollock.
Technical Director Malcolm Oastler added, "We are very pleased with the 2001 car. It has met all of the objectives that we set ourselves in the design brief last year. There have been some significant rule changes for this year and we are happy with our progression and the fact that we have been able to meet all of the necessary requirements. We have made a saving of around 30 kilos on the weight of the car and have already exceeded our original aerodynamics targets. It has been a very intensive
program and the team has done a really good job. We feel we are in good shape and looking forward to the season ahead."
British American Racing's technological partner and engine supplier, Honda, have also been hard at work with the latest evolution of their advanced V10 power plant.
And the Japanese marquee will also supply identical engines to the Jordan team in 2001. "We think that this sense of healthy competition will benefit
Honda's long-term objective," explains Shoichi Tanaka, President of Honda Racing Development.
Meanwhile Lucky Strike BAR Honda has strengthened its own team line-up with two high
caliber additions.
Frenchman Olivier Panis brings vast experience both in racing and testing to the team and has already proved himself a great asset in pre-season shakedowns of the new car. "I am very pleased with what I have found here. It has gone really well so far and that leaves me very confident for the season ahead," said Olivier.
Panis won''t be fazed by illustrious team-mate Jacques Villeneuve either. Commenting on the demands of racing alongside Jacques, Olivier continued, "I know Jacques well, we communicate together and respect each other. I am looking forward to working with him. I always want to work with quick drivers."
In fact the team fully expect JV to be pushed to the limit by their new man. When asked about the potential rivalry Craig Pollock exclaimed, "Panis to push Villeneuve? Of course he will! I hope he really puts the wind up Jacques. It''s good for the team to have such competitiveness between drivers."
Meanwhile, inside the garage, James Robinson joined the team as Chief Race Engineer from Williams. His vast experience will be vital to the team and his addition completes an intriguing re-union (with Jock Clear and Grant Tuff) of
Villeneuve's 1997 World Championship-winning team.
"There is no doubt that the addition of Olivier and James strengthens our hand and gives us an extra bit of quality. Also, the fact that we had several applications from other teams during the winter shows that people inside the sport appreciate what we are trying to achieve here," says Craig Pollock.
Lucky Strike BAR Honda has proved that it is here to stay. Now the team must prove it can beat the best.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION LUCKY STRIKE BAR HONDA BAR 003
Chassis Construction
Molded carbon fiber and honeycomb composite structure that surpasses latest FIA impact and strength regulations
Front suspension
Wishbone & Pushrod-activated torsion springs and rockers, mechanical anti-roll bar
Rear suspension
Wishbone & Pushrod-activated torsion springs and rockers, mechanical anti-roll bar
Dampers
Koni
Wheels
OZ forged magnesium Front: 315mm wide Rear: 360mm wide
Tires
Bridgestone Potenza radials
Brakes
AP Racing Front: 2 x 6-piston calipers Back: 2 x 6-piston calipers
Brake discs / pads
Carbon / carbon
Steering
BAR Rack & Pinion
Steering wheel
Carbon fiber construction
Driver's seat
Anatomically formed carbon composite
Seat belts
Six-point harness (75mm shoulder straps)
Fuel cell
ATL Kevlar-reinforced rubber bladder
Fuel capacity
100 kg
Fuel provider
Nisseki
HONDA ENGINE TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION
Name
Honda RA001E
Configuration
V10, normally aspirated
Displacement
3.0 litre
No of valves
4 pneumatic
Throttle
Electro-hydraulic
Block
Aluminium
Max revs
In excess of 17,000 rpm
Transmission
BAR - Xtrac 6 speed unit
Gear selection
Sequential, semi-automatic, hydraulic activation
Clutch
AP, triple-plate carbon
Dimensions
Front track
1460 mm
Rear track
1420 mm
Wheel base
3050 mm
Overall length
4550 mm
Overall height
950 mm
Overall width
1800 mm
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