Click for more.
Honda said today that as part of its commemorative activities during the F1® Mexican Grand Prix [footnotes 1, 2] on 25 October, Honda will participate in a demonstration run with the Honda RA272. This is the car that delivered Honda’s first F1® victory. It will be driven by Oracle Red Bull Racing driver Yuki Tsunoda. On 24 October 1965, at the F1® Mexican Grand Prix, Honda won for the first time as a Japanese automaker with driver Richie Ginther at the wheel of the RA272.*
“It is an honor to drive the RA272 at the special place where Honda achieved its first F1® victory. Driving on the track where the RA272 pioneered Japanese motorsports history 60 years ago is a particularly special and deeply moving experience. With Honda’s history of challenges in my heart, I want to give fans a drive that conveys dreams and passion,” said Yuki Tsunoda.**
The RA272 was Honda’s F1® car in its second year as a full constructor [3]. Powered by a 1.5-liter V12 engine and carrying the Japanese flag on its white livery, the RA272 became a symbol that marked the beginning of Japan’s motorsport history.
For the demonstration run, Honda Racing Corporation engineers performed special maintenance on the RA272 housed at the Honda Collection Hall. At the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, where Honda achieved its first F1® victory, Japanese F1® driver Tsunoda will drive the RA272 as a representative Honda driver.
“Since its founding, Honda has pursued challenges, viewing racing as a place to hone its people and technology. This year, Honda is running a special program reflecting on 60 years of challenges and victories, with a Williams Honda FW11 demonstration run at the 2025 Goodwood Festival of Speed in July and Monterey Car Week in August, and a Honda RA272 demonstration run at the Mexican Grand Prix. As it advances power unit (development for its upcoming F1® entry starting in 2026, Honda will continue to hone its people and technology through these challenges, delivering dreams and excitement to motorsports and Honda fans worldwide,” Honda said.
In recognition of the 60th anniversary, Honda Racing Corporation recently launched a line of premium apparel and merchandise featuring the RA272 race car.*
“It is a tremendous pleasure that the RA272 will drive again in Mexico, at the same place Honda achieved its first victory, 60 years ago in 1965. Furthermore, having Tsunoda, a driver representing Japan in F1® pilot this historic car, holds great significance. We believe this will be a precious opportunity to reflect on Honda’s history of challenge while sharing dreams and hopes for the future with our fans,” said Koji Watanabe, President of Honda Racing Corporation.
*AutoInformed on
**Inevitable Honda F1 Footnotes
The F1 logo, FORMULA 1, F1, GRAND PRIX and related marks are trademarks of Formula One Licensing BV, a Formula 1 company. All rights reserved.
- FIA: Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile
- Official name: F1 MEXICO CITY GRAND PRIX 2025
- Full constructor develops and manufactures its own car and engine for F1® competition
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn.
He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe.
Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap.
AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks.
Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.
Mexican Grand Prix Demo Drive – Tsunoda in Honda RA272
Click for more.
Honda said today that as part of its commemorative activities during the F1® Mexican Grand Prix [footnotes 1, 2] on 25 October, Honda will participate in a demonstration run with the Honda RA272. This is the car that delivered Honda’s first F1® victory. It will be driven by Oracle Red Bull Racing driver Yuki Tsunoda. On 24 October 1965, at the F1® Mexican Grand Prix, Honda won for the first time as a Japanese automaker with driver Richie Ginther at the wheel of the RA272.*
“It is an honor to drive the RA272 at the special place where Honda achieved its first F1® victory. Driving on the track where the RA272 pioneered Japanese motorsports history 60 years ago is a particularly special and deeply moving experience. With Honda’s history of challenges in my heart, I want to give fans a drive that conveys dreams and passion,” said Yuki Tsunoda.**
The RA272 was Honda’s F1® car in its second year as a full constructor [3]. Powered by a 1.5-liter V12 engine and carrying the Japanese flag on its white livery, the RA272 became a symbol that marked the beginning of Japan’s motorsport history.
For the demonstration run, Honda Racing Corporation engineers performed special maintenance on the RA272 housed at the Honda Collection Hall. At the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, where Honda achieved its first F1® victory, Japanese F1® driver Tsunoda will drive the RA272 as a representative Honda driver.
“Since its founding, Honda has pursued challenges, viewing racing as a place to hone its people and technology. This year, Honda is running a special program reflecting on 60 years of challenges and victories, with a Williams Honda FW11 demonstration run at the 2025 Goodwood Festival of Speed in July and Monterey Car Week in August, and a Honda RA272 demonstration run at the Mexican Grand Prix. As it advances power unit (development for its upcoming F1® entry starting in 2026, Honda will continue to hone its people and technology through these challenges, delivering dreams and excitement to motorsports and Honda fans worldwide,” Honda said.
In recognition of the 60th anniversary, Honda Racing Corporation recently launched a line of premium apparel and merchandise featuring the RA272 race car.*
“It is a tremendous pleasure that the RA272 will drive again in Mexico, at the same place Honda achieved its first victory, 60 years ago in 1965. Furthermore, having Tsunoda, a driver representing Japan in F1® pilot this historic car, holds great significance. We believe this will be a precious opportunity to reflect on Honda’s history of challenge while sharing dreams and hopes for the future with our fans,” said Koji Watanabe, President of Honda Racing Corporation.
*AutoInformed on
**Inevitable Honda F1 Footnotes
The F1 logo, FORMULA 1, F1, GRAND PRIX and related marks are trademarks of Formula One Licensing BV, a Formula 1 company. All rights reserved.
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn. He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe. Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap. AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks. Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.