Honda Engine Upgrade Put on Hold

Japanese engine manufacturer Honda have put plans to introduce a revised qualifying engine at this weekend's Canadian Grand Prix on hold, race and test team manager Shuhei Nakamoto has revealed.

The Jordan team tested the power unit at the Silverstone circuit last week while BAR sampled the engine at the Paul Ricard in France, but Nakamoto has decided that further testing is needed before it is used.

"We've decided to carry out additional testing before the final implementation of the next step engine which we had planned to use in qualifying at the Canadian Grand Prix," Nakamoto said.

Jordan driver Giancarlo Fisichella ended engine supplier Honda's search for points this season with two successive fifth place finishes in Austria and Monaco, and Nakamoto has said that further improvements will be made to the race engine in the coming weeks as Honda look to fulfil their potential.

"We will race in Canada with a further developed engine with increased performance based on the engine used in qualifying in Austria," he added. "We will continue with the development programme over the next couple of races and are optimistic for increased performance."

BAR have failed to score a single point this season, but are already working closely with Honda on the production of their 2003-spec car.