Honda RA271
Encyclopedia
The Honda RA271 was Honda's second Formula One
racing car, and its first to actually enter a race.
The car was developed from the company's 1963 prototype, retrospectively designated RA270
. The RA271 made its race debut during the 1964 Formula One season
, just one year after Honda
started producing road cars, and was the first Japan
ese-built car ever to enter a round of the FIA
Formula One World Championship.
Although RA271s only contested three 1964 Grands Prix, driven on each occasion by American
sports car racing
-specialist Ronnie Bucknum
, its innovative, transversely mounted
, 1.5 l (91 cu in) V12 engine
– sometimes cited as "the strongest engine of F1's 1.5-litre era" – formed the basis of Honda's race-winning RA272
of at the Mexican GP, driven by Richie Ginther (USA).
The car's best result was at its debut, after withdrawing from the Belgian Grand Prix
, at the 1964 German Grand Prix
, where Bucknum was running 11th before spinning out and being classified 13th. He retired from both the Italian
and United States
Grands Prix, both times with mechanical failures. He had run as high as 7th at Monza
before a brake failure ended his race.
Engine dimensions of the 1965 48-valve V12 were 58.1 x 47.0 mm 1,495.28 cc. 230 bhp at 13,000 rpm was quoted. This was the most powerful F1 engine of 1965. The engine was safe to 14,000 rpm. Since the 1967 4-cylinder 498.57 cc engine (57.5 x 48.0mm) eventually gave almost 90 bhp at 12,600 rpm, the V12 had the potential of 270 bhp with further development.
Formula One
Formula One, also known as Formula 1 or F1 and referred to officially as the FIA Formula One World Championship, is the highest class of single seater auto racing sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . The "formula" designation in the name refers to a set of rules with which...
racing car, and its first to actually enter a race.
The car was developed from the company's 1963 prototype, retrospectively designated RA270
Honda RA270
The Honda RA270 was a prototype Formula 1 car built by Honda. The car made its first tests in February 1964. The most notable thing about the car is it featured 12 separated exhausts for the Honda V12 engine.-External Links:*...
. The RA271 made its race debut during the 1964 Formula One season
1964 Formula One season
The 1964 Formula One season was the 15th season of FIA Formula One motor racing. It included the 1964 World Championship of Drivers and the 1964 International Cup for F1 Manufacturers, which were contested concurrently over a series which commenced on May 10 and ended on October 25 after ten races...
, just one year after Honda
Honda
is a Japanese public multinational corporation primarily known as a manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles.Honda has been the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer since 1959, as well as the world's largest manufacturer of internal combustion engines measured by volume, producing more than...
started producing road cars, and was the first Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese-built car ever to enter a round of the FIA
Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile
The Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile is a non-profit association established as the Association Internationale des Automobile Clubs Reconnus on 20 June 1904 to represent the interests of motoring organisations and motor car users...
Formula One World Championship.
Although RA271s only contested three 1964 Grands Prix, driven on each occasion by American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
sports car racing
Sports car racing
Sports car racing is a form of circuit auto racing with automobiles that have two seats and enclosed wheels. They may be purpose-built or related to road-going sports cars....
-specialist Ronnie Bucknum
Ronnie Bucknum
Ronnie Bucknum was an American racecar driver, born in Alhambra, California.Bucknum participated in 11 Formula One World Championship grands prix, debuting on August 2, 1964. He scored a total of 2 championship points...
, its innovative, transversely mounted
Transverse engine
A transverse engine is an engine mounted in a vehicle so that the engine's crankshaft axis is perpendicular to the long axis of the vehicle. Many modern front wheel drive vehicles use this engine mounting configuration...
, 1.5 l (91 cu in) V12 engine
V12 engine
A V12 engine is a V engine with 12 cylinders mounted on the crankcase in two banks of six cylinders, usually but not always at a 60° angle to each other, with all 12 pistons driving a common crankshaft....
– sometimes cited as "the strongest engine of F1's 1.5-litre era" – formed the basis of Honda's race-winning RA272
Honda RA272
The Honda RA272 was a Formula One racing car used by the Honda team in the 1965 Formula One season.A successor to the Honda RA271, the RA272 was noticeable mainly for its technically advanced 48-valve 1,495.28 cc V12 engine , a water-cooled, transversely mounted unit which reportedly gave at...
of at the Mexican GP, driven by Richie Ginther (USA).
The car's best result was at its debut, after withdrawing from the Belgian Grand Prix
1964 Belgian Grand Prix
The 1964 Belgian Grand Prix was a Formula One race held at Spa-Francorchamps on June 14, 1964.- Classification :-Standings after the race:Drivers' Championship standingsConstructors' Championship standings...
, at the 1964 German Grand Prix
1964 German Grand Prix
The 1964 German Grand Prix was a Formula One race held at Nürburgring on 2 August 1964.- Classification :- Notes :*Fatal accident of Carel Godin de Beaufort in practice. He went off at the sweeping Bergwerk corner at the northernmost part of the track, went into the trees and suffered severe...
, where Bucknum was running 11th before spinning out and being classified 13th. He retired from both the Italian
1964 Italian Grand Prix
The 1964 Italian Grand Prix was a Formula One race held at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza on September 6, 1964.- Classification :- Notes :*Pole position: John Surtees - 1:37.4*Fastest Lap: John Surtees - 1:38.8*Last race of F1 Pilot Maurice Trintignant...
and United States
1964 United States Grand Prix
The 1964 United States Grand Prix was a Formula One race held on October 4, 1964 at the Watkins Glen Grand Prix Race Course in Watkins Glen, New York.__FORCETOC__-Summary:...
Grands Prix, both times with mechanical failures. He had run as high as 7th at Monza
Autodromo Nazionale Monza
The Autodromo Nazionale Monza is a race track located near the town of Monza, north of Milan, in Italy. The circuit's biggest event is the Formula One Italian Grand Prix, which has been hosted there since the sport's inception....
before a brake failure ended his race.
Engine dimensions of the 1965 48-valve V12 were 58.1 x 47.0 mm 1,495.28 cc. 230 bhp at 13,000 rpm was quoted. This was the most powerful F1 engine of 1965. The engine was safe to 14,000 rpm. Since the 1967 4-cylinder 498.57 cc engine (57.5 x 48.0mm) eventually gave almost 90 bhp at 12,600 rpm, the V12 had the potential of 270 bhp with further development.
Complete Formula One results
| Year | Team | Engine | Tyres | Drivers | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | Points | WCC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honda R&D Company | Honda V12 V12 engine A V12 engine is a V engine with 12 cylinders mounted on the crankcase in two banks of six cylinders, usually but not always at a 60° angle to each other, with all 12 pistons driving a common crankshaft.... |
MON 1964 Monaco Grand Prix The 1964 Monaco Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held at Monaco on May 10, 1964. Peter Arundell scored his first podium finish, and Mike Hailwood his first point.-Classification:-Standings after the race:Drivers' Championship standings... |
NED 1964 Dutch Grand Prix The 1964 Dutch Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held at Zandvoort on May 24, 1964.- Classification :-Standings after the race:Drivers' Championship standingsConstructors' Championship standings... |
BEL 1964 Belgian Grand Prix The 1964 Belgian Grand Prix was a Formula One race held at Spa-Francorchamps on June 14, 1964.- Classification :-Standings after the race:Drivers' Championship standingsConstructors' Championship standings... |
FRA 1964 French Grand Prix The 1964 French Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held on June 28, 1964 at the Rouen-Les-Essarts circuit, Rouen, France. It was the 4th race of the 1964 Formula One season. The race, contested over 57 laps, was won by Dan Gurney for the Brabham team after starting from second... |
GBR 1964 British Grand Prix The 1964 British Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held at Brands Hatch on July 11, 1964. The event was also designated as the European Grand Prix... |
GER 1964 German Grand Prix The 1964 German Grand Prix was a Formula One race held at Nürburgring on 2 August 1964.- Classification :- Notes :*Fatal accident of Carel Godin de Beaufort in practice. He went off at the sweeping Bergwerk corner at the northernmost part of the track, went into the trees and suffered severe... |
AUT 1964 Austrian Grand Prix The 1964 Austrian Grand Prix was a Formula One World Championship race held at Zeltweg Airfield on August 23, 1964.- Classification :- Notes :*Pole position: Graham Hill - 1:09.84*Fastest Lap: Dan Gurney 1:10.56... |
ITA 1964 Italian Grand Prix The 1964 Italian Grand Prix was a Formula One race held at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza on September 6, 1964.- Classification :- Notes :*Pole position: John Surtees - 1:37.4*Fastest Lap: John Surtees - 1:38.8*Last race of F1 Pilot Maurice Trintignant... |
USA 1964 United States Grand Prix The 1964 United States Grand Prix was a Formula One race held on October 4, 1964 at the Watkins Glen Grand Prix Race Course in Watkins Glen, New York.__FORCETOC__-Summary:... |
MEX 1964 Mexican Grand Prix The 1964 Mexican Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held at Mexico City on October 25, 1964.- Classification :- Notes :*Pole position: Jim Clark - 1:57.24*Fastest Lap: Jim Clark 1:58.37... |
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 Ronnie BucknumRonnie Bucknum Ronnie Bucknum was an American racecar driver, born in Alhambra, California.Bucknum participated in 11 Formula One World Championship grands prix, debuting on August 2, 1964. He scored a total of 2 championship points... |
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