Friday 29th November 2013

Honda reveals 2014 Civic BTCC racer

The BTCC wagon returns!

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Honda, all is forgiven. We take everything back. The CR-Z, the Mk2 Insight, taking ages with the Civic Type R and the NSX, it's now disregarded and overlooked.

Why? Because it's bringing the estate back to the BTCC. Yes, really. The Honda Yuasa Racing Team will campaign Civic Tourer-based machines in 2014, the first team since Volvo if memory serves. There's only a rendering at present, but doesn't it just look brilliant (and a little barmy?).

Moreover, with the success of the Civic hatch in the BTCC, it would be a brave speculator who bet against the Tourer taking a few victories. The current car has won the all three BTCC titles (for drivers, teams and constructors) in 2011, 2012 and 2013.

The Honda Yuasa team will continue with Matt Neal and Gordon Shedden as its drivers. The latter commented he was 'really looking forward to the challenge of next season, and to seeing what the Tourer can do on race day'. You and us both Gordon!

According to Team Manager Peter Crolla, there is absolutely no compromise in running the estate over the hatch: 'The weight, wheelbase, layout and suspension remain the same' he said. Of course there's some extra length though, which could make it rather susceptible to nudges from behind...

BTCC 2014 testing begins in January, so there should be full images of the Civic Tourer racer released before then. The season gets underway at Brands Hatch on 29/30 March. Oh, and roadgoing Civic Tourers are available to order from Honda next week. If you're interested.

[Fetchez la vache]

Fab.
Never did volvo any harm. far from it.

[paulvillage]

Type R Estate please

[ajprice]

Will be good to see an estate on the track again

Photos posted on gtplanet forums, very close up though.
http://www.gtplanet.net/forum/threads/the-i-cant-b...

[VladD]

That's just dreadful, but then I'm no fan of the Civic in general.

[smilo996]

Seeing as Volvo have initiated Polestar then there is the possibility of seeing Volvo estates in BTCC again or perhaps an Evoque, if Land Rover ever went racing.

Well done Honda though for spicing up the series. Should be a real spectacle.

[mp3manager]

I really wish they would call their estates Aerodecks again.

[Stew2000]

I'm guessing it has to be seen in person to look remotely good.
As renders and photos.. I hate it.

[joedav]

If I remember correctly the Volvo was a "Ground Effect" Car, are Honda trying to emulate them?
Have they got a Dog ready for their Maiden Win Parade Lap?

[SimonSaid]

Any ideas about why they chose it, if it has the same wheelbase? What's the advantage, aero?

[zebedee]

joedav said:

If I remember correctly the Volvo was a "Ground Effect" Car, are Honda trying to emulate them?
Have they got a Dog ready for their Maiden Win Parade Lap?

How was it a ground effect car, not least given the ride height?

[Baryonyx]

Looks good, certainly a better design than the FN2.

[DanielSan]

I'd like credit for announcing this in the Motorsport section months ago

[vz-r_dave]

SimonSaid said:

Any ideas about why they chose it, if it has the same wheelbase? What's the advantage, aero?

Outside of the box dude, marketing the model

[GenePoolReject13]

vz-r_dave said:

Outside of the box dude, marketing the model

More advertising space?

[vz-r_dave]

GenePoolReject13 said:

vz-r_dave said:

Outside of the box dude, marketing the model

More advertising space?

An added bonus yeah, not sure if it is a business driver to use an estate tho?

[Timmycube]

Well I've scored it a ten and see reason to post here so I must really like it!

The latest Civic hatch has such ugly rear lights I doubt I'd ever consider one, though the tourer seems far more cohesive as a design, at least at the rear end anyway. I want to see an R.

[MiniMan64]

SimonSaid said:

Any ideas about why they chose it, if it has the same wheelbase? What's the advantage, aero?

Exposure for the model I guess, there probably very little difference between the two salon and estate models on the track so why not?

Love it!

[DanielSan]

There is a slight aero benefit compared to the hatch but its 99.9% marketing.

[redroadster]

Needs sticker of labrador in rear window to complete package!

[DanielSan]

redroadster said:

Needs sticker of labrador in rear window to complete package!

That would actually be brilliant