The company's recent successes in Formula 1 and the Indy Racing League are only the latest triumphs against the backdrop of considerable triumphs in the past - both in Europe and America.

Collecting the award was Shoichi Tanaka, who collected the trophy from IRL champion Tony Kanaan.

"We can say that racing is at the very core of Honda," said Tanaka. "We love racing, we support two wheels and four wheels all over the world. We have two international racing circuits and we try to encourage the sport at all levels - so on behalf of the Honda Motor Company I am very honoured to receive this prestigious award tonight."

Speaking in front of a host of former Honda drivers, including former world champion John Surtees, Tanaka said: "We have been very fortunate to work with great drivers and great teams over the last 40 years and many of them are here - so many that I cannot individually mention them. I want to thank them all on behalf of Honda."

The audience, fresh from cheering on home hero Jenson Button for his International Racing Driver of the Year Award, wanted to know how confident Tanaka was about beating Ferrari in 2005.

Tanaka responded: "We did get a little closer to them [in 2004] but we have not won yet, so I am very much looking forward to hearing Jenson's 'God Save the Queen!"