Wednesday 28th February 2018

New Time Attack laps for Civic Type R

Honda has enlisted the help of a former employee this time around. One Mr J. Button...

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Remember a couple of years back when Honda took it upon itself to set some self-certified lap records? The record breaking run took the team across Europe, taking in Silverstone, Spa, Monza, Estoril and the Hungaroring. Naturally the ethics of such an attempt were scrutinised pretty heavily, but it did get people talking about the car once more...

Here we are once again, in 2018, with Honda set to use the FK8 Civic Type R to surpass a few of those records and set some more, too. Once more the car will visit Spa, Silverstone and Estoril, with additional tracks to be announced soon. Interestingly, Jenson Button will be involved in driving duties this time, alongside Tiago Monteiro, Esteban Guerrieri and Belgian Bertrand Baguette. (Yes, that is a real name, he's a driver who plies his trade in Japanese Super GT.)

As with the previous record runs, this 2018 version is being used by Honda to draw attention to its Nurburgring record lap. But given that was very openly completed in a car with just one seat, it still looks rather more circumspect than most. Honda says the laps will "reinforce the class-leading status" of the car, though that claim is difficult to substantiate when no rivals have performed similar feats. Back to you, SEAT, Renault etc...

Honda will show the Time Attack Civic Type R at the Geneva show; expect more information on the laps in due course.

 

[krismccloy]

Appears to be a nod at the original records set in '98.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7E-x9p45xPA

Just look at the low slung, compact, lightweight Integra Type R