It replaces the NSX-GT, but the two are more similar than you'd think.
Honda Racing Corporation (HRC) is getting ready to start testing its all-new Civic Type R-GT race car, which is expected to debut in the 2024 racing season. This hardcore hot hatch will compete in the Super GT Series and battle it for glory in the GT500 Class.
The motorsport subsidiary plans to begin testing on July 25 and 26 at Japan's Okayama International Circuit, a 2.3-mile-long track with 13 turns (in its Grand Prix configuration). Powered by a specially developed turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder, Honda describes the Civic Type R-GT as a “dedicated race machine.”
Much like the road-going Civic Type R, on which it's loosely based, Honda wanted to achieve a mix of speed and beauty. It should be a strong contender in the forthcoming season thanks to sophisticated aerodynamics and various racing upgrades.
Honda is out to dominate the GT500 class from the word go.”With our constant desire for victory, we will strive to win the championship from the very first year, so please keep your expectations high for the permeance the Civic Type R-GT will demonstrate in the coming years,” said the President of HRC, Koji Watanabe.
Racing fans familiar with the GT500 category and the greater Super GT series may be surprised to see Honda has chosen the relatively humble Type R as the foundation of its latest race car. This role was previously filled by the automaker's since-discontinued supercar, the NSX, which was sold in America under the Acura brand.
While a Civic will never be as cool as a mid-engined supercar, the Type R-GT shares several similarities to its predecessor. The road-legal version of the NSX was powered by an electrified 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6, which produces 602 horsepower in Type S guise.
However, like the Civic Type R-GT, the NSX-GT also used a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine. This is because regulations stipulate that a vehicle's engine has to be this size. In the NSX-GT, power was sent to the rear wheels, much like its road-going sibling.
Interestingly, the Civic Type R-GT will adopt a rear-wheel drive setup, doing away with the front-driven design of the regular Civic Type R. We can't wait to see how the little Honda does on the track, going up against the GR Supra and Nissan Z GT500.
It may be based on a far humbler vehicle, but as we've seen, the Civic Type R is a competent vehicle. The production model (albeit slightly modified) recently blitzed the Nurburgring record for front-wheel drive vehicles. It has also demonstrated its dynamic prowess at Suzuka Circuit.
Keyword: Honda Civic Type R-GT To Replace Acura NSX As Honda's Top-Flight Racer