By Phil Huff
January 1 2006

Takeo Kiuchi has probably got petrol (or even Hydrogen!) running through his veins, rather than the more traditional blood. A motor sports man through and through, Kiuchi is a credit to Honda and their policy of continual development of their people.

Takeo Kiuchi : Date of Birth

F1 Executive Technical Adviser, Honda R&D 23 November 1956

Takeo Kiuchi has probably got petrol (or even Hydrogen!) running through his veins, rather than the more traditional blood. A motor sports man through and through, Kiuchi is a credit to Honda and their policy of continual development of their people.

Kiuchi joined the Honda Motor Company in 1981, working in an engine research capacity, developing the "City Turbo" production car, start-up of PGM-F1 system, and others. Within six years he was researching F1 engine control systems, and that pre-empted a move directly into Formula One.

In 1989 Kiuchi had the honour of race engineering Alain Prost, helping to take the French driver to his third World Championship title. The following year he repeated that feat, but this time guiding Ayrton Senna to his second title.

After his spell in F1 he went back to researching, taking the first steps into Honda's IMA (Integrated Motor Assist) hybrid power system. That led to Kiuchi becoming manager of the new power plant research division, and Large Project Leader for IMA system research, in 1994.

Further research project followed, notably his 1999 Deputy General Manager placement at the Wako Research Centre, looking into hydrogen production and fuelling stations, amongst other things.

However, the lure of motor sports eventually won over, and Kiuchi returned as Deputy General Manager of Honda's Motor Sports Division in 2001, stepping up just a year later to Head of Worldwide Automobile Racing, and F1 Project Leader, Honda R&D.