The Honda RA108

[ShiftingGears]

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/64815

More forward bargeboards and sticking with the high nose. So that suggests they wont be using the bridge element on the front.

[wmcot]

Let's see if they can get it up to pace? If not, I don't see them being in F1 for too many seasons.

[Azumanga Davo]

It looks one of the more tidier looking cars that I have seen in a long time. I wish them well.

[wedge]

The high nose is interesting. At first glance it does make you wonder whether Honda really want to make a step forwards or not.

Guess we'll wait how this year unfolds...

[jens]

Bah. Honda promised a "revolution" for 2008, but the car looks like one from the Stone Age. The testing times are not promising either. In fact, they have been clearly beaten even by Force India, who still hasn't launched their new car yet...

Honda struggled throughout 2007 and seemed that they had no clue, how to make the car more competitive. So therefore no surprise that they still haven't found the "key". They hired a few specialists from other teams during 2007 (like Zander, Bigois), but it's quite obvious that the team's structure needs a lot more and radical changes. Brawn shouldn't wait too long before making them...

[Sleeper]

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c116/andycar/ra108.jpg
Heres the pic from ITV's website. It doesnt look too bad but I'm surprised that they still havnt got heavily undercut sidepods.

As for testing times, the cars barely done more than a shakedown.

[Malbec]

Bah. Honda promised a "revolution" for 2008, but the car looks like one from the Stone Age. The testing times are not promising either. In fact, they have been clearly beaten even by Force India, who still hasn't launched their new car yet...

Yes, Force India's 2007 car is quicker than Renault's 2008 car too, guess FI will be a podium scorer in 2008! Or maybe, just maybe, some of the 2008 cars are barely out of the shakedown phase and are nowhere near their full potential and haven't got more than the basic aerodynamic parts needed to get them round the track in one piece. Remember its only testing, and early testing at that.

The car IS revolutionary for Honda. They've abandoned the entire train of design that Willis brought with him from Williams, turning vanes instead of bargeboards, low set flip ups ahead of the rear wheel etc etc. They've admitted it doesn't work and have gone the entirely conventional route this time. For Honda this is revolutionary and I expect them to be a little behind in the development of the car compared to their rivals who have been pursuing this train of thought for over half a decade.

There are quite a few features on the car taken from the BMW, not surprising when you know where many of the new Honda staff came from. Not a bad car to be influenced by really.

[jens]

Testing indeed. But do those clearly worst lap-times really create some optimism for you? Usually a team, who is clearly the worst at the beginning of testing, won't become a serious contender in just a couple of months time by the start of the new season.

Last year was the same. Honda was at the bottom of time sheets and folks said that they were sandbagging and sooner or later Honda would make a magnificent comeback. Nah. The whole BAR/Honda campaign in F1 so far has proven one thing: never overestimate them...

[Malbec]

Testing indeed. But do those clearly worst lap-times really create some optimism for you? Usually a team, who is clearly the worst at the beginning of testing, won't become a serious contender in just a couple of months time by the start of the new season.

Last year was the same. Honda was at the bottom of time sheets and folks said that they were sandbagging and sooner or later Honda would make a magnificent comeback. Nah. The whole BAR/Honda campaign in F1 so far has proven one thing: never overestimate them...

Not when its a mere shakedown, no. If Honda are slow in three/four weeks time then sure, they're in trouble.

Likewise I'm not going to suggest that Williams are going to be challenging Ferrari/McLaren or that BMW and Renault are in big trouble which the current testing times suggest unless the same pattern is repeated in a months time.

Last week IIRC the Renault was 4 seconds quicker per lap than the Williams during their shakedown laps.... its only testing.

[OutRun]

I like the basic design of the RA108. I like that they've decided to use conventional bargeboards. I hope the 'new' aero parts actually work.

[gloomyDAY]

The RA108 will not excel.

[Garry Walker]

Honda seemingly have created another loser of a car.
High-nose has its aero benefits, but mechanical grip wise will hurt the car.

[Knock-on]

Honda seemingly have created another loser of a car.
High-nose has its aero benefits, but mechanical grip wise will hurt the car.

Honda have struggled in previous years by a series of embarrassing direction decisions.

However, they have a very experienced driver line up and a man at the design helm that is slightly more than a rookie. He seems to have had limited success at some 2 bit Italian outfit if I remember rightly and will not have forgotten how to get a car performing.

They have also spend considerable resources in equipment that will allow them to accelerate development (now it's calibrated correctly)

So, early prediction from me is that Honda will be near the pace come Aus. Maybe not podium pace but midfield and getting better until a major revamp in Europe.