Developed in Italy and tested at Suzuka, this chassis was born to be a touring car champion.
- Honda is continuing its latest motorsports program with the new Civic Type R TCR, developed by JAS Motorsports.
- The model will be homologated for the TCR series, with universal aero pieces, a maximum of 345 hp, and available driver cooling and lighting options.
- Order books will open on Feb. 1 with an expected price tag of over $200,000, as partners like Honda of America Racing Team and LA Honda World begin their next-generation racing programs.
With a massive wing, wide fenders, and a feisty personality, you’d think that Honda’s Civic Type R was as boisterous as it gets, at least for its respective segment. Fitting all that character into a regulation-adhering package is a feat in and of itself, but maximalism says there is always room for more. And taking the newest edition of its pedigreed touring car to the track is the perfect excuse for Honda to fan the Type R enthusiasm.
Meet the Honda Civic Type R TCR, courtesy of JAS Motorsports. The homologated model is set to hit tracks around the globe in 2023, in an effort to continue the racing legacy of Honda’s performance branch. Specifically, the model will debut in the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge, then race globally in the TCR touring car series.
Because of the production-car basis for racing programs like TCR, the modifications to the latest FL5 generation Civic Type R are modest. All TCR cars, including the new Type R, wear a set of series-specific aerodynamic bodywork, with an air-funneling front splitter, scrunched rear bumper, and track-specific wing. Braking hardware and the transmission have been upgraded, though Honda doesn’t specify if the car retains its production manual transmission or uses the TCR-approved sequential gearbox. The turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder has also received a race-prep tune, likely bumping power to the TCR limits of 345 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque. That’s only 30 hp over the stock figures.
The engine and transmission are largely a carry-over from the previous generation Type R, with a redesigned turbocharger and a lightweight flywheel.
Honda
The race car’s interior has been fitted with an FIA-approved roll cage and driver’s cockpit. The heavily revised fueling system has a quick-fill feature, and customers will have the option to purchase additional lighting, driver cooling, and antilock brakes, though many racing series forbid the use of ABS.
All of these modifications were done in tandem with JAS Motorsports, an Italian motorsports engineering firm that has previously helped Honda’s racing developments. In this case, the Civic Type R TCR was actually developed in Italy, though the track-only models will be for sale in North America through Honda Performance Development. The first teams to receive Civic Type R TCRs will be the Honda of America Racing Team, LA Honda World, and Victor Gonzales Racing Team.
The production version of the new Type R features a larger radiator for improved cooling, something the TCR model will certainly need.
Honda
The model has big shoes to fill, as the previous generation Civic Type R TCR claimed 76 race victories and 19 championship titles in Europe, Asia, South America, and Oceania in 2022 as well as securing the runner-up spot in the WTCR – FIA World Touring Car Cup. That generation, known as the FK7 TCR, was also named TCR Model of the Year in 2019 and 2020.
The current model will be available for order on Feb. 1, directly through Honda’s Performance Development branch. Pricing has yet to be announced, though the previous generation sold for $172,238. If the price bump from the 2022 to 2023 production version is any indication, the new TCR model will likely cost over $200,000.
Emmet White Associate Editor A New York transplant hailing from the Pacific Northwest, Emmet White has a passion for anything that goes: cars, bicycles, planes, and motorcycles.
Keyword: Honda’s Civic Type R TCR Goes Racing for 2023