Not content with holding the front-wheel-drive production car lap record at the Nürburgring Nordschleife, Honda has set a new benchmark time with its Civic Type R at Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium.
This follows the hot hatch setting a front-drive lap record at the Magny-Cours GP circuit in May 2018.
The latest record in Belgium saw the Civic Type R lap the 7,004 km Spa-Francorchamps circuit in just 2 minutes 53,72 seconds, with former FIA WEC LMP2 class champion, Bertrand Baguette, behind the wheel.
“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,” said Baguette.
“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,” he added.
Honda set the original benchmark time at the track in 2016, using the previous-generation Civic Type R. Expect the Japanese automaker to again take aim at lap records at tracks such as Silverstone, Estoril and the Hungaroring as the so-called “Type R Challenge” continues, with the likes of Jenson Button, Tiago Monteiro and Matt Neal set to do the driving.
In April 2017, a development version of the Civic Type R became the fastest front-wheel-drive car around the Nürburgring Nordschleife, managing a lap time of 7 minutes 43,8 seconds.
