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Honda to have Milton Keynes base

ESPN Staff
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Honda returns to Formula One with McLaren in 2015 © Getty Images
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Honda has announced that it will have a UK base in Milton Keynes for its return to Formula One.

The engine manufacturer will return to the sport in 2015 when it will supply McLaren with V6-turbo engines under the new regulations. In a statement Honda confirmed its European base would be within its Mugen facility in Milton Keynes, with development of the new engines currently on-going in Japan.

"The new facility will be the European frontline operation for Honda's F1 participation and will rebuild and maintain the power units developed at Honda R&D center in Tochigi, Japan," the statement read. "Honda will also base its trackside support operations from this new European office."

Yasuhisa Arai, Honda's chief officer of Motorsport, said the announcement makes the company's plans more solid.

"With the confirmation of a new F1 operation base in U.K., our preparation to join F1 has become more specific and concrete," he said. "To meet and exceed the expectations of our fans, we will accelerate our development to bring back the unique Honda engine sound onto the track."

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