BAR launch

[Jellybabe]

LUCKY STRIKE B·A·R HONDA LAUNCH 2003 CHALLENGER IN BARCELONA

Lucky Strike B·A·R Honda marked the beginning of their 5th season in Formula One today with the unveiling of their 2003 challenger in Barcelona, Spain. The all-new B·A·R Honda 005 is the result of a huge effort made by the team over the past year to dramatically improve engineering standards and to lift the performance of the team to a much higher level than previously achieved.

In 2002, under the guidance of new technical director Geoffrey Willis, the team committed to design and build a car of outstanding quality. Compared to the 004, the new B·A·R Honda 005 is significantly smaller, lighter, has a lower centre of gravity and is more aerodynamically efficient than its predecessor.



Generally, the B·A·R Honda 005 is the product of a completely revised design philosophy and process, the results of which start with the chassis. It is constructed using an entirely different concept to the previous year’s car, with new internal bulkheads making it substantially lighter, whilst maintaining the required design stiffness and meeting all the FIA crash test requirements. The gearbox is all-new, the maincase now being an aluminium investment-casting and using Xtrac internals. The revised suspension layout is also more compact with lay-down torsion springs. The fuel and cooling systems are much more refined. The number of parts used has been reduced by some 10% and the team has reassessed the way it manufactures components in order to make use of lighter materials.



2003 also begins a new chapter in B·A·R’s relationship with Honda, which will see the team benefit from exclusive engine supply. The new RA003e V10 engine is lighter, smaller and with a lower mass promises to provide more power as well as an improved torque curve. The Japanese manufacturer will continue to work closely with the team in the area of chassis development. They have also become an official sponsor of B·A·R.



Bridgestone continue with the team as official tyre supplier for the fifth consecutive year. The new technical regulations imposed over the winter have meant that each team will be allowed tyres specifically designed for their cars, so pre-season testing will see B·A·R and Bridgestone working very closely to ensure that they have the best possible package for the new season.



Getting his first taste of the car in Barcelona today was British young gun Jenson Button, who joins the team alongside Former World Champion Jacques Villeneuve to create what is undoubtedly one of the most exciting driver line-ups in Formula One today. At only 22, with three seasons in Formula One behind him, Jenson has put his faith in B·A·R in the belief that the team will provide him with a winning car in the long-term.



The team also took the opportunity in Barcelona to present its new corporate identity. The name has been simplified to B·A·R, the new design is clean and simple, with a newly-defined culture born out of the need to instil the right attitudes and values into the organisation. The race livery for 2003, with title sponsor Lucky Strike driving the image, is an evolution of the familiar white and red colour scheme. Sponsors will now benefit from an association with an F1 team that has its own clear identity and personality, and promises to evolve into a strong sports property in the coming years.



Team Principal David Richards commented: “2003 will be a challenging year for B·A·R but we have made a substantial step forward over the winter. Together with our partners Lucky Strike, Honda and Bridgestone, I am confident that we will make significant progress towards our long-term target of winning the World Championship. None of the other teams have been standing still though, so we will need to stretch ourselves throughout the entire season to achieve our goals.”


“With a much-improved car, Jacques Villeneuve will now be able to demonstrate his extraordinary talent, whilst Jenson Button, with three seasons under his belt, is well-positioned to challenge the front runners. Together with our third driver Takuma Sato, I feel that B·A·R now has a driver line-up that is the match of any in Formula One.”

Takeo Kiuchi, Honda F1 Project Leader, commented: “We believe that our additional support, increased branding on the car and the new powerplant will be seen as symbols of our determination to compete at the highest level in Formula One. The whole Lucky Strike B·A·R Honda team are determined to give the fans some exciting racing this year.”

The B·A·R Honda 005 will make its testing debut tomorrow (15 January) at the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona with Jenson Button at the wheel.

Pics are at http://www.barf1fans.com/2003/january/launch2.html

[Glen]

Nice looking car - still got a whiff of the old BAR-ness, but very much a Willis car... back end looks very Williams - the way it sort of sits down on its back wheels with thise big flip-ups. Barge-board-less in the Williams mould too, although I think they were doing that last year. Just look kind of "right" to me.

They even managed to get JV and JB inthe same picture!

[DNQ]

Not alot to say other than increased Lucky Strike signage. Seems like we'll have 9 F2002 clones this year, notice how the body work at the back is very sleek, especially compared to the brick that was last years car. It will be interesting to see how it does.

[Bononi]

Wow, almost a Ferrari in a BAR livery ! They even increased the red parts in it...

[The Moon Monkey]

i would say that honda signage has increased. It is much more prominent on the engine cover, is on the rear wing and the drivers are sporting Honda on their visor. Last year, Lucky strike appeared on the rear wing and the drivers' visors.

Not a bad livery all in all.

[Jellybabe]

Lucky Strike is still on the back of the rear wing. Honda have become a sponsor as well as a technical partner now, hence the increase of Honda signs.

[steve_r]

I think it Looks really good (much better than the Toyota anymay!!)

[Damon]

How completly identical to last years Williams is the back end of that car? Poor BAR, that was probably the worst part of last years Williams.

[Inigo Montoya]

I agree. It looks alot like the Williams from last year. No periscopes for once... Looking forward to seeing Button humiliate that bigmouth Jacques with this baby...

[Damon]

Spot the odd one out...

Please note, Button isn't very tall!

[Inigo Montoya]

LOL, is he standing on a box?

[steve nielsen]

Originally posted by Damon
How completly identical to last years Williams is the back end of that car? Poor BAR, that was probably the worst part of last years Williams.

did'nt Geoff Willis move from Williams to BAR??

[Damon]

yeah, thats why!!

[Glen]

Originally posted by Damon
How completly identical to last years Williams is the back end of that car? Poor BAR, that was probably the worst part of last years Williams.

Huh? Worst in what sense?

[Damon]

That it totally knackered the rear tyres.

[Glen]

Originally posted by Inigo Montoya
No periscopes for once...

BAR were the first to copy the Ferrari last year and make their exhausts non-flush with the top of the bodywork - looking at these pics it seems that they have continued... so definately periscopes.

No twin keel, no barge-boards, v big flip-ups, high nose - pretty much like the Williams. They haven't gone for the slightly more rearward cockpit that Toyota seem to have copied from Ferrari, together with the humped front section of the side-pods.

[Jellybabe]

Originally posted by Glen
No twin keel, no barge-boards, v big flip-ups, high nose - pretty much like the Williams. They haven't gone for the slightly more rearward cockpit that Toyota seem to have copied from Ferrari, together with the humped front section of the side-pods.

It has barge boards but they're smaller and behind the wheels. They moved there half way through last year.

[Inigo Montoya]

Originally posted by Glen
BAR were the first to copy the Ferrari last year and make their exhausts non-flush with the top of the bodywork - looking at these pics it seems that they have continued... so definately periscopes.

Right you are Glen. You can see from the shot from the rear wing in the first link posted in this thread. Its not flush, but its different than the Ferrari periscope.

[Damon]

I can't see these barge boards Jelly babe

[Damon]

[Nicholas]

They're directly between the front wheels and the nose, you can see it in the above picture...that black thing at 45 degrees to the nose. Funny, the only teams that have a similar design are Jordan and Williams!

Even the drivers have driven for Williams.

[Damon]

oh right, thats a barge board is it?

[Jellybabe]

You can see them a bit better here too.

[Damon]

I see now!! That looks even more Williams-esque from that view.

[Glen]

Most people seem to not call them barge boards - I think turning vanes is the term used to distinguish this type from the more usual big boards. Generally recognised as the Williams way - so no surprise that Willis brought this with him.

Could this be the year that BAR actually achieve something? If they beat Sauber I'll be seriously impressed...