HONDA The Power of Dreams

Honda's first F1 project team called Brabham “Bra-san,” expressing both their respect and affection for the legendary F1 champion. While Honda’s F1 team in the 1960s called drivers they became close with by their first names, Brabham alone was given a Japanese-style nickname.

Yet Brabham had never raced in a single Grand Prix for Honda F1. Why did Honda members of that era hold him in such high esteem, that they called him “Bra-san”? The story begins with Brabham becoming the first F1 champion to pay a courtesy visit to Honda.

It is said Brabham first visited Honda during the winter of 1961-62. After finishing the European racing season, he stopped in Japan on his way back to his home in Australia to visit Honda. At that time, Brabham was a 36-year-old veteran driver, cunning and competitive. He had just left the Cooper team, where he won back-to-back championships in 1959 and 1960, to establish his own Brabham team. This marked the first time in F1 Grand Prix history that a champion driver founded an F1 team. Moreover, he would win his third championship with his Brabham team in 1966. To this day, in the 75-years of F1 history, Brabham remains the only driver to win the championship with a team he himself founded. Brabham possessed the talent to succeed not only as a driver but also as a team owner.

At the time, Honda was an emerging manufacturer rapidly growing due to the massive success of the Super Cub, on the verge of becoming the world’s largest motorcycle manufacturer. In 1959, Honda began its full-scale challenge in international motorcycle racing. By 1961, Honda had won championships in two classes of the World Motorcycle Championship, and was on the verge of sweeping all five classes. However, as of 1962, Honda had not yet launched its automobile manufacturing and sales operations. That would come one year later, in 1963. Rumors had nevertheless permeated European racing circles that once Honda became a car manufacturer, it would challenge Formula 1 next, following its World Championship success with motorcycles.

The reason why Brabham approached Honda was obvious. His message was clear: If Honda were to do Formula One, would they partner with the Brabham team?

Brabham’s action stemmed from his characteristic foresight and drive, befitting both an F1 champion and a powerful team owner. Reportedly on his first visit to Japan, Brabham set up the carburetor on a Cooper F1 car Honda owned.

Brabham deepened his relationship with Honda. When Yoshio Nakamura, who would become Honda’s first F1 Team director, was dispatched to the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) in Paris and various locations in London for preliminary negotiations, Brabham piloted his private plane to serve as his guide. On his next visit to Japan, Brabham readily agreed to be the test driver for the RA270, Honda’s first F1 car.

It was only natural that Honda, embarking on its F1 journey, had hopes of forming a partnership with Brabham. It intended to enter the F1 Grand Prix with a Brabham Honda. But, this plan fell through due to Colin Chapman of Team Lotus’ powerful negotiations with Honda.

Brabham, it is said, maintained his calm and composed demeanor, and uttered not a single complaint. Subsequently, the Brabham team collaborated with Repco, an Australian manufacturer and distributor of components, to develop an F1 engine based on the unassuming V8 engine block from American manufacturer Oldsmobile. They brilliantly clinched the 1966 championship.

Amidst the complex, strategic maneuvers and constant flow of information that define the daily reality of the F1 world, the hardworking Brabham team, known for its solid, no-nonsense racing approach, found Honda, a newcomer, to be a truly reliable partner. Honda felt indebted to Brabham’s sincere cooperation and purchased a large number, around 20, F2 and F3 formula chassis from the Brabham team for its newly established Suzuka Circuit racing school. Furthermore, Honda partnered with the Brabham team to launch an F2 project starting in 1965. Honda supplied its newly developed 1000cc inline-four RA302E F2 engines. The Brabham Honda F2 entered 19 F2 races held across six European countries over two seasons, from April 1965 to October 1966, establishing the historic record of 12 consecutive victories. Brabham had now become Honda’s trusted ally. He was a man who never sought the limelight, working steadily and sincerely.

In 1985, Brabham, a citizen of the Commonwealth nation of Australia, was knighted by the British Royal Family for his significant contributions to British motorsports. As of 2025, only four F1 drivers have been knighted by the Royal Family.

In 1970, Brabham retired from driving at age 44 and stepped away from team management, becoming a businessman enjoying his later years in Australia. However, Honda consistently sought his advice on international car racing activities and leveraged his trusted network. His influence extended to Honda’s second F1 era through F2 activities with the Ralt team and F1 racing with the Williams F1 team, joint race engine development with John Judd, and NSX Le Mans spec. development, among countless other projects. This influence even reached into Honda’s third F1 era.

Brabham, who passed away peacefully in 2014 at the age of 88, was a benefactor and guardian of Honda’s international car racing endeavors. Neither Brabham nor Honda ever flaunted this fact, so few people were actually aware of it.