Honda RA108

The Honda RA108 was the Formula One racing car with which Honda Racing F1 contested the 2008 Formula One season. The car was driven by teammates Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello.

Honda RA108

Rubens Barrichello driving the RA108 at the 2008 Canadian Grand Prix
Category	Formula One
Constructor	Honda
Designer(s)	Shuhei Nakamoto (Technical Director) Jörg Zander (Deputy Technical Director) Jacky Eeckelaert (Engineering Director) Kevin Taylor (Chief Designer) Loic Bigois (Head of Aerodynamics)
Predecessor	RA107
Successor	Brawn BGP 001^[1]
Technical specifications
Chassis	Moulded carbon fibre and honeycomb composite monocoque
Suspension (front)	Double wishbone with pushrod-activated torsion springs and rockers, Showa dampers
Suspension (rear)	Double wishbone with pushrod-activated torsion springs and rockers, Showa dampers
Engine	Honda RA808E 2.4 L (150 cu in) 90° V8, 19,000 RPM rev limited Naturally-aspirated, mid-engined
Transmission	Honda Carbon composite maincase, 7-speed, Honda internals Sequential semi-automatic hydraulic activation
Power	747-775 hp @ 19,000 rpm^[2]^[3]
Fuel	? (5.75% bio fuel)
Lubricants	ENEOS
Tyres	Bridgestone Potenza BBS Forged Magnesium Wheels
Competition history
Notable entrants	Honda Racing F1 Team
Notable drivers	16. Jenson Button 17. Rubens Barrichello
Debut	2008 Australian Grand Prix
Last event	2008 Brazilian Grand Prix
Races Wins Podiums Poles F/Laps 18 0 1 0 0

Following the departure of Honda from the sport at the end of 2008 and the sale of the team to team principal Ross Brawn in 2009, the RA108 was the last car produced by the Brackley-based team to bear the Honda name and the last Formula One car powered by a Honda engine until 2015, when Honda re-entered the sport as an engine supplier to power the McLaren MP4-30.^[4][5]

Launch

 

An RA108 driven by Rubens Barrichello at Valencia, January 23rd 2008.

The car was unveiled at a test in Valencia on 23 January 2008, a week before the car's official launch, driven by Rubens Barrichello.^[6] The car was officially unveiled at the team's operational headquarters in Brackley, England.^[7]

For the 2008 season, the Honda F1 team named Ross Brawn as team principal and also announced a new deputy technical director in the form of former BMW Sauber chief designer Jörg Zander.

For the 2008 season, the team retained their drivers from the previous two seasons, Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello. Honda also recruited Alexander Wurz from Williams, although the veteran Austrian had announced his retirement from race driving in 2007, but Wurz could not turn down the prospect of working alongside Ross Brawn.^[8] Honda also confirmed that their young driver line up will include 2006 British Formula 3 Champion Mike Conway and Italian Luca Filippi.

2008 season

Testing

The RA108 had been a constant mid to rear end car in 2008 testing with Jenson Button saying the car lacked "driveability" as the drivers and team adapted the RA108 to new rules.^[9] For the 2008 season, the FIA implemented rules that required all teams to use one gearbox for four races and a standard McLaren Electronic Systems ECU that prevents the use of driving aids such as traction control and engine braking. Ross Brawn had already said the team had a better chance for the 2009 Formula One season as the regulations for 2009 would be totally new.^[10]

Button commented on how positively the team developed the RA108.^[11] At their final week of testing at the Jerez Circuit in Spain, the team added new aerodynamics, with most of the wings being revised. Head of Race and Test Engineering, Steve Clark, believed the car was a clear step forward.^[12]

In the testing in Paul Ricard before the Monaco Grand Prix, a second revision of the "dumbo" wings on the nose, first introduced in the Spanish Grand Prix, was introduced.

Gallery

•  

  Rubens Barrichello driving the RA108 during a test.

•  

  Front-left view of the car.

•  

  Jenson Button driving the RA108 at the 2008 Chinese Grand Prix.

•  

  Barrichello at the 2008 Malaysian Grand Prix.

•  

  The RA108 without the "dumbo" wings at the 2008 Australian Grand Prix.

•  

  Barrichello driving the RA108 at the 2008 Canadian Grand Prix, showing the "elephant ear" nose winglets.

•  

  A close-up of the second revision "dumbo" wings, introduced in the Monaco Grand Prix.

Complete Formula One results

(key)

Year	Team	Engine	Tyres	Drivers	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	Points	WCC
2008	Honda Racing F1	Honda V8	B		AUS	MAL	BHR	ESP	TUR	MON	CAN	FRA	GBR	GER	HUN	EUR	BEL	ITA	SIN	JPN	CHN	BRA	14	9th
				Jenson Button	Ret	10	Ret	6	11	11	11	Ret	Ret	17	12	13	15	15	9	14	16	13
				Rubens Barrichello	DSQ	13	11	Ret	14	6	7	14	3	Ret	16	16	Ret	17	Ret	13	11	15

References

1. Tremayne, David (24 October 2009). "Brawn and brains! In-depth review of the title race and a look ahead to 2010". Independent. from the original on 10 April 2018. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
2. "Engine Honda". www.statsf1.com. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
3. "Honda's F1 engine revealed". 24 November 2013.
4. "Honda team to return as Brawn GP". BBC Sport. 6 March 2009. Retrieved 6 March 2009.
5. Collantine, Keith (16 May 2013). "Honda confirm F1 return with McLaren in 2015". F1 Fanatic. Keith Collantine. Retrieved 16 May 2013.
6. "Barrichello debuts new Honda RA108". GPUpdate.net. 2008-01-23. Retrieved 2011-01-30.
7. "Honda presents RA108". GPUpdate.net. 2008-01-29. Retrieved 2011-01-30.
8. "Wurz: Brawn made Honda proposal interesting". GPUpdate.net. 2008-01-31. Retrieved 2011-01-30.
9. "New Honda lacks driveability - Button". GPUpdate.net. 2008-02-04. Retrieved 2011-01-30.
10. "Brawn turns attention to 2009". GPUpdate.net. 2008-02-22. Retrieved 2011-01-30.
11. "Button positive after final week of testing". GPUpdate.net. 2008-03-07. Retrieved 2011-01-30.
12. "Last gasp progress for Honda". GPUpdate.net. 2008-03-07. Retrieved 2011-01-30.

External links

 

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Honda RA108.

• RA108 technical specifications