After exiting Formula One last year, Honda’s future in the Great Circus is uncertain, with optimists hoping for a re-entry fueled by the all-new regulations debuting in 2025. And many of those expectations are built on the tremendous success Honda has enjoyed in F1 over the decades. The company entered the game back in 1964, collecting most of its laurels as an engine supplier. And, if you’re looking to relive those years, this 2001 Honda V10, which has parted ways with its internals, might just come in handy.
Following its somewhat successful initial F1 era that ended after the 1968 season, Honda returned to the arena in 1983, as an engine supplier. And this led to its golden era. For one, the company grabed the Constructor’s Championship ever year between 1986 and 1991 powering Williams and Mclaren cars, while winning the Driver’s Championship between 1987 and 1991.
And that feat is even more impressive when you consider that 1989 saw turbo engines being banned, with the entire grid switching to naturally aspirated motors. And the unit that helped Honda continued its dominance was a 3.5L V10 codenamed RA109E, which would morph into the 3.0L atmospheric V10 (RA001E) we have here over a decade later. The new motor served more than one team between 2000 and 2005, albeit without the massive success of its predecessor.
The company exited the sport (this Gundam F1 digital fantasy lives forever, though) following the 1992 season, but came back in 2000, building motors for British American Racing (BAR) and Jordan. It also ended buying and converting BAR into the Honda team for 2006. However, we’d like to focus on that first part, since, as mentioned, we’re looking at a 2001 RA0001E here.
You can have the Honda V10 in your living room
The Dutch seller offering this 3.0L F1 heart via British platform Collecting Cars mentions that both BAR (003 car) and Jordan (EJ11 car) raced the motor during the 2001 season. Note that this auction ends on Sunday, July 17, 2022.
The V10, which features an 80-degree angle between its cylinder banks, using an electro-hydraulic throttle system, was able to make up to 830 hp at an ear-tingling 17,900 rpm (the soundtrack is the one we miss the most these days).
In those times, engines were rebuilt every 1,200 km (745 miles). However, following its final Grand Prix, this 3.0-liter V10 had its internals removed. And, instead of receiving fresh hardware, it was fitted to a presentation stand, as you can see in the image gallery.
Of course, there are also aficionados who enjoy putting such high-tier engines to work nowadays. And the closest example we can think of is this Judd 4.0L V10 LMP1 endurance and F1 heritage engine (it “only” revs to 10,000 rpm, though) that now powers drifter Ryan Tuerck’s “Formula Supra” Mk V Toyota Supra.
