Honda's new Formula One power unit will run on track for the first time on Friday, when it will be fitted in a developmental McLaren as part of a filming day at the UK's Silverstone circuit.
McLaren have been building the interim MP4-29H car in order to test the installation and integration of the Japanese company's turbocharged V6 power unit ahead of the 2015 season.
Mileage during filming days is strictly limited, and teams have to use demonstration tyres, but the running is thought to represent an important step in the power unit's development.
Honda revealed the first pictures of their new power plant in October, when they said progress was reaching ‘prime phase'.
Meanwhile, McLaren racing director Eric Boullier recently told Formula1.com that a development car would help the team hit the ground running in 2015.
"To make sure that we are ready at the launch of the new cars in 2015 we've decided to build a development car, as Honda needs to check all the multiple systems," Boullier explained.
"We also need to check the IT link between track and Woking and between track and Japan. So as not to have to focus on these things too much in the test season, we've decided to run a development car programme.
"In terms of car design it will be very similar to this one. We don't want to burn money on unnecessary areas. We just have to make sure that some technical options for next year are already on the car."
During the 1980s and '90s, McLaren and Honda won a total of 44 Grands Prix and eight world championships together, marking one of the most successful technical associations in F1 history.
(source: f1.com)
