Honda kicks-off pre-season testing programme at Valencia this week

The Honda Racing F1 Team commences its pre-season testing programme at the Valencia circuit in Spain this week. The test will begin with a reference programme with last year’s RA107 in which new Test and Reserve Driver Alex Wurz will drive for his new team for the first time.

Later this week, the all-new RA108, Honda’s challenger for the 2008 season, will make its track debut ahead of its official launch at the team’s UK headquarters on Tuesday 29 January. The car will be tested in its interim white colouring before the unveiling of the team’s new livery at the Brackley event next week.

The Honda Racing F1 Team will also welcome Takashi Kogure at the Valencia test. The 27 year old Japanese driver, who races for Honda in the Formula Nippon and Super GT Series in Japan, will have the opportunity to drive the RA107 during Wednesday and Thursday. Following his performance in these series, Kogure has been rewarded with the RA107 drive as part of the Formula Dream Project through which Honda supports and develops promising young drivers.

Commenting on his forthcoming drive in Valencia, Takashi Kogure said; “This is my second opportunity to drive a Formula One car and I am really looking forward to it. I hope to do my very best and use all my experience from racing in Japan to put in a good performance. I expect to learn a lot from the test, particularly from working alongside the team’s Formula One drivers who are amongst the very best racing drivers in the world. I would like to say a big thank you to the Honda Racing F1 Team and the Honda Formula Dream Project for giving me this great opportunity.”