The Spirit 201 was designed to serve dual roles across different formula categories. In Formula Two specification it used a 2-litre naturally aspirated engine, fitting the regulations of that series. When Spirit Racing secured a partnership with Honda to run the Japanese manufacturer's new 1.5-litre turbocharged engine in Formula One, the 201 became the testbed for that programme. Honda's return to grand prix racing after a lengthy absence generated considerable interest, even if the chosen car was modest by the standards of established teams.
During the 1983 season, a modified variant designated the 201C was developed and introduced midway through the year, intended to replace the original 201 as the primary race car. However, reliability and logistical issues meant both designs were used in various rounds.
The Spirit 201 made its Formula One debut at the non-championship 1983 Race of Champions at Brands Hatch, driven by Swedish racer Stefan Johansson. Starting 12th out of 13 classified qualifiers, Johansson showed early promise by moving up to 10th position and posting lap times comparable to significantly more powerful machinery — including the Ferrari 126C2B of René Arnoux, reportedly producing around 650 bhp. Television commentator Murray Walker was mid-sentence praising the team's trouble-free testing record when the Honda engine blew, retiring the car after just four laps. The moment became one of the more memorable ironies of the season.
For Spirit's World Championship debut at the 1983 British Grand Prix at Silverstone, the team had planned to race the new 201C. Johansson qualified it fifteenth, a creditable performance for such a small operation. Engine problems discovered on race morning, however, forced a last-minute switch back to the older 201 for the race itself, and the car retired after five laps with a broken fuel system.
The 201C went on to race at the German and Dutch Grands Prix, while the original 201 continued to appear at other rounds during the same season. The car's best result in Formula One came at the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort, where Johansson finished seventh — a significant achievement for a team and engine combination still finding their feet in the top tier of the sport.
The Spirit 201 occupies a modest but historically meaningful place in motorsport. It served as the vehicle for Honda's return to Formula One as an engine supplier, a partnership that — though it began with Spirit — ultimately moved to Williams Racing and produced four consecutive Constructors' Championships from 1986 to 1989. The Honda turbocharged engine that debuted in the 201 would evolve into one of the most dominant power units of the turbo era. Spirit Racing itself remained a small outfit and never matched the heights their engine partner would later reach with a more established team, but their role in facilitating Honda's re-entry into grand prix racing is part of the broader story of 1980s Formula One.