Honda: 'Green car is no publicity stunt'

Honda are insisting that their new-look car to promote environmental awareness to Formula One's massive audience is not a publicity stunt.

During the 2007 season Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello's RA107s will sport an image of the Earth rather than traditional sponsors' logos.

Pop mogul Simon Fuller and his company '19' have played a big part in the move but Honda team boss Nick Fry has stressed that breaking from tradition is not a gimmick.

Button and Barrichello have vowed to make lifestyle changes to become more environmentally friendly and Fry said: "We knew from research that 94 per cent of people thought it was a good idea, there are always going to be the remaining cynics but we have no time for that.

"The case for climate change is well proven. One individual or nation will not solve the problem and this call to action is for everyone to make a positive move rather than waiting for the inevitable.

"Formula One and the environment may not be seen as bedfellows. But we talked to the FIA about what will happen to Formula One in the future and there was a belief that unless the sport moved in the same direction of having road-relevant technology then it was likely to become extinct."

Button, meanwhile, believes that Honda still have work to do with their new-look car ahead of the opening race of the 2007 season in Australia on March 18.

However the 27-year-old Frome-born racer believes his team have overcome problems with the enforced switch to Bridgestone tyres.

He said: "We're not at the same pace as the Ferraris, McLarens or BMWs. We're not quite there - it's not where we want to be but all we can do is get our heads down and hopefully improve the car as soon as possible."

© Independent Television News Limited 2007. All rights reserved.