Honda pleased with initial test results

The Japanese squad held an official launch for the RA107 at Barcelona today, after Rubens Barrichello gave the car its maiden run yesterday, at the Spanish track.

And Nakamoto has said that initial data indicates the team is on the right direction in their development, after working on the RA107 for nearly a year.

"The RA107 is the result of ten months of design, development, and manufacture which began almost as soon as the RA106 made its race debut.

"We were pleased with the initial performance indications from our first full day of testing. Positive signs from the car's testing debut provide the reassurance that we have taken a good direction."

Nakamoto said he is particularly pleased with the team's preparations to race on Bridgestone tyres this season, as the entire grid prepares to race with the same tyre manufacturer for the first time since 2000.

"Our progress in this area has been due to a combination of the simulation work conducted at our Brackley headquarters, and an extremely productive pre-Christmas testing programme," he said.

While Nakamoto is happy with the car at this stage, he added that the team will now begin a comprehensive development programme ahead of the start of the season.

He said: "There is a great deal of on-track development work to conduct before we embark on the racing season, and we now look forward to the next challenge of optimising the RA107 for the first race in Melbourne."