After setting a lap record at the MagnyCours GP circuit just last month, the high performance hatchback has set a new lap record frontwheel drive production lap record of 2mins 53.72secs at SpaFrancorchamps in Belgium. The Type R was piloted by former FIA WEC LMP2 class World Champion, #bertrandbaguette, who is currently #racing a #Honda NSXGT in the Super GT series with Nakajima #racing.
The SpaFrancorchamps circuit is one of the longest tracks in the #racing seasons of many categories at 7.004km, and features very fast straights and highspeed corners, along with more technical lowspeed sections and significant elevation changes. The classleading acceleration and outright speed of the Civic Type R’s 2.0litre VTEC TURBO engine, enabled Baguette to exploit the long straights and accelerate quickly out of the sweeping corners.
Aerodynamic performance was also critical to the lap time, and Civic Type R’s finely honed design, with a smooth underbody, front air curtain, slim rear wing and vortex generators contributed to superior levels of highspeed stability. In the car’s +R mode, the Adaptive Damper System produces a firm and flat ride ideal for track driving, enabling more speed to be carried through SpaFrancorchamps’ famous Eau Rouge and Kemmel Straight sections.
Speaking about the Type R and the way it handles, #bertrandbaguette said: “With a front wheel drive usually you always expect understeer, but this car is so balanced. Straight away you get a lot of confidence as it gives you a lot of feedback through the steering wheel, especially in +R mode. The chassis is very rigid, the rear is very stable and front is biting really well to give you a lot of front grip. The aero package really helps the car feel planted at high speed, and it’s amazing the level of traction.
“For me as a race car driver, it’s clear that Type R is born for the track, but it also feels just as right on the streets in everyday driving. When I sit in the car, it is very comfortable and the visibility all round is very good.”
Honda set the original benchmark time at SpaFrancorchamps during a similar challenge in 2016, using the previousgeneration #civictyper. It also claimed record lap times at Silverstone, Estoril, and the Hungaroring. The 2018 edition of the challenge will revisit these three tracks through the summer.
Other drivers confirmed for the remaining #typerchallenge2018 circuit record attempts include former Formula 1 World Champion and current NSX Super GT driver Jenson Button (UK), WTCR driver Tiago Monteiro (Portugal) and BTCC legend Matt Neal (UK).
The new benchmark time for the SpaFrancorchamps circuit is the third lap record to be claimed by the new #Honda #civictyper. In April 2017, a production development car became the fastest frontwheel drive production car ever around the Nürburgring Nordschleife, with a lap time of 7mins 43.8secs. Last month WTCR driver, Esteban Guerrieri, set a new 2mins 01.51secs lap record for a frontwheel drive production car at the MagnyCours GP circuit in France, as part of the Type R Challenge.
The new #Honda #civictyper retains the heritage of Honda’s highperformance hatchback bloodline and is the fastest accelerating and quickest car in its class. The latest car to sport the famous ‘red H’ was part of the allnew tenthgeneration Civic’s development programme – the largest in Honda’s history – and was engineered to deliver the most rewarding drive in the hot hatch segment, both on road and on the race track. It features a lightweight, highly rigid bodyshell, low centre of gravity, and sophisticated dualaxis strut front suspension system, which reduces torque steer and enhances onthelimit cornering.
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