Why has Honda never rallied?

[RallyCat909]

Not to say that they never have, I have never heard of a works Honda entry in top level rallying. Have they ever had an entry in something like country-specific championships? Either way, I dont really understand why they dont rally their cars. I know they have always been an F1 sort of company, but still.

I guess in Japan F1 is considered the ultimate drivers and manufacturers series. (?)

[GigiGalliNo1]

They are doing the IRC presumably with an S2000 car? Or was it also FWD?

[Lalo]

I guess in Japan F1 is considered the ultimate drivers and manufacturers series. (?)

Perhaps it's so. In Japan drifting championship is very popular, and I'm quite surprised that Honda, whose one of the bests there, haven't ever give it a try in WRC. Maybe they wanna let Subaru and Mitsu alone... Not to mention the good old days with Toyota (ahhh, memories ).

I guess Honda wanna stick in F1. If they screw there (which is actualy happening), they may change to another category in a few years, but I doubt it will be the WRC.

[jonkka]

Honda has always been about racing.

[Bristecom]

Some Civics have actually gotten good times in the WRC. But yeah, I guess that's just not their cup of tea.

Final Classification for this past Rallye Deutschland:

65. 118 N3 Y. Lahure L Honda Civic Type R 4:30:02.4 1:07.2 1:02:34.9
66. 105 N3 K. Keskinen FIN Honda Civic Type R 4:31:54.2 1:51.8 1:04:26.7 0:30

[N]

Honda has always been making cars without turbos and most are FWD. They are famous for the their VTEC and I guess that the WRC wasn't the right place for them. But you do see Hondas on a lot of rally's, but most are like group N3 or N2.

[ShiftingGears]

Who knows why? It'd be good to see another manufacturer in the WRC. I reckon they'd have the resources to compete in F1 and WRC at the same time, same with Toyota. BUT only if they sort out their Japanese management syndrome.

[AndyRAC]

Personally Honda is the main reason why Toyota is now in F1 and not WRC. Toyota felt they had to be seen to be competeing against Honda, therefore F1 was the place to do it. Wrong move, WRC is Toyota's natural home, were their most success is. Honda need to get their car and bikes on the pace

[rwssport]

They are doing the IRC presumably with an S2000 car? Or was it also FWD?

The car that Sola and Betti are using in the IRC is Group A spec fwd...

very nice looking car though.

[LotusElise]

There were Honda Civic entries in the mid-1990s in the BRC described as semi-works or works-supported. I assume that they were run by Honda UK only, like the touring car teams.