An additional development is the FIA requirement that the fuel mix should now contain 5.75% biofuel - an initiative that Honda fully supports. The exhaust geometry and air box have changed to suit the RA108 aerodynamic package. “The Honda RA808E engine is subject to the FIA engine homologation regulations and therefore the vast majority of engine components remain unchanged. This approach should allow more potential for further developments to take place, the first of which will be for Melbourne when we will introduce a substantially revised aerodynamic package compared with the car we have launched today. “The focus has been on attaining a high level of aerodynamic efficiency with stability and this is reflected in the way that the chassis has been revised to interact with the different aerodynamic features and the suspension. The design philosophy has been developed to allow greater scope for aerodynamic packaging and exploitation, particularly to facilitate the introduction of performance upgrades through the season. “The RA108 car is a wholly different concept to its predecessors, in terms of its aerodynamic layout and mechanical structure. The team paid particular tribute to its partner Seiko (who have been generous supporters of the earthdreams initiative. The first of the earthdreams supported projects was also announced. Moving the focus from raising environmental awareness to action, the Honda Racing F1 Team and its partners have committed $1.2 million, with $700,000 already allocated. earthdreams is the evolution of the award winning myearthdream concept launched in 2007 and represents the next stage of Honda’s long term commitment to harnessing the passion of Formula One and its partners to provide support and investment for good causes through a unique cause related marketing initiative. The launch of the RA108 and its livery also saw the introduction of the team’s earthdreams program.
#F1 2008 Challenge driver
Combined with the development talents of Test and Reserve Driver Alex Wurz, Honda will field the most experienced driver line-up on the Formula One grid. In turn the team will benefit from the continuity provided by the race driver pairing of Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello for a third successive season. The RA108 is also the product of a strengthened engineering team, combining the depth of experience of the existing resource with new and wide-ranging expertise in key areas under the leadership of new Team Principal Ross Brawn. The new car is a considered response to the challenges of 2007, benefiting from the combined resources of the Honda Racing F1 Team’s three bases in Brackley and Bracknell in the UK and the Honda R&D centre at Tochigi in Japan. The entire process from concept to launch has been re-evaluated.
The team’s 2008 challenge sees a substantial evolution in three key areas, the most fundamental of which is a directional step change in the car design philosophy. Honda laid out its plans for 2008 and the longer-term, reaffirming its commitment to the sport and underlining the determination of a revitalized team to realize its ambitions. At the wheel of the car for the very first time, Alex drove the RA108 through the pitlane themed auditorium in front of the assembled crowd of 300 international media and guests. The role of unveiling the RA108 in the team’s 2008 livery today was assigned to new Test and Reserve Driver Alex Wurz. The launch followed an initial shakedown period with the all-new RA108 in Valencia last week, in which the team’s race driver line-up of Rubens Barrichello and Jenson Button put evaluation mileage on the car in preparation for the start of its pre-season testing program later this week. The official presentation of the Honda Racing F1 Team’s 2008 challenger took place today at the team’s operational headquarters in Brackley, UK.
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