One of Honda’s Most Important Engines Just Resurfaced in an Unexpected Way

Without a change in Formula One rules, this very special V10 might not even exist today.

Published 20 hours ago

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Throughout his decade-long career in Formula One, Ayrton Senna made 161 starts, raced his way to 65 pole positions and secured over 600 points through a total of 80 podiums and 41 first-place finishes.

As a result, despite facing fierce competition from teammate and rival Alain Prost, Senna went on to win three world titles during the 1988, 1990 and 1991 seasons. Before the untimely accident that brought a tragic end to his time on the track, Ayrton Senna showed himself to be one of the greatest drivers to have ever graced the seat of a Formula One car.

Assuming you’ve had the chance to binge Netflix’s Senna limited series, you’re already well-acquainted with the Brazilian’s rise to fame. Ayrton Senna remains a legend to this day — for his Formula One successes and for his humanitarian efforts — which makes rare opportunities like this upcoming auction too tempting to ignore.

a display case showing a disassembled honda formula one engine — As the last V10 that Ayrton Senna raced in Formula One competition, engine V805 is deserving of a display case.

Senna’s swansong V10

That’s because, as part of the Honda Racing Corporation (HRC) memorabilia program, Honda will be selling the last V10 engine raced by Ayrton Senna in the 1990 FIA Formula One World Championship.

close-up of a plaque for the last ayrton senna v10 honda engine — Honda has spared no expense for presentation — the case includes a plaque commemorating the engine’s significance.

Bearing serial number V805 of RA100E, the engine powered Senna’s McLaren MP4/5B during the warm-up session of the Japanese Grand Prix held at Suzuka Circuit in October 1990, along with the race session at the Australian Grand Prix in Adelaide later that November.

As racing buffs will recall, it was at Suzuka in 1990 that Ayrton Senna crashed into Alain Prost in the first turn of the first lap. The collision forced both drivers to abandon the race, though Senna, having already clinched the title with his season points total, managed to walk off the track with his second World Championship.

a moody shot of a disassembled honda f1 engine — Fully disassembled and displayed in an exploded configuration, a Formula One engine makes for a striking piece of art.

Rarest of the rare

Needless to say, chances to get your hands on race-used Senna memorabilia are few and far between, and this auction is no exception.

a shot showing the disassmbled top end of a Honda f1 engine — After the 1990 season, engine V805 remained preserved in its original state, so all parts are accounted for today.

Had Senna used this V10 during the prior season, it’s possible that it wouldn’t even exist today. At the time, Honda usually would ship its Formula One engines back to Japan for study. Once at HQ, technicians would then disassemble the blocks to analyze wear and tear accrued during racing, afterwards discarding the parts altogether.

However, because a change in FIA rules mandated that teams move to a V12 configuration for 1991, Honda had already started working on a new engine by the time V805 was retired from competition. For this reason, the V10 miraculously escaped the fate shared by many of its counterparts, and it was instead preserved in its original state.

a side shot of a display case showing a disassembled honda formula one engine — Whether you’re a fan of Ayrton Senna or a Formula One history buff, this engine is as collection-worthy as race memorabilia comes.

Auction inbound

To ready serial number V805 for sale, Honda’s expert HRC technicians disassembled the engine in its entirety. Rather than being auctioned off as a single lump, the parts instead take center stage in a striking display case.

If you’re interested in getting your hands on this exceptional piece of Senna (and Formula One) history, break open your piggy bank and start liquidating your assets. Bonhams will be listing engine V805 on August 15th as part of the Quail Auction during Monterey Car Week. With so many passionate gearheads in attendance, the sale could be truly stratospheric in its result.