Honda has wrapped up its quest to dominate front-wheel drive lap records around the globe after its new Civic Type R set a blistering new time at the Hungarian ‘Hungaroring’ GP circuit.
The latest record was set by former F1 world champion and current Super GT race driver Jenson Button, marking the fifth lap record the Civic Type R has set for front-wheel drive production vehicles this year. It completes Honda’s “Type R Challenge 2018”, cementing itself as the benchmark in its respective category.
Button piloted a standard-spec Type R – riding on road tyres – around the 4.38km Hungaroring circuit in 2:10.19. Jenson Button said:
“We came here to the Hungaroring, where I won my first F1 race in 2006 with Honda, to set a new front-wheel drive production lap record in the new Type R, and I’m very happy that we did it. The first thing I noticed when I left the pit lane was how neutral the car was. I come from a background that is not front-wheel drive focussed, so it was very different for me, but because the Type R is so well balanced, it was instantly enjoyable and more natural.”
Honda’s Type R challenge is now responsible for six lap records being broken around Europe, piloted by a raft of former F1 and WTCR drivers. The list includes lap records being smashed at Silverstone in the UK, Estoril circuit in Portugal, Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium, Magny-Cours GP circuit in France, and the almighty Nürburgring, which was actually the genesis for the Type R Challenge when it first broke the Nordschleife’s front-wheel drive record. Check out the videos below for more, including a walk-through with Button and the full lap video below.
https://youtu.be/WQg4TkAl-jo
