The RA272 was an evolution of Honda's first Formula One entry, the RA271, which had raced in 1964. Because the 1965 season was announced as the final year under the 1.5-litre engine regulations before 3.0-litre rules came into force in 1966, Honda elected to refine and improve the existing car rather than develop an entirely new design. Development priorities were concentrated on increasing engine power output, reducing weight, and improving reliability.
The "RA" designation stood for Racing Automobile. The numeral 270 in the name is said to derive from either a target power output of 270 horsepower or a target top speed of around 270 kilometres per hour, with the final digit 2 indicating that the car was Honda's second Formula One machine.
The car's defining technical feature was its engine, designated RA272E. It was a 48-valve, 1,495.28 cc V12 unit displacing to a bore and stroke of 58.1 by 47.0 millimetres, water-cooled and transversely mounted in a rear-midship layout. Honda's official figures cited 230 horsepower between 11,500 and 12,000 rpm, with output reportedly reaching 240 horsepower by the end of the season — the highest of any engine competing during the 1.5-litre era. The V12 layout was unusual at a time when most manufacturers favoured V8 configurations, and the engine was safe for short periods at 14,000 rpm, a figure exceptional for the era. The power band, however, was narrower than some rival units. The engine was also rather wide and heavy.
Weight reduction was a conscious priority. The RA271 had weighed 525 kilograms, 75 kilograms above the minimum weight specified in the regulations. By switching to light alloys in the monocoque and changing structural materials in the engine, the RA272 brought weight down to 498 kilograms. Aerodynamics were also more refined than the previous car. During the Italian Grand Prix, Honda introduced an updated version called the RA272 Kai, featuring a 100-millimetre-lower engine mount position, an increased forward lean angle for the engine from 12.5 to 25 degrees, and redesigned bodywork to improve cooling.
For their second Formula One season, Honda signed Richie Ginther alongside the returning Ronnie Bucknum. Ginther was an experienced Formula One campaigner with multiple podium finishes and a strong reputation as a development driver; Bucknum, by contrast, had been a Formula One debutant in 1964 with minimal prior single-seater experience at that level.
The RA272 made its debut at Monaco, where both cars retired with gearbox and transmission problems. At Belgium, Ginther qualified fourth and finished sixth, giving Honda their first championship points in Formula One. The French Grand Prix ended in double retirement from ignition failures. At the British Grand Prix, Ginther qualified third, just 0.5 seconds from pole position, but spun during the race before injection problems forced retirement. He qualified third again at the Dutch Grand Prix, led the opening two laps, then spun twice before recovering to sixth.
Honda skipped the German Grand Prix to prepare the RA272 Kai update, returning at Monza for the Italian Grand Prix. Bucknum, who had missed two races following a broken leg sustained in a testing accident at Suzuka, returned to the grid alongside Ginther. Both retired with ignition problems. At the United States Grand Prix, Ginther qualified third, 0.15 seconds from pole, and finished seventh.
The final race of 1965 — the Mexican Grand Prix at high altitude in Mexico City — was also the last race of the 1.5-litre formula that had been in place since 1961. Ginther qualified third alongside Jim Clark's Lotus and Dan Gurney's Brabham in the top three. At the start, Ginther immediately passed both Clark and Gurney to take the lead and held it for every one of the 65 laps. Clark retired on lap nine with engine failure; Jack Brabham and Graham Hill encountered engine problems in the closing stages. The RA272 ran without mechanical issue to the end, with Ginther winning ahead of Gurney. Bucknum completed the race in fifth, giving Honda a double points finish. Yoshio Nakamura sent the message "Veni, vidi, vici" to Honda headquarters in Tokyo on the result.
It was a historic result: the first Grand Prix victory for a Japanese car, Japanese engine, and Japanese team. It was also Goodyear's first Formula One race win. Honda finished the season sixth in the Constructors' Championship.
The RA272's influence extended well beyond motorsport history. Honda's Type R performance car range traditionally offers a Championship White paint option paired with a red Honda badge as a tribute to the RA272's livery. The car was inducted into the Japanese Automobile Hall of Fame in 2020. Three-time Indianapolis 500 winner Dario Franchitti drove the RA272 in 2011, describing it as probably the best-sounding car he had ever driven or heard.
At the 2021 Turkish Grand Prix — serving that year as the replacement for the cancelled Japanese Grand Prix during the COVID-19 pandemic — Red Bull's Honda-powered cars ran a special livery inspired by the RA272 in tribute to Japanese fans. Max Verstappen had separately tested the original car during the Japanese Grand Prix week in 2019, the first pre-2008 racing car he had driven. At the 2025 Japanese Grand Prix, Red Bull Racing-Honda RBPT again adopted a white tribute livery on their RB21, marking both 60 years since Honda's first Formula One victory and the final season of their partnership with the team.
The RA272 has appeared in the Formula One Championship Edition video game as an unlockable bonus car and served as the design inspiration for the B Dasher kart in the Mario Kart series. It was also added to Gran Turismo 7 as part of the 1.29 update.