Bar Looks To Seal Honda Deal.
British American Racing appears to have landed an engine deal with Honda, if stories in Autosport magazine are correct.
Formula One's newest team is currently contracted to use Supertec engines, but is known to be disappointed with the unit's power output. With Honda's own racing project in disarray following a drawn-out decision-making process in Japan, BAR has moved quickly to try and secure a supply of engines reported to be among the most powerful on the grid.
British American Racing appears to have landed an engine deal with Honda, if stories in Autosport magazine are correct.
Formula One's newest team is currently contracted to use Supertec engines, but is known to be disappointed with the unit's power output. With Honda's own racing project in disarray following a drawn-out decision-making process in Japan, BAR has moved quickly to try and secure a supply of engines reported to be among the most powerful on the grid.
The current stories suggest that both BAR and Jordan - the latter already using Mugen-badged units - will receive Honda power next season, although it is not known if one or both will have to pay for the supply. Jordan's existing deal is on a customer basis, and points the way to a continuation in 2000.
Despite the stories, however, Honda Racing Developments - the Japanese company's racing arm in the UK - insists that the works project is anything but dead in the water. Although the operation lost the respected services of Harvey Postlethwaite two weeks ago, right-hand man Rupert Mainwaring maintains that a works Honda team will appear on the grid next year. HRD has also reportedly signed Mika Salo to act as a second test driver alongside Jos Verstappen.
