Today it is difficult to imagine racing the first cars of the early 19th century. To us they look ridiculous and cumbersome. The record high speed in those days was considered a figure of 130 km/h, which for us also looks ridiculous.

However, already in 1903 there was an event in the automobile world – the race Gordon Bennett Trophy. Their most successful participant was a car created by the Daimler and Benz concern, the famous “Mercedes 60”.

The car was powered by a 9236cc engine with four cylinders and exhaust overhead and side valves. The engine was virtually silent and even the speeds were smooth. For a long time, Mercedes was a major manufacturer of sports cars. At the time, there was no clear distinction between ordinary and sports cars, cars could participate in races, and at the same time, used for the most ordinary purposes. However, in 1908 the Mercedes companies created a sports car with a 135 hp engine. It came first at the French Grand Prix races in France.

A significant achievement was the creation of the Mersedes 37/90 in 1911. It had an imposing appearance and an engine of 9,570 cc. The main gear and elaborate valve system allowed the car to reach speed easily.

Already at the first races, the jury set the following requirements for the cars – to show “the best combination of safety, economy and ease of operation.” This combination became the motto of the sports car industry. Firms conducted tests that often resulted in the deaths of sports car pilots. Safety, perfect handling and development of high speed were the main priorities when creating cars for participation in competitions.Later, the leaders of the automobile industry began to consider another factor – the appearance of sports cars. Unusual appearance and the presence of imposing details became the characteristic feature of a real sports car.

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For example, in 1912, Peugeot put the L76 model into competition. The figures in the name reflected the working volume of the engine – 7.6 liters. The power in this case was 175 hp, i.e. there was 23 hp per each liter. By the way, the Peugeot L76 has remained in history for quite a different reason: it was the first car in the world that had two overhead camshafts and four valves per cylinder. Absolutely right – that very scheme of distribution of distribution of gas, which is widespread now and is known as DOHC (Double OverHead Camshaft).

Italians from FIAT have gone even further, having offered a 200 hp engine with a working volume of 14.1 liters (!), that is with a specific capacity of only 14.2 liters per liter. The transoceanic engineers followed the way of increasing of displacement volume.

But the standardization processes are inevitable – both in automotive industry, and in sport. Started the creation of racing series with common rules and general technical requirements. Curiously enough, one of the first European series appeared in 1900 at the initiative of an American, publisher of newspapers New York Herald and Herald Tribune Gordon Bennett, who without false modesty gave it the name Gordon Bennett Cup. The series was conceived as an international one (not limited to European participants) and up to three cars could represent one country. In the USA a similar “named trophy” was established in 1904 – the Vanderbilt Cup, named after millionaire William Kissam Vanderbilt II.

Since 1906 began the history of Grand Prix racing, which in many, many years to become a modern Formula 1. Was to be born and uniform rules, but so far they were simple: the crew consisted of a pilot and a mechanic, and all the maintenance and repairs of the car they could only perform themselves. The first Grand Prix was held in France, on a circuit near the city of Le Mans, and the race subsequently found its own line of development: now the competition on the Circuit de la Sarthe is considered the most prestigious endurance race in the world – the famous Le Mans 24 Hours.

Europe and America have chosen slightly different approaches to automotive competitions. The pragmatic inhabitants of the New World staked on maximum convenience for spectators: races on closed compact ovals, where all the action took place in front of the audience – even if it was a long 500-mile race. In Europe, linear races were quite popular, car rallies between cities (essentially a prototype of the rally). However, all the cards for Europeans mixed up the First World War, a few years reoriented still young car industry for the needs of the armies.

During this time, the American motorsport engineering was able to get ahead, and when the racing life began to recover, the representatives of the New World for a while proved to be stronger and faster. In 1921, another Le Mans Grand Prix was taken without much trouble by the American Jimmy Murphy: his luxury Duesenberg Model A was both more powerful and lighter than its rivals. The engine was boosted almost twice as much as the production one – it was already a real sport preparation.

While Americans kept faithfulness to the multiliter engines with a huge reserve on loads (and hence reliability), in European motorsport the era of boosted engines was born. However, it is necessary to stipulate one important moment at once. The rules of racing series have already been formulated more clearly, and the basic principle was the competition of equals: in one form or another regulations did not allow some to enjoy any clear technical superiority over others.

But the development of the Grand Prix rules followed a different path. In 1922, the series was introduced a limit of 2 liters working volume (with a minimum weight of 650 kg). And immediately, FIAT brought to the racetrack a car “805.405”, which had an eight-cylinder engine, but with a capacity of only 2 liters. A mechanical (compressor) supercharger was used to boost the engine. Alfa Romeo went the same way with its 155 horsepower two-liter engine, and… Bugatti.

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Subsequently, HONDA regularly participated in famous Formula 1 races, often winning the title of leader. Sports became a stimulating factor for the creation of the latest high-speed engines. So experts of the corporation have created and developed an engine with forced air cooling, a capacity of 430 hp However, there were failures: the start of the new Honda-RA-302/1 at the French Grand Prix in 1968 ended sadly. Already on the first lap of the racer failed to cope with the control, the car skidded, and she ignited. It was then, after a tragic accident, that HONDA made the decision not to participate in further Formula 1 races.

In the eighties, HONDA again for the second time cooperates with Formula 1, but now it only supplies it with engines. At the end of the nineties, cars equipped with motors manufactured by HONDA, were leaders in all races of the championship. This result was a record for the entire history of Formula 1, and raised the importance of HONDA one more golden step in the sport.

In the beginning of 2000, HONDA decided to take part in Formula-1 race again, and today together with BAR (British American Racing) team HONDA already successfully competes in races. The corporation actively develops new sports engines and creates chassis for racing cars. In addition, since the beginning of the 2001 season, the company has been regularly supplying engines to the Jordan Grand Prix Ltd. team.

HONDA constantly encourages young specialists under the guidance of the most experienced engineers to win Formula 1.
Taking part in races is always prestigious, and for HONDA it is also a test of the engines and the car’s durability in practice. Races on such a scale as Formula 1 are also an excellent advertisement for a corporation that does not seem to need any more promotion.
In other auto races – the CART series – HONDA engines also took the prize. Chip Ganassi’s team with HONDA engines won CART championships for three consecutive seasons in the late nineties.

HONDA production cars, thanks to their powerful and reliable engines, have enormous sporting potential. The factory team of HONDA on Accord cars since 1995, successfully participated in the BTCC (British Touring Car Championship), the unofficial world championship of bodywork cars.

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