At the very beginning of the sixties, HONDA made a decision in favor of participating in Formula One races. At that time, the engine volume was not very large – only one and a half liters, and the races were a kind of test for the strength and speed of this kind of engines. Soon, in August 1964, the Honda-RA-271 with a powerful V-cylinder engine started at the Grand Prix of Germany (Nürburgring). Unfortunately, this start was not as successful as the company had hoped: the car took only 22nd place. However, 10 months later, an improved Honda-RA-272/001-K-2 won the Grand Prix in Mexico (1965).

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.