Honda boost aero department

Honda Racing have confirmed the extent of a massive recruitment drive for aerodynamicists in a bid to ramp up their 2007 title challenge, this week's Autosport reveals

Over the past six months, the Japanese car manufacturer have appointed 35 new staff members to help lead development of their second $50 million wind-tunnel at Brackley, giving a firm indication of the level of commitment the team have to succeed.

Although Honda have had to adjust this season to the loss of technical director Geoff Willis, in a staffing reshuffle, and chief aerodynamicist Simon Lacey, who has joined McLaren, team boss Nick Fry said that the new members of staff have boosted the team's aero expertise and should put them in good stead for next year.

The team wanted to have the second wind tunnel operating 24 hours per day and so required the extra personnel to make that happen.

With Jenson Button being the highest points scorer in F1 since his maiden win in the Hungarian Grand Prix, Fry told Autosport that he was amazed the team had been able to stay competitive with just their old tunnel.

"This level of recruitment becomes necessary when you do something as significant as commissioning a new 100 per cent wind tunnel," he said.

"Looking at what we can achieve having two tunnels, it is amazing in a way that we came as far as we did using just one."