The Honda Civic Type R has done it again: new record at Spa for the Japanese compact

The world of performance compacts is in constant battle, where numerous contenders hold the title of fastest in their segment and, as time goes by, surprise us even more. As is customary, Honda has presented its title contender bearing the Type R badge, which has achieved countless feats that have made this most radical generation of the Civic one of the most effective. Today it proves it once again with a new record at the Spa circuit, where it has taken one step further compared to its main rivals with the aim of showing that the king of performance compacts is the Honda Civic Type R.

Let’s remember that the Japanese model is considered by many to be the fastest front-wheel-drive compact, something it constantly demonstrates on the different circuits it visits. On this occasion it has decided to head to Belgium, where it has set a new and impressive record. Honda aims to travel during the summer of 2018 to different circuits around the world, where they will put the Civic Type R to the test and try to win more titles.

This great responsibility has fallen to the former world champion in the LMP2 category of the FIA World Endurance Championship, Bertrand Baguette, who currently drives an Honda NSX-GT in the Super GT series with Nakajima Racing. Baguette has been able to extract the full potential of the Civic Type R and push it to its limits to set the new record at Spa, where the compact’s performance and the Belgian driver’s skill have been two essential components.

Let’s remember that the Spa circuit is characterised by being one of the most winding and longest in Europe, where 7,004 km are divided between long straights and corners that demand the best from every driver. Bertrand Baguette and the Civic Type R, neither short nor lazy, took on the arduous task of mastering the track and claiming victory, a plan that worked out just as they had hoped.

This has also been possible thanks to the fine-tuning of the Honda Civic Type R, since inside it hides a 2.0-litre, four-cylinder engine capable of producing 320 CV of power and 400 Nm of torque. However, power is not everything, which is why Honda’s engineers worked meticulously on the aerodynamics of their star compact, an essential element not only for being effective on the track but also for being safe on the road.

Honda and Bertrand Baguette have managed to stop the clock at an impressive 2 minutes and 53.72 seconds, a time that crowns it as the fastest front-wheel-drive production model at Spa. However, the Japanese brand does not intend to sit back and will continue its conquest of circuits throughout this summer.

Technical specifications of this car

HatchbackHonda Civic3 versions · from 36,300 €