Scuderia Toro Rosso have released there new Honda-powered 2018 car.
Press Release:
The highly anticipated first collaboration between Scuderia Toro Rosso and Honda, the STR13, was unveiled this morning, just before the first day of pre-season testing got underway at the Barcelona-Catalunya Circuit. The cover was pulled off our 2018 challenger by our driver pairing of Pierre Gasly and Brendon Hartley. The STR13 sticks with our striking blue, red and silver livery, but makes history as the first car produced by Toro Rosso featuring an exclusive engine partnership with Honda.
Franz Tost
(Red Bull Toro Rosso Honda Team Principal)
“I am really looking forward to begin this new season and enter a new era for our team, working together with Honda. It’s an exciting time for Toro Rosso because we have not had our own engine supplier before, so to partner with a manufacturer, with the history Honda has, will be great. We also have two accomplished rookies for the 2018 season. They are not completely new because both Pierre and Brendon drove a handful of races for us last year, but this will be their first full season in Formula 1. Both drivers come to us as champions, as Pierre won the 2016 GP2 (now F2) Championship, while Brendon is a double World Endurance Champion and 24 Hour of Le Mans winner. I’m convinced that if we provide them with a competitive car, they will be able to perform at very high levels. We have been working very hard on the STR13, and I’m happy we do not have to wait too long to see it running. The season has begun… Ganbarimasu!”
Katsuhide Moriyama
(Chief Officer for Brand and Communication Operations, Honda Motor Co., Ltd.)
“I am delighted that our new car is here and ready for the start of winter testing, having been designed and built to a very tight schedule. That is a tribute to the dedication of the Honda and Scuderia Toro Rosso personnel who have already learned to work very well together, developing the STR13 chassis and RA618H power unit package over the short winter months. Now we have just eight days to evaluate our work on the track, in order to be ready for the coming season. We appreciate the warm support from the fans and hope they enjoy watching us compete in this year’s championship.”
As I said a few weeks ago, Japanese F1 websites have been talking bullish about the expectations of this years Honda PU. and up to this first day of testing they seems to have been correct in what they were pushing out.
Wouldn’t it be McLaren‘s luck if this year Honda finally gets their act together and produces a good and reliable power unit.
Watch how “Alonso overtakes Toro Rosso with Honda engine-test day 1” youtube
LOL, that was pretty funny!
Yes, that was pretty funny, as soon as the Spanish bull came behind a Honda all he could see was red. First day wasn’t much, weather not conductive of F1 car testing tyre wise, but second best speed trap top speed and number of laps went to Honda/Toro Rosso.
Watch some actual running, compare and turn-up the sound “2018 FERRARI SF71H vs Alfa Romeo Sauber formula 1-youtube”. Notice the amount of time the waste-gate is open around the lap, much more than before on any car.
Lol! Taking no chances of having the Honda grenade in front of him.
Shame his nuts were loose
(First day out with a Honda engine). BH talking to Marca sports newspaper “The Honda engine is very drivable and have more power than I had last year”.