APRIL 15, 2002

Honda Racing Development appoints Szafnauer

HONDA RACING DEVELOPMENT (HRD) announced Monday the appointment of Otmar Szafnauer as its first Vice-President, effective immediately. HRD is the UK-based branch of Honda that is responsible for its Formula One program, and is under the direction of President Shoichi Tanaka.

Szafnauer has been around Formula One, and was most recently Operations Director at BAR from 1998 to 2001. At HRD, he will be involved with the overall operation, be responsible for its relationship with partner teams BAR and Jordan, as well as represent Honda as its delegate to the F1 engine manufacturers working group and FIA press conferences.

"It is an honor to be joining Honda Racing Development," said Szafnauer. "Having worked closely with many of the Honda engineers over the past three years I am looking forward to being part of the Honda family itself and helping the company to achieve its goal of winning the Formula One World Championship."