Well you certainly can't question Honda's commitment to a cause. Seemingly not content with setting five front-wheel drive records two years ago with the old Civic Type R, it has spent 2018 doing the same thing all over again with the FK8 Type R. For those perhaps a little weary of the crusade by now, you'll be pleased to know that the last lap has been completed: Jenson Button has been around the Hungaroring in 2:10.2.
That follows Estoril, Silverstone, Spa and Magny Cours in the record breaking run, all of them bar Magny Cours familiar from 2016 and - surprise, surprise - all their previous records surpassed by the new car. Interestingly though the advantage held by the latest Civic Type R over its predecessor in Hungary wasn't all that great; the FK2 recorded a 2:10.8, and sixth tenths isn't much when you consider the new car's additional power and more advanced rear suspension. Perhaps that first turbocharged Civic Type R wasn't as bad as people will now have you believe...
Handily the Hungaroring has special significance for JB, he having taken his first F1 win there 12 years ago. He described the Type R as "really enjoyable and more natural" because of its balance, and joined every single person who's ever driven a fast Honda in praising its manual gearbox.
So that's that; Honda proves that the new Civic Type R is faster than the old one, and that the red ones are definitely the quickest Type Rs. And the lap records are definitely done now, honest. Well, at least until the Type R is facelifted with 350hp and they start all over again...
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