Honda nose sprouts ‘ears’ at Spanish test

(GMM) Embattled Honda has taken a leaf out of McLaren's book in a bid to produce a quicker car for the upcoming Spanish grand prix.

The crisis-ridden team sent Christian Klien's RA107 out of the garage on the final morning of the Barcelona test on Thursday fitted with what the attending media immediately referred to as 'elephant ears' — two peculiar winglets sprouting from the tip of the nose.

Already painted to match the rest of the 'Earth Car' livery, it is expected that engineers for the Brackley based team believe the solution could contribute to improving the stability of the troubled car's handling, particularly under braking.

Honda's innovation follows the testing earlier this week of a similarly revolutionary front wing design by McLaren, featuring a thin 'bridge'-like appendage looping over the front nose and attached to the end plates.