Cherry at the races

The Cherry (E10) took full advantage of its FF design to display unequalled performance when racing in the rain. Fans were thrilled by the sight of the intrepid Cherry as it attacked the Fuji Speedway banking, raising a great cloud of spray.
In charge of developing the race version was Special Vehicle Test Section No. 2 at Murayama (the engine was developed at Ogikubo). As early as November 1970, just a month after the Cherry was launched, testing was conducted at the Fuji circuit. The Cherry’s racing debut came in October 1971: the 5th event at the Fuji GC, the Masters 250km race. The model used then was still the 2-door X-1, but it won a splendid victory in the rain, coming in 1st and 2nd places (#11, Kurosawa & #12, Tohira).
The engine was an A12 (1,171cc), bored up to 1,289cc. With primary specifications (Solex 40PHH carburetor), this put out 100PS/8,000rpm; with secondary specifications (Lucas fuel injection), performance rose to 150PS/8,5000rpm; and with tertiary specifications (cross-flow double ignition), this OHV engine achieved an impressive Max. power of 160PS/8,800rpm.