UpdateF1 >> Formula 1 News > Dumbo ears Honda won't race

Innovation still in evaluation

May 4 (GMM) Honda's 'elephant ears' addition to the front nose of its 2007 car is unlikely to resurface at the Spanish GP next week.

The bizarre aerodynamic innovation - basically two sculpted vertical winglets - was track debuted by test driver Christian Klien as the Barcelona session drew to a close on Thursday.

But despite speculation that it is a definitive part of the beleaguered Japanese squad's new bodywork package, and the conspicuous presence at Circuit de Catalunya of team boss Nick Fry, it is believed that Honda engineers have almost certainly ruled out running the piece in the first European race of 2007.

The Spanish newspaper 'Diario As' described the winglets, designed to improve the RA107 single seater's chronic instability under braking, as "horrible" in appearance.

The report also claims that the device proved not adequately "effective" after analysis of Klien's programme for Thursday.

Race driver Rubens Barrichello, nonetheless, reports that he is feeling "happier" with the updated RA107 following the test in Spain.

After finishing thirteenth and a lap down in Bahrain, he said: "We seem to have found some results in the right direction, so I hope we can make a small step forward at the next race."

Written: Mon, 07 May 2007 10:51:41