Honda Civic - Long Standing and Reliable Racing Car

Civic may be one of the smaller cars produced by Honda, but its racing abilities have been proven in the last couple of years in many touring championships.

Honda Civic was the 2013 WTCC winning car

Honda Civic road car is popular worldwide

The first Civic was produced back in 1972 as a two-door model, and over the years and after many developments and modifications, it became one of the most popular Honda cars. Around 20 million Civics were sold worldwide, and over the years got many awards like ’Car of the Year’, ’Best New Sports Car’ or ’Best New Economy Car’.

Honda Civic 3-door model from 1972

Early days in the world of racing

It wasn’t a surprise that Honda Civic was used as a racing car since its introduction, both in Japan and worldwide. In the 1970s, Honda Civic competed in the famous Bathurst 1000 race with considerable success in its class. Many British teams were also using Honda Civic in various endurance series while in 2005, Honda Civic had won the class in the famous 25 Hours of Thunderhill marathon race, the longest race in the United States.

Honda Civic in its last appearance at Bathurst in 1976

Honda Civic was the WTCC champion in 2013

However, Honda Civic had really entered the world stage in 2002, when the Italian team JAS Motorsport entered the European Touring Car Championship with a Super 2000 specificated Civic. When the competition was renamed to FIA World Touring Cars Championship in 2005, the R-Type Civic was run by Honda Dealer Team Sweden and then disappeared from the series after many teams decided to switch to Honda Accord.

Finally, in 2012, Honda Civic returned to the WTCC. The S2000 TC model, prepared again by JAS Motorsport and in the hands of the Portuguese driver, Tiago Monteiro, managed to score its first podium finish, taking the 3rd place in Macau. Compared to the following season of 2013, this overture wasn’t as glorious as Honda’s winning of the Manufacturers’ Championship in its first full season.

Video : Exciting Honda Civic moments as it conquers WTCC

Continuous progress

Honda Civic has undergone a continued period of development in accordance with 3 permitted homologation changes in each WTCC season. The biggest changes were made in 2014, when Honda Civic had to meet the TC1 specification. That change wasn’t very successful because Honda couldn’t defend its title in the series, losing the battle against the superior Citroen C-Elysee.

Finally, the gap between Citroen and Honda was reduced and some improvements were made. Civic was prepared for the 2016 campaign and it is probably the most competitive car so far, capable of engaging in the battle for the WTCC title.

Development of Honda Civic continues

One of the most successful in the modern era of BTCC

Another racing series in which Honda Civic is highly competitive is the British Touring Car Championship. Since 2002, Civic is a regular participant of the series, ran by factory-backed teams or by independent entries.

This car scored many race wins before winning its first Constructors/Manufacturers Championship title in 2010. It was built according to the NGTC rules. After the stream of success was broken in 2014, Honda Civic returned to the winning path in 2015 and confirmed itself as one of the most successful cars in the history of the series.

Gordon Shedden in Honda Civic leads the pack in the BTCC race at Silverstone, 2013

Present in many racing series

Honda Civic is also present in many other international and national racing series like TCR, Asian Touring Cup Series, Scandinavian Touring Car Championship, Japanese Touring Car Championship and Russian Touring Car Championship.

Honda Civic TCR R-Type

Technical Specification of Honda Civic WTCC

Dimensions

Length: 4498mm (including splitter)
Width: 1950 mm
Weight: 1100 kg (including driver, without competition weight ballast)

Engine

Type: HR412E (developed by Honda R&D)
Cylinders: 4
Capacity: 1598cc turbocharged
Output: Approximately 380bhp at 7000rpm

Transmission

Gearbox: 6-speed sequential – XTRAC 1046
Clutch: Twin carbon disc
Differential: Limited slip-type with adjustable pre-load

Suspension

Front suspension:  McPherson + adjustable anti-roll bar
Rear suspension: McPherson + adjustable anti-roll bar
Shock absorbers: Extreme Racing Shox, 4-way adjustable

Brakes

Front calipers: 4-pot AP Racing bespoke design
Rear calipers: 2-pot AP Racing
Front discs: AP Racing 380 x 34 mm
Rear discs: AP Racing 280 x 14 mm

Roll cage: JAS designed – alloyed steel (Cr-Mo) tubes, TIG welded
Seat: OMP
Belts: OMP
Steering wheel: OMP

Photos: index.hu, mad4wheels.com, shannons.com.au, autoblog.com, autoguide.com, carwitter.com, jasmotorsport.com.