Honda Civic Type R Touring Car Hits the Track
British Touring Car Championship Civic Type R is the track day special we’ve always dreamed of.
This is the same car that BTCCÂ aces Gordon Shedden and Matt Neal are campaigning in the 2017 season. Based on the road car, this Civic Type R is a prodigious little racer. That is looks as badass as it drives is just icing on the cake.
Built to BTCC specifications, the car is stripped out, and caged to the tune of 1280 kg (2800lbs). The K20C engine has been modified to reliably deliver 365 horsepower and331 lb-ft of torque for lap, after lap, after lap. Gone is the six-speed manual transmission, in it’s place is a sequential dogbox. What does that mean? In short: use the clutch to get it going, and for the downshifts, no clutch work needed for full-speed upshifts. The suspension setup is unspecified, but it looks quite stiffly suspended, and I spy remote reservoirs for the shocks. Of course, tire grip is the biggest factor in dropping lap times, and this CTR doesn’t disappoint with massive racing slicks wrapped around centerlock wheels. Those wheels house some rather enormous brakes.
All of this works in tandem to scare this journalist from Autocar half to death. The insane grip, and braking ability is otherworldly, coming from even the greatest of sports cars. Watch the man come to terms with how hardcore this BTCC racer is, and what it takes to wield it effectively.