The vehicle, issued by Oaktec Team Racing, dominated the competition so brutally during time trials that officials believe it is unfair for the team to drive it during future events. No word on exactly what top speed the car hit.

Oaktec boss Paul Andrews said that, “It was a bit of a shock when I got the call as after six years of hard work we finally had our chance for a bit of glory. But I fully understand the perspective of the organizers and their wish not to spoil the sport for the other drivers. Formula 1000 is a great championship and they were really supportive by allowing us to compete with these new hybrid technologies in their rallies and we always agreed that if we had a clear advantage we would step aside.”

Source: WCF

It doesn’t seem as though over-exposure to the affordable hybrid Insight will end in the United States, or world wide, anytime soon. Last month in Japan, Honda’s new ride became the fastest selling car so far this year, with over 10,400 purchases in April alone. It hasn’t beaten out Honda’s Fit, yet, for top car sales of the year…but it’s only May.

We can’t blame Honda for beating the US market over its head with plugola – combine the failing car buyer market, moderate to low gasoline prices and our jobless rate growing it seems that selling cars has become more challenging than getting an Eskimo to purchase an ice box (or some other 100 year old metaphor). But Honda has two weapons in its arsenal to boost 2010 Insight sales; affordability and submersion into the American Psyche.

According to Honda, it’s actually the JDM (as in Japanese Domestic Market) Honda Odyssey for 2010. What does JDM really mean? Don’t expect to see it on this side of the globe anytime soon, that’s what. The vehicle itself reminds us of Honda’s affordable Prius killer – Insight. In fact, it looks as though Honda R&D chopped off the front end of an Insight and glued it to a minivan.

Honda’s JDM Odyssey gets a 2.4-liter i-VTEC four-cylinder under the hood with output ranging from 171 to 203 Horse Power. AWD (All Wheel Drive) is an available option, while inside the Odyssey takes design cues from their smaller Honda Fit with a multitude of seat-folding and space-utilizing options.

Honda Insight’s starting MSRP has been unofficially released by speculators and enthusiasts of the Japanese auto maker as a mere $18,500, for your basic model. If this is true it will strike quite a blow to Toyota’s Prius crowd, which runs in the mid to upper $20,000′s. If that price remains, it means even a struggling family or half-broke college student will be able to afford an Insight Hybrid, and that doesn’t even include government tax refunds for those who drive hybrid cars. After all is said and done, your new Insight may run you around the lower ten-thousands.

Honda is hoping to produce 200,000 units for sale world wide during their first run of the futuristic vehicle. Honda’s hybrid gas-electric drive train for the Insight includes a 1.3 liter gasoline engine for the main power source, assisted by an electric motor. Honda also claims Insight will achieve fuel economy on par with the Civic Hybrid, the new Insight will also have excellent utility and light and comfortable driving.