Australian Grand Prix - Preview
PREVIEW Australian Grand Prix, 1-3 March 2002 Honda makes its third visit to Albert Park in Melbourne for the 2002 Australian Grand Prix, as the company continues its third generation of Formula One competition, a commitment undiminished in importance for the Japanese manufacturer’s racing ethic since it began its participation in the category in 1964. Progress through continuity characterises Honda’s 2002 Formula One programme. As before, Honda remains the only manufacturer currently in Formula One to support two teams with equal specification factory engines, with Lucky Strike B.A.R Honda and DHL Jordan Honda both receiving the new Honda RA002E for their respective 2002 campaigns. The release of the RA002E represents the fulfilment of extensive research and development during the previous year. The powerplant’s increased V angle and compact packaging results in a lower centre of gravity and reduced size and weight, while power has been increased. As with all of its engines, Honda views performance development as an ongoing process and will be looking to deliver gains throughout the season. A productive testing programme over the past months, both on track with the teams and on its dynamometers, has allowed Honda to build up valuable mileage on interim specification RA002Es in readiness for the challenge ahead. It has also enabled Honda’s engineers to develop important working relationships with the new Jordan Honda driver pairing of Giancarlo Fisichella and Takuma Sato, to build an understanding of their individual driving styles for engine set-ups. As part of the continued consolidation of its Formula One effort, Honda has expanded its joint chassis development programme, a key part of the manufacturer’s return to Formula One in 2000, with B.A.R Honda. The Honda R&D Formula One structure at Tochigi in Japan has been strengthened to enhance support for this project, while the B.A.R Honda relationship has been extended with a new three-year contract, beginning in 2002. As in the previous two years, a number of Honda R&D’s chassis technology engineers will be based at the team’s Brackley headquarters alongside their B.A.R colleagues. Another essential element of Honda’s participation in Formula One remains the avowed desire to develop Honda’s own engineers through the programme. Under the management of experienced personnel, Honda’s Formula One activity is a human proving ground for the manufacturer’s young engineers and designers, exposing them to a challenging environment that demands the qualities of innovation for which Honda has built a strong reputation. It is a core ideology of Honda that its Formula One effort is based completely in-house, which enables the challenging spirit fostered by top level motor sport to be transferred to production car development as engineers move on within the company. Before the RA002E completes its first lap of Albert Park, Honda will have already been in action in Melbourne as the lead-up to the race again coincides with the annual Melbourne Motor Show, where Giancarlo Fisichella will unveil the new Honda NSX for Honda Australia, an evolution of the marque’s world-famous flagship sportscar. Part of Honda’s Asia/Oceania region, Honda Australia is an importer and distributor of automobiles, motorcycles, power equipment, outboard motors and parts. Melbourne in particular is a key location to Honda Australia, as its power equipment subsidiary and Honda Manufacturing Australia are based thirty minutes from the city centre at Campbellfield. The latter produces approximately 20,000 lawnmowers per year, exporting to 19 countries as well as for sale in the domestic market. Honda also operates a motorcycle rider training programme in Australia with four centres across the country, two in Melbourne, one in New South Wales and one in Queensland! , which train approximately 8,000 students annually. Australian Grand Prix, 1-3 March 2002 Circuit Details Circuit Name Albert Park Circuit Address Albert Park, Melbourne VIC 3205, Australia Circuit Length 3.295m/5.303km Timetable (all times are local – GMT/UTC is 11 hours behind) Friday Free Practice: 11.00-12.00 & 13.00-14.00 Saturday Free Practice: 09.00-09.45 & 10.15-11.00 Qualifying: 13.00-14.00 Sunday Warm-up: 09.30-10.00 Race (58 laps): 14.00 2001 Results Winner M Schumacher (Ferrari) 1h38m26.533s Fastest race lap M Schumacher (Ferrari) 1m28.214s Pole position M Schumacher (Ferrari) 1m26.892s Lap record M Schumacher (Ferrari) 1m28.214s Honda in Australia 2001 Frentzen 5th / Panis 7th / Trulli 16th / Villeneuve 19th Honda in Melbourne 2 Grands Prix Honda F1 winners Senna 32, Mansell 13, Prost 11, Piquet 7, Berger & Rosberg 3, Ginther & Surtees 1 Team wins powered by Honda McLaren-Honda 44, Williams-Honda 23, Honda 2, Lotus-Honda 2