Honda raise BAR and set sights on F1 title

HONDA already have their sights set on claiming the Formula One constructors’ world championship after announcing a buyout of the BAR team yesterday.

Honda are to become the sole owners of BAR next season after majority shareholders and founders British American Tobacco (BAT) agreed to the sale of their 55% stake in the British-based outfit.

Honda, who have been BAR’s engine partner for the past six seasons, already have an existing 45% stake in the team they purchased in January.

The buyout, to be completed by the end of this year, will make Honda 100% shareholders.

The announcement precedes the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka this weekend where BAR drivers Jenson Button and Takumo Sato will be in action. The race will also be Honda’s 100th grand prix with the team.

Hiroshi Oshima, operating officer of corporate communications and motor sports at Honda, said: “From next season, we will be even more energetic in our F1 activities, working hard as a team in order to improve our technology, develop our young engineers and achieve our goal of winning the world championship.”

Last month Button was confirmed as a BAR driver for the 2006 campaign after successfully negotiating his way out of a contract with Williams. He will be joined in the line-up by Brazilian Rubens Barrichello, who makes the switch from Ferrari.

At the time, Button said: “I’m obviously delighted to confirm I will be staying with BAR-Honda for the next few years. Since I joined the team in 2003, we’ve shared some important moments in my career and the team’s history. There are many more goals for us to achieve together, not least winning the world championship. I want to be at BAR-Honda to see that happen and I believe it will happen.”

BAR were founded by BAT in 1997 when they bought Tyrrell, and the team’s best finish to date was second place in the 2004 constructors’ championship behind Ferrari.

The team will continue to be run from their base in Northamptonshire, and will work with Honda Racing who operate from Berkshire.

BAT intend to remain as the title sponsor of the team through their brand Lucky Strike for 2006 but will honour their long-standing commitment to exit Formula One sponsorship at the end of the year.

Honda are not the first manufacturer to buy out a team this year.

In June, BMW announced their takeover of Sauber, claiming a wholly-owned team is their only chance at world championship glory.