Honda RA300E/RA302E engine explained

Honda RA300E
Honda RA302E
Manufacturer:Honda
Production:1965-1966
Configuration:Inline-4
Displacement:NaN1NaN1
Bore:NaN1NaN1
Stroke:NaN1NaN1
Valvetrain:4-valve valves per cylinder, hydraulic valve lifters, chain-driven double overhead camshaft (DOHC)[1]
Fuelsystem:Fuel injection
Fueltype:Gasoline
Coolingsystem:Water-cooled
Power:NaN0NaN0
Weight:1450NaN0

The Honda RA300E and Honda RA302E are 1 litre (61 cu in) four-stroke, four-cylinder, naturally-aspirated, racing engines, designed, developed and built by Honda, for Formula Two racing, in 1965.[2]

Development history

In 1963 Honda were seeking to build on their success in motorcycle racing by entering four-wheeled motorsport. Representatives of the company contacted journalist Jabby Crombac, who later mentioned it to Jack Brabham. Brabham met with Honda's Yoshio Nakamura and agreed a deal to run Honda engines in Formula Two.[3]

Race history

The first engines were delivered for the start of the 1965 Formula Two season. In this original form they produced 135 bhp at 10,000 rpm. One of the works' Brabham BT16 chassis was fitted to take the engine and would be driven by Brabham himself. The engine was not a success. Brabham regularly qualified near the back of the grid and retired three times out of four races. The engines went back to Honda for revision and Brabham continued with a Cosworth SCA in the interim. New engines were supplied for the last two races of the season. At the Oulton Park International Gold Cup, Brabham qualified eighth, but retired on the first lap with a broken clutch. However, at the Albi Grand Prix he qualified on pole, set fastest lap and finished just 0.6 seconds behind Jim Clark's dominant Lotus 35-Cosworth.[4]

In 1966, in a new Brabham BT18 chassis, Brabham and teammate Denny Hulme were practically unbeatable with the revised engines, now producing 150 bhp at 11,000 rpm. Out of thirteen events, Brabham won ten and Hulme two, with eleven poles and twelve fastest laps between them, and seven 1-2 finishes. Brabham subsequently won the 1966 Trophées de France championship.[5]

For 1967 the Formula Two rules were changed and the engine limit increased to 1600cc. Honda's Formula Two involvement came to an end and the engines were returned to the company.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Honda F2 Motor 1966 - The Nostalgia Forum. The Autosport Forums.
  2. Web site: Honda RA302E F2 engine – primotipo…. primotipo....
  3. Web site: Brabham/Honda/F2 - A Winning Formula. 2022-11-03. John. Crawford.
  4. Web site: Formula 2 1965 Race Index. 2022-11-03.
  5. Web site: Formula 2 1966 Race Index. 2022-11-03.