HONDA The Power of Dreams

Honda will participate in the 2006 Goodwood Festival of Speed to be held in Goodwood, Sussex, England, from Friday, July 7 to Sunday, July 9, 2006. The Festival is one of the world‘s largest historic motorsports events, established by Sir Charles March in 1993 when he freed up his vast grounds for the event. The theme of this year’s event is “Racing for Glory - a Century of Grands Prix.”

Honda was invited by Sir Charles March to participate in the event, and last year, became the first Japanese car manufacturer to serve as the main sponsor. This year Honda, in its eighth year of participation in the 1.16-mile hill climb time trial, will once again feature its current and historic racing bikes and cars, as well as their pilots, adding to the excitement of the event.

The Honda racing machines, riders and drivers participating in the hill climb are as follows:

Born in Australia on October 16, 1985.

Stoner debuted in world grand prix racing in 2001. In 2005, he won 5 races in the 250cc class and finished 2nd overall. In 2006, he is currently ranked 6th in the MotoGP class with Honda LCR, and is one of the hottest young riders today, having taken pole position in his second grand prix (Qatar) at the age of 20, the second youngest rider in history, and finishing second in the third round in Turkey.

Born in England on October 5, 1980

Toseland was originally a trials rider, but started road racing at the age of 12. In 1997, he finished 3rd in the British Supersport Championship. In 1998 he moved to the Supersport World Championship, in 2002 to the Superbike World Championship, and in 2006 joined Winston Ten Kate Honda and won the opening round of the season. He is currently 4th in the rankings.

Born in England on November 8, 1931

Since his first ride for Honda in the 1960 Dutch TT, Redman was Honda’s main rider for seven years until his retirement, winning the 250cc and 350cc classes in 1962, the 250cc and 350cc classes in 1963, the 350cc class in 1964, and the 350cc class in 1965. He totalled six world championships (the most of any Honda rider) and 46 race wins. He was also the first Honda rider to win the 500cc class championship (May 22, 1966, Round 2, West Germany GP).

Born in England on October 21, 1979

Harris is a three-time British Supersport Champion. He competed in the British Superbike Championship in 2005 with the Honda Racing Team, finishing 7th in the standings. In 2006 he moved to HM Plant Honda Racing Team and is currently 4th in the standings.

Born in Switzerland on September 19, 1929

During his 13-year racing career, Taveri competed in all classes of the Grand Prix World Championship from the 50cc through to the 500cc class, and also rode as a passenger in the sidecar class. After moving to Honda in 1961, he became the 125cc class world champion in 1962, 1964 and 1966.

Born in Northern Ireland on March 7, 1942

Bryans debuted in 1959 and won the 350cc and 500cc classes of the Irish Championship in 1963. In 1964, he rode for Honda in the Grand Prix World Championship 50cc and 125cc classes, and the following year, won the world championship in the 50cc class on his RC115. He earned a reputation as a specialist in the small-displacement classes.

Born in England

Haslam finished second in the 1979 Suzuka 8 Hours. He competed in the World Championship from 1977, and raced in the 500cc class from 1983 to 1990. Known as “Rocket Ron” for his ability to start off the line faster than anyone else, he finished in the top ten 61 times, including nine podiums, over an eight-year period, He finished fourth in the standings. He rode for the ELF Project from 1986 to 1988, in in 1987 was ranked 4th on an ELF4 powered by an NSR500 engine.

Born in England on January 9, 1942

Son of Leslie Graham, who won the World Championship 500cc class four times between 1949 and 1952 and was killed in an accident at the 1953 Isle of Man TT races, Stewart raced motorcycles from 1961 to 1970, finishing within the points in three rounds of the World Championship 500cc class in 1966. He then moved to car racing in 1973.

Born in Northern Ireland

Robb competed in the Isle of Man TT races from 1958, joined Honda in 1962 to finish second in the 125cc class, and finished third three times in the 500cc class of the Grand Prix World Championship in 1970 and 1971.

Born in England on April 18, 1979

Davidson joined B-A-R Honda (now Honda Racing F1 Team) in 2001 and has been involved in car development as a test driver for three years. In 2002, he participated in F1 from the Minardi team on loan from B-A-R Honda. He will continue to support the Honda Racing F1 Team as third driver in 2006.

Born in in Brazil on November 11, 1967

Ferran won the 1992 British Formula 3 championship and joined CART in 1995, where he won one race that year and was named Rookie of the Year. He joined Marlboro Team Penske in 2000 and became the fifth driver in CART history to win back-to-back drivers’ championships in 2000 and 2001, and has been the sporting director of B-A-R Honda (now Honda Racing F1 Team) since 2005.

Born in England on January 19, 1980

Button won the British Formula Ford championship in 1998 and moved up to British Formula 3 the following year, winning Rookie of the Year. In 2000 he made his F1 debut with Williams. In 2003, he joined B-A-R Honda (now Honda Racing F1 Team). In 2004, he finished third in the drivers’ standings with 10 podium finishes, including four second-place finishes, and was ranked 3rd overall. In 2005 he was ranked 9th, and will continue his F1 participation in 2006.

Born in England on February 11, 1934

After winning seven motorcycle world championships, he made his Formula 1 debut in 1960 at the Monaco Grand Prix and won the world championship in 1964. He joined Honda in 1967 and won the Italian Grand Prix in his RA300 debut race, giving Honda its second F1 victory. He is known as the “Master of Motorsport” as he is the only person to hold both motorcycle and automobile titles.

Born in England on December 20, 1966

Neal has competed in the BTCC (British Touring Car Championship) since 1993, winning 24 championships and finishing on the podium 56 times. In the Civic Type-R he was ranked 3rd in 2003 and 5th in 2004. He won the championship in 2005 driving an Integra Type-R, and continues to compete in 2006, currently leading the championship.

In the second round (Germany) of the 1961 World Grand Prix, the RC162 gave Honda its first 250cc victory. Its rider, Kunimitsu Takahashi became the first Japanese to win in the World Grand Prix. That year, the RC162 broke every track record and won all 10 races it entered.

Mike Hailwood claimed the World Grand Prix 350cc class title in 1967 on his RC174, winning seven of the eight rounds.

Although the RA273 got off to a good start with a 3rd place finish in the opening round of the 1967 season, its subsequent results were poor, and was replaced by the RA300 at the Italian GP towards the end of the season. John Surtees drove hard from ninth place on the grid to win the race by a mere 0.2 seconds, giving Honda its second F1 victory.

A further development of the RA300, the RA301 was expected to be the strongest Honda F1 car, but its best finish was 2nd place in the French GP. After this car, Honda suspended its first F1 activities.