Honda's motorsports division is said to be considering making a return to Formula 1, a series that it has been absent from since the end of 2008.
Whether or not Honda's top brass gives the project the green light heavily depends on if Formula 1 passes new regulations that mandate the use of a 1.6-liter V6 engine fed with a turbocharger, a powerplant that Formula 1 boss Bernie Ecclestone has vehemently spoken out against in the past.
"Formula 1 is the very top of auto racing and it requires a large commitment," explained Yoshiharu Yamamoto, the head of Honda's Research & Development division, in an interview with England-based Autocar. Â "It is true that we look up at those races and hope that one day we can participate again," he added.
Honda wants to make a name for itself in the FIA's World Touring Car Championship (WTCC) before it takes on big names like Ferrari and Mercedes on the Formula 1 circuit.  A heavily-modified Civic powered by a turbocharged and direct-injected 1.6-liter engine is scheduled to participate in its first WTCC race on October 20th, 2012.
