Honda pedigree bodes well for BAR

Given their huge success in the past, Honda will be expected to make an impact very early in its comeback season.

The Japanese manufacturer first joined F1 in 1964, when they ran their own factory team. The car was on the pace by the middle of 1965, with Richie Ginther taking their first win in Mexico.

Another victory followed with John Surtees at Monza in 1967, but the project ended on a tragic note when Jo Schlesser was killed when his Honda crashed in the French GP. The team pulled out at the end of the season.

Honda made a low-key comeback with the little Spirit team in 1983, but this was mainly to test their new turbo engine before they began an alliance with the mighty Williams team at the end of the season.

The project began inconspicuously, but Keke Rosberg did wrestle his ill-handling Williams-Honda to victory in Dallas in 1984.

By 1986 the partnership was championship-winning material, but it would take another season before Nelson Piquet could become the first Honda powered world champion.

Already supplying Lotus as well, a less-than-amicable split with Williams meant Honda switched their allegiance to McLaren for 1988.

The new combination was virtually unstoppable for the next four seasons, meaning Honda powered drivers won every title between 1987-1991, an incredible achievement.

The rise of the Williams-Renault combination meant a less successful 1992, and Honda pulled out of F1 at the end of the season. They remained involved through their Mugen partner, powering the Arrows, Lotus, Ligier and Jordan teams over the past few years.

Rumours of a fully-fledged Honda factory team first surfaced in 1997 and the project got as far as the prototype testing stage.

However, today's news confirms what has been suspected for some time, that the company has instead chosen to come back as a supplier rather than a constructor.

Given Honda's amazing record in Grand Prix racing, BAR could be set for some fruitful years.