New speed record for the Honda Civic Type R, this time in Australia with Jenson Button at the wheel

The Honda Civic Type R has broken yet another speed record. The front-wheel-drive production car from Honda took on the Mount Panorama circuit in Bathurst, Australia. Jenson Button was the driver behind the new feat achieved by the Honda Civic Type R. The brand’s hot hatch recorded a fast lap of 2:35.207.

The former Formula 1 driver put the Honda Civic Type R through its paces over fourteen laps of the Bathurst circuit. A 6.2-kilometre track with 23 corners and a vertical difference of 174 metres. The record time was set on one of the 14 laps.

Jenson Button stated that “anything you drive around Mount Panorama will surprise you. At the top of the mountain, the Honda Civic Type R is very fast. I got into a rhythm and got used to the speed. It was a lot of fun.” “I definitely pushed the car and set a very quick time: 2′ 35″. That mark is very good for a front-wheel-drive car. You also have to take the heat into account. I think if it were cooler, we could go a bit faster, but I feel like I got everything out of the car.”

Mount Panorama, a track familiar to Jenson Button

Jenson Button was on home turf, as the Formula 1 driver had already raced on this track. It is worth noting that the British driver holds the unofficial lap record at Mount Panorama with a Formula 1 single-seater. Button set his best time at a special event to promote the Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix. His mark stands at 1:48.8.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPlHh7cgoB8

He is also responsible for breaking the production car lap record at the Hungaroring circuit, again behind the wheel of the Honda Civic Type R. So far, the Honda hot compact is the fastest front-wheel-drive production car on circuits such as Nürburgring, Spa-Francorchamps, Silverstone, Estoril and Magny-Cours.

It is worth noting that this challenge took place on the past 22nd of April. Jenson Button completed 14 laps of the circuit in two sessions: one in the morning and another in the afternoon.

Honda Civic Type R

The latest Honda Civic Type R, as the manufacturer states, “has been designed from scratch to deliver the most rewarding driving experience in the compact segment. It preserves the legacy of Honda’s high-performance hatchback line, combining professionally tuned front-wheel-drive chassis dynamics with an aggressive design and refined aerodynamics.”

Furthermore, “it offers an unmatched combination of everyday usability and dynamism that has been recognised and praised by critics and experts across all sections of the automotive media, both in Australia and around the world.”

The first Honda Civic Type R reached the market in 1997 with a 1.6 engine capable of delivering 185 CV. Now it produces 320 CV thanks to its 2.0-litre turbo VTEC powerplant. It is front-wheel drive and breaks any stereotype about this type of drivetrain. Its entry price is around 40,200 euros.

Technical specifications of this car

HatchbackHonda Civic3 versions · from 36,300 €