Showa becomes BAR technical partner.

The Showa Corporation has become a team technical partner of BAR Honda.

The company will supply suspension dampers to the team and feature on the livery of the new BAR Honda 007.

"Our new technical partnership with Showa Corporation allows us to jointly develop new damper solutions specifically for BAR Honda," explained technical director, Geoff Willis.

"This will enable us to realise innovative design concepts that we have developed for this year's car and the new car for 2006, which is already in its preliminary design stage."

Masahide Matsushima, president of Showa Corporation added: "Showa Corporation's business activities revolve around customer satisfaction. Furthermore, we strive to maintain our forward-looking stance and continue to encourage technological, operational and administrative innovation.

"Showa has participated in numerous motorsport races in the past, moreover, we believe our participation in Formula One racing will bring about increases in Showa's brand value and cultivate challenging spirits through vigorous activities to accomplish set goals under the intense environment of Formula One."