Autoblog

Click for hires photos

UPDATE: Video added after the jump

Confirming the story we ran on Saturday, Honda Racing F1 will go the non-traditional route and run the Earth-liveried RA107 racing car during this year's F1 season. The car's bodywork will be devoid of sponsor advertising (though Bridgestone, the car's tire supplier, is represented), but the team announced that existing sponsors as well as a host of new ones are on board for 2007 in support of the unorthodox effort. The unveiling took place today at a press conference at London's Natural History Museum, and drivers Rubens Barrichello and Jenson Button were on hand for the big reveal.

The map of the Earth is intended to raise awareness of environmental issues and Honda Racing will collaborate with environmental charities to develop and promote the automaker's "existing environmental ethos" in F1. Coinciding with the car's official unveiling is the launch of www.myearthdream.com, the website promoted on the car's rear wing. Visitors to the site can make a commitment to change their lifestyles to help improve the environment and make monetary donations to related charities. In return, visitors can have their names appear on the RA107 as pixel-sized text that ultimately makes up the map of the Earth covering the racer's bodywork.

Read Honda's press release after the jump.

[Source: Honda Racing F1]

Click image for hi-res photo gallery

UPDATE: ***Honda has made it official - Click here for info, photos***

Thanks to tipster Joseff, we think the answer is a resounding "YES!" Once again, it appears that the discovery was made by playing with URL strings, in this case, the tinkering took place in the Honda Racing F1 gallery. The photos immediately preceding this one are of the unpainted RA107 undergoing testing (and are featured on the gallery homepage). The Earth-liveried car happens to be the next photo in line, which leads us to believe that the official reveal is coming very soon (this weekend, perhaps?). In any case, we reported that the final look was to be revealed in February, and the month's just about over.

The domain name shown on the car's rear wing is not yet active, but it is registered to 19 Entertainment, which counts American Idol among its numerous endeavours. 19 Entertainment has been hired by Honda to help with the team's marketing efforts, and we're sure that the meaning of the new look will be made clear when the official unveiling takes place.

As we said when BlueOvalNews dug up teaser shots and press releases of the renamed Ford Taurus and Mercury Sable, if your photo is online and is not behind some kind of security, it will be found. A web-savvy person doesn't need to be a detective to see when photos are numbered in sequence. Trying the next ones in line is a logical step.

Joseff, thanks for the tip!

UPDATE: Joseff tells us in the comments that the photo was posted first over at F1 Technical's forums. Thanks for the clarification. The "Read" link at the bottom of the post will bring you to the related F1 Technical thread.

UPDATE 2: More info via the comments. Joe contributes an Auto123 link speculating that Google may be a sponsor. The reveal is apparently set for Monday in London.

[Source: Honda Racing F1 via F1 Technical]

All week long, the Honda Racing F1 team has been out at the Bonneville Salt Flats pursuing a lofty goal: setting a new Formula 1 car land speed record over the Bonneville flying mile with an average speed of 400 kph. Honda simply called the mission the Bonneville 400.

The instrument being used to make the attempt was a V10-powered Honda 007. For the runs out on the salt, the car was outfitted with an upright rear fin instead of the standard wing, and also employed the use of a parachute to help slow itself at the completion of each attempt. Driver Alan van der Mewe was behind the wheel for all the early-morning record runs, and through the course of the week, Alan, the team, and the car have broken F1 class records three times.

During today's final set of attempts, the Honda produced two land speed records for Formula 1 cars. Over the Bonneville flying mile, the car hit an average speed of 397.360kph (246.908mph). The second record set was over the flying kilometer, where it averaged 397.481kph (246.983mph).

The magic 400 kph average remained out of reach, though earlier this week, the car did hit 400.454 kph on one pass of the measured mile. It wasn't able to match the feat on the return trip, unfortunately.

While disappointed that they didn't set the record at 400, all parties involved deemed the week a success. Given the time and effort that they put into the event and the challenges they faced running an F1 car on the salt flats, you can't help but agree.

Check out the Bonneville 400 site for a host of info, including full coverage of the week, images and video of the attempts.

(Additional photos after the jump)

[Source: Honda Racing F1]

The Honda Racing F1 car is made up of 3,200 individual parts, and if you go the the British International Motor Show this week or next, you'll be able to see every single one. Literally.

That's because Dutch artist Paul Veroude has seemingly worked magic with his exhibit called "View Suspended," in which each and every part of the car is suspended from above, creating a living exploded technical diagram. As awed as we are by the photographs of the display, we can only imagine how impressive it looks in person. Everything down to the smallest little screw is hanging in suspended animation.

Manufacturers always strive to have interesting displays at autoshows, whether they be safety demonstrations, cutaways, or other imaginative ploys to generate visitor interest. With "View Suspended," it's a safe bet that Honda will be capturing the attention and imagination of every single person who walks by it. It's just that cool.

Click on any photo to enlarge it. It's the best way to get a sense of the painstaking effort and incredible attention to detail that went into this piece.

(Additional photos, info after the jump)

[Source: Honda]