The Honda RA301 was a
Formula One
Formula One (also known as Formula 1 or F1) is the highest class of international racing for open-wheel single-seater formula racing cars sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA). The World Drivers' Championship, ...
racing car
Auto racing (also known as car racing, motor racing, or automobile racing) is a motorsport involving the racing of automobiles for competition.
Auto racing has existed since the invention of the automobile. Races of various sorts were organise ...
produced by
Honda Racing for the
1968 Formula One season
The 1968 Formula One season was the 22nd season of the FIA's Formula One motor racing. It featured the 19th FIA World Championship, which commenced on 1 January, and ended on 3 November after twelve races, and numerous non-championship races. Grah ...
.
It was introduced during the
1968 Spanish Grand Prix, the second round of the season. Like its predecessor (RA300), the car was co-developed by
Lola Cars
Lola Cars International Ltd. was a British race car engineering company in operation from 1958 to 2012. The company was founded by Eric Broadley in Bromley, England (then in Kent, now part of Greater London), before moving to new premises in S ...
, and called "Lola T180" by Lola Cars.
The car was an update of the previous season's
RA300, using the same RA273E engine. As Honda was also focused on developing the air-cooled
RA302, the RA301's development suffered and Surtees only managed a best of second place in the
France
France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...
. Poor reliability saw him managing to finish just two other races.
The car was planned to be replaced by the RA302 at the
1968 French Grand Prix, but Surtees refused to drive the new car because of safety concerns. After the death of
Jo Schlesser
Joseph Schlesser (18 May 1928 – 7 July 1968) was a French Formula One and sports car racing driver. He participated in three World Championship Grands Prix, including the 1968 French Grand Prix in which he was killed. He scored no championship ...
at that race, Surtees again refused to drive the RA302 at the
1968 Italian Grand Prix
The 1968 Italian Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held at the Monza Autodrome on 8 September 1968. It was race 9 of 12 in both the 1968 World Championship of Drivers and the 1968 International Cup for Formula One Manufacturers. The 68-la ...
, and the RA301 was used until the end of the season.
With Honda's withdrawal from
Formula One
Formula One (also known as Formula 1 or F1) is the highest class of international racing for open-wheel single-seater formula racing cars sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA). The World Drivers' Championship, ...
at the end of the season, the RA301 was the last F1 car raced by Honda until the
2006 Formula One season
The 2006 FIA Formula One World Championship was the 60th season of Formula One motor racing. It featured the 57th Formula One World Championship which began on 12 March and ended on 22 October after eighteen races. The Drivers' Championshi ...
's
Honda RA106.
Complete Formula One World Championship results
(
key
Key or The Key may refer to:
Common meanings
* Key (cryptography), a piece of information that controls the operation of a cryptography algorithm
* Key (lock), device used to control access to places or facilities restricted by a lock
* Key (map ...
) (results in bold indicate pole position; results in ''italics'' indicate fastest lap)
References
Honda Formula One cars
Lola Formula One cars
1968 Formula One season cars
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